Married to the Job
The Globe & Mail (May 30, 2006)
By Sasha Nagy
Some people become married to their careers. Martin and Farah Perelmuter charted a different course.
They got married, then started a new career, together. The husband and wife team founded Speaker's Spotlight more than 10 years ago and have build the public speakers' agency to national prominence representing acclaimed authors, athletes, politicians, comedians, adventurers and other inspiring individuals.
They've managed this all the while building a successful marriage. As Ms. Perelmuter succinctly puts it, "we still talk and everything."
With a roster that includes speakers such as The Hon. Adrienne Clarkson, Justin J.P. Trudeau, The Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, David Suzuki, Michael "Pinball" Clemons, Ron MacLean, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, Stephen Lewis, Jessica Holmes, and Ron James to name a few, Speaker's Spotlight has grown to include offices in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.
The company represents over 400 speakers from around the world and works with various
organizations worldwide. Profit magazine recently ranked Speakers' Spotlight as one of the fastest growing companies in Canada, and Farah has twice been ranked as one of Canada's leading woman business owners.
The couple have developed a work-life balance philosophy that allows them to juggle work and a bustling personal life that includes two young kids.
Their lives could stand as a blueprint for aspiring husband-and-wife entrepreneurs.
"In the office you wouldn't even know that Martin and I are married," said Ms. Perelmuter.
"Sometimes you may catch us holding hands discreetly under the table. But overall it is a very professional atmosphere."
They say the key is to love your partner and love your work.
"We are very fortunate, our work is so interesting. We love coming to work. And we love talking about work. But we have a very full life. We have two little kids, so that alone gives us so many more things to talk about," she explains.
Couples can thrive as co-founders, says Mr. Perelmuter, but you have to give each other room to perform key roles in the business.
"It makes things easier in the sense that we understand each other's work and our challenges. Our roles are quite separate within the company."
When the work day is done, Ms. Perelmuter says, the dinner table is never confused with a boardroom. "When work is over, we try not to talk about it at home, we try to leave it at work," she says.
The dream of running their own speakers' bureau was born out of a chance exposure to the industry when Ms. Perelmuter's uncle needed help trying to locate someone to represent him back in 1995. Ms. Perelmuter was working at an advertising agency at the time, while Mr. Perelmuter was a lawyer.
"My uncle wanted to become a speaker, didn't know how. I researched it, then Martin and I started researching together," Ms. Perelmuter recalls.
After about 12 months, the couple quit their jobs and started a company.
The couple used the spare bedroom in their apartment as their first office. They shared a telephone and Mr. Perelmuter was the company courier.
"It was a process of dong the research, determining whether it was something that we could make a go of. Once we made the decision that we were going to do it, then it was just, go for it, there was no contingency plan," said Mr. Perelmuter . "It was that simple in the sense, 'let's go for it and make it work' and not think about the alternative."
One of the benefits of being in a committed relationship, says Ms. Perelmuter, is knowing that your partner is in it for the long haul.
"By taking the leap together, it was made so much easier because we knew we had each other to depend on. We weren't alone in this cold business world. We were able to rely on each other's expertise and strength to get us though the tough times. And there were many tough times," says Ms. Perelmuter.
Adds Mr. Perelmuter: "One of the nice things is you don't have to worry about how committed your partner is to the business. It's not like they are going to walk away from it. You know that you can unconditionally trust the other person, and that is great. I would imagine in some business partnerships there is a lingering thought, maybe one day they are going to try and buy me out or going to leave and set up a competing firm.
"One thing we knew for sure that we were in this together, never had to question the other person's intentions."
Speaker's Spotlight fields more than 500 requests a year from speakers looking for representation. Mr. Perelmuter says they may sign four of five a year.
"We don't want to be the yellow pages of speakers, we only want to represent the best," he says.
Does the couple have any tips for prospective married entrepreneurs? Farah says it all comes down to communication.
"Respect each other's feelings and beliefs," she says.
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