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"This fun tale is entertaining and inspiring in equal measure." Publishers Weekly
Come along for the ride, as Jamie and Brian Ratner show you how to build a successful business with your spouse.
When Jamie Ratner pitched her new idea for a family-friendly Groupon to her husband Brian on their drive to Pittsburgh for the Christmas holiday in their messy minivan, Brian's response shocked her. He said, "That's a great idea." For the rest of their holiday, while his parents watched their two young kids, they worked late into the night on a business plan and timeline to launch what soon would become CertifiKID. Jamie was an entrepreneur at heart but had no business background. Brian was a partner at a Washington, DC, law firm whose practice was litigation not corporate law. They had no free time. The timing to start a business was far from ideal. They did it anyway.
More than a decade later, in ParentPreneurs, Jamie and Brian tell their rollercoaster story of how they built a multi-million dollar company through thousands of deals with small and big businesses for the benefit of their million plus members; cut a deal with Kevin O'Leary (aka "Mr. Wonderful") on the ABC television show Shark Tank that was one of his biggest deals in 10 seasons; and navigated the Covid pandemic that sent their business to the edge of the cliff by making a risky pivot acquisition. They give an honest account from each of their own unique perspectives on the toll and rewards of mixing marriage and business at every stage. They provide tips and lessons for how to manage both, maintain work/life balance especially in this age of remote and flexible work, and accomplish your personal and professional goals.
This is a book for every entrepreneurial parent, whether you're in the game or just thinking about it. It is real and uplifting, and it will inspire you to rethink how you view your work and determine whether you can start or build something new that will bring you greater joy and fulfillment.
Jamie and Brian show how parents can be successful entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs can be successful parents and spouses. And so can you.
About the author
Jamie Ratner is the CEO and Founder of CertifiKID, a recognized best deal website for parents. Over the past decade, Jamie and Brian have grown CertifiKID from a regional website to a coast-to-coast powerhouse in the family-focused deal market. Jamie was named one of the region's Top 40 Under 40 "Brightest Young Business Leaders" by the Washington Business Journal and one of Greater Washington's top women business leaders by Washington SmartCEO. A soccer mom to two, wife to an attorney, entrepreneur (aka "Mompreneur"), she's quickly become an expert in the daily deal, parent, and digital media space
Brian Ratner is a founding partner of Hausfeld, a global litigation law firm headquartered in Washington, DC, where he serves as Vice Chair of the firm and specializes in global antitrust litigation. In addition to practicing law, Brian is the co-founder and President of CertifiKID. Brian has been featured on the Washington, DC Super Lawyers and The Legal 500 Leading Lawyers Lists since 2014 and has been selected by Lawdragon as one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America for the past two years.
Summary
Jump into the Ratner’s messy family minivan and travel with Jamie and Brian on their decade-long journey building a multi-million-dollar company while navigating marriage, raising kids, and the managing the joys and pitfalls of starting a business with your spouse.
