DEAR HARRIETTE: My wife and I have been married for over 20 years. I have been the breadwinner in the family while my wife stayed home to raise our three children. Now that the kids have grown up and are all out of the house, my wife wants to start her own business. She has always been very health-conscious, so she has plans to open her own juice shop in Washington, D.C.
I think it is a great idea and have been supporting her in every way that I can. Even though I have been telling her this, she is still doubtful of her business capabilities and does not think she will be able to follow her dreams. Do you have any advice on how I can motivate my wife? -- Supportive Husband, Arlington, Virginia
DEAR SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND: Encourage your wife to get support through the Small Business Administration or a local women's business organization. She can join the local chamber of commerce, too. She should learn as much as she can about how to run a business before she starts hers. By meeting business owners in the area, she can gain insight into how others are managing, what challenges they have had, and what she can expect. Getting support should help her to be more confident and clear about her plans.
(Harriette Cole is a life stylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)