Introduction
If you’re a business owner married to your co-founder, then you know the pressure of balancing marriage and a moving company. Every conversation, every dinner, and every weekend can feel like a board meeting. For couples who co-run moving companies, the boundaries between personal life and professional stress are often paper-thin.
That’s the reality for many family-run businesses in the moving industry, including our guest for this Movified episode, Nate Becker, co-owner of Higher Ground Moving based in scenic Bend, Oregon. Nate and his wife launched their company in 2019 with nothing but ambition, hustle, and a dream. Fast forward a few years, and they’re navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and marriage—all while moving thousands of pounds of furniture and memories for their clients.
This episode is a deep dive into what it truly means to work with your spouse, keep your relationship intact, and build a thriving moving company in today’s competitive market.
Key Takeaways
What You’ll Learn:
- The personal and professional challenges of co-owning a business with your spouse
- Wild moving discoveries—including hidden firearms and forgotten storage units
- Strategies for protecting your relationship and mental health as an entrepreneur
Table of Contents
Starting Higher Ground Moving from Scratch
When Nate and his wife launched Higher Ground Moving, they had no trucks, no warehouse, and no large client base. What they did have was an unshakeable belief in their mission—to deliver honest, respectful, and high-quality moving experiences in Bend, Oregon.
Nate worked in the field, doing the heavy lifting—literally—while his wife handled sales, packing services, and client communications. It was a full-on partnership, where each person had a role but both shared the weight of the business.
For many entrepreneurs, especially in service industries like moving and storage, starting from scratch isn’t just an option—it’s the only option. Renting trucks, relying on word of mouth, and doing everything yourself is often the only way forward. But as Nate shares, this grind can put enormous pressure on relationships.
Lesson for Movers: Starting small isn’t a weakness. It’s your advantage. Build strong systems early, assign clear roles (especially if you work with family), and don’t be afraid to rent and bootstrap your way forward. Trust grows faster than capital.
When Business and Marriage Collide
One of the most compelling parts of the episode was Nate’s honesty about the toll the business took on his marriage. Without boundaries, their personal life began to suffer. Every dinner turned into a debrief, and every bedtime routine was shadowed by talk of estimates, packing, or problematic clients.
At one point, Nate’s wife even stepped away from the company just to create distance between their work and their relationship. But eventually, she returned—with new clarity and better structure—and their partnership was stronger for it.
Lesson for Movers: Your business can’t thrive if your relationship is on life support. Set expectations early. Schedule “no business” time daily—even an hour helps. Clear minds lead to clearer leadership.
The Hidden World Inside People’s Homes
Movers see things others don’t. Nate shared bizarre discoveries—most memorably, an M16 rifle hidden inside a secret dresser compartment. In the moving world, nothing surprises anymore—but it always demands professionalism.
This deeper look into clients’ lives is a privilege. Nate reflects on how strange it is that people pay for storage units for 5+ years only to store VHS tapes or old clothing—but to them, it’s worth it.
“One person’s trash is another’s treasure. And we move it all like it’s grandma’s china.”
Lesson for Movers: Treat every single item with dignity. From socks to safes, your respect is what earns long-term referrals. Train your crew to never assume what matters to the client—assume it all does.
Setting Boundaries in Business and Life
Nate and his wife had to learn the hard way that without strong boundaries, their marriage and mental health would continue to suffer. They now practice “no business zones” in their day and stick to designated times where business talk is off-limits.
Nate jokingly mentions that his wife uses the word “muskrat” as a trigger to shut down work talk and pivot toward quality time. Whether it’s cooking dinner, watching a movie, or just enjoying a quiet walk, they now prioritize intentional time together.
Lesson for Movers: Create your own “off switch.” Whether it’s code words or no-phone hours, protect your headspace from 24/7 grind. Healthy leaders build healthy companies.
Thriving vs. Surviving: Why Mindset Matters
Nate’s biggest turning point came from realizing this:
“You have to thrive in order to profit.”
Too often, movers hustle so hard they forget to breathe. Profit is important—but not at the cost of personal well-being. Nate’s mindset shift—sparked by joining a mastermind—was realizing that success isn’t only measured in bookings. It’s measured in joy, health, and relationships too.
Lesson for Movers: Prioritize energy management over time management. Your personal fulfillment is the fuel behind your professional performance.
Elevator Pitch Masterclass
Nate’s pitch is simple, elegant, and built on trust:
“You’re putting your life into our hands—and we take that seriously.”
He skips the fluff and focuses on what matters most: showing up, wrapping everything with care, and treating each item with respect. His team shows up on time, stays professional, and protects every belonging—because it could be grandma’s china.
Lesson for Movers: Your pitch should reflect your values. Don’t talk trucks—talk trust. Show potential customers you care more about them than their quote.
Why Movified
What sets Movified apart is our mission to elevate the moving industry through conversation. We’re not here to sell you the next flashy software or tell you how to triple your bookings overnight. Instead, we’re building a space where movers, owners, and logistics professionals can share the raw truth of the industry—stories that inspire, teach, and sometimes, make you laugh out loud.
Conclusion
Nate Becker’s journey is proof that the path to business success is rarely a straight line. It’s filled with stress, growth, weird discoveries—and above all, the need for balance.
If you’re running a family-owned business, struggling to find work/life harmony, or just want to hear a story that makes you feel a little more understood—this episode is for you.
👉 Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
“Treat every box like it holds someone’s life—because it probably does.”
