Can you really balance marriage, motherhood and entrepreneurship, or is work-life balance the wrong goal altogether?
Nellie Akalp has spent decades building businesses alongside her husband, Phil, while raising four children. After helping more than half a million entrepreneurs start businesses, she has learned that success isn't about perfectly balancing everything. It's about knowing what matters most in the season you're in and being present for it.
In this episode of Now You’re Talking, Nellie talks with Adrienne Giffen about working with your spouse, raising children while building a business, setting boundaries, developing resilience and what getting older has taught her about letting go of control.
Nellie also shares why she believes children learn from what we model, not just what we tell them, why discomfort can build resilience, and why some of the mistakes she has made in business, marriage and parenting have become some of her greatest teachers.
In this conversation, we talk about:
- Is work-life balance really possible?
- How to build a business with your spouse without losing your relationship
- Raising four children while growing a company
- What children learn by watching their parents
- Why discomfort can help build resilience
- How responsibility can give children a sense of purpose and contribution
- Why clear roles and communication matter when couples work together
- How setting boundaries changed Nellie’s life and leadership
- What entrepreneurship teaches us about mistakes, failure and starting again
- Why Nellie believes resilience matters more than brilliance
The Now You’re Talking Moment with Nellie Akalp
Our children don't just hear what we tell them. They watch how we live.
They see how we handle mistakes, uncertainty, hard work, relationships and the choices we make about what matters.
And sometimes, what they reflect back to us teaches us something about ourselves too.
Your Conversation Starter
What are the people closest to you learning simply by watching how you live your life?
About Nellie Akalp
Nellie Akalp is a serial entrepreneur and business formation expert who has helped more than half a million entrepreneurs start businesses. Alongside her husband and business partner, Phil, she has built companies, raised four children and spent decades learning what it takes to build a business while staying connected to the people who matter most.
Follow Nellie Akalp:
https://www.instagram.com/nellie_akalp
https://www.instagram.com/corpnet
Meet the Host: Adrienne Giffen
Adrienne Giffen believes that every meaningful conversation begins with a question. As the creator of Seven Steps Back to You, she helps women uncover the reasons behind their choices, reconnect with what matters most, and move forward with greater clarity and intention.
Connect with Adrienne:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennegiffen/
Website: https://www.adriennegiffen.com/
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