The Stevens were married in 1975, and in the early years of their marriage, Carol was a stay-at-home mom raising two boys. Mark was writing books and doing marketing and management consulting for businesses. In 1984, Carol started working with Mark, typing up what he wrote on his notepad and doing research.
"He needed a hand, and it allowed me that flexibility" to be at home with the kids, said Carol. "We could always brainstorm."
"We really and truly did everything together," said Carol.
In 1995, the company moved into an office space. Today, MSCO Media has 40 employees. Mark is now CEO of the marketing and management consulting group.
The upside of working with your spouse is that you never have to explain the office stress. "I always have an understanding of what he is going through," said Carol, now the director of public relations. "Sharing these things helps you because there are two people sharing it."
The downside is that occasionally, office etiquette gets set to the side when you are talking to your spouse at the office and a dismissive comment gets made, said Carol. Sometimes "you forget you are at work," she said.
These seven business owners are determined to become debt-free. They are ditching credit cards and giving their bank loans the old heave-ho.
