A relationship can be a tricky business, especially if you’re already married to your actual business. And while having high ambition is a great thing, but it’s no secret that it can put your relationship to the test.
If you don’t even have time to finish your daily to-do list, how in the world can you find time for love, right? Wrong! Two really are stronger than one, and supporting each other the right way will help your love life grow alongside your business.
Here are a few hands-on tips on how to let love in and still be successful professionally.
Follow This Advice
Value Your Partner
I believe that a person’s value has nothing to do with how much money he or she makes. If your partner has a successful business, your emotional support is probably one of the reasons for it – and vice versa. Remember, the more you can see the value you bring, the more others will see you in the same light. The same goes for your partner.
Another way to get closer? Start creating things together. Look for ways to integrate different creations in your daily lives and support the changes that come with it. Always ask yourselves what you can create better together than alone.
Date Each Other
Scheduling love doesn’t sound romantic. But deliberately setting aside time to focus on your relationship shows that it’s a priority for you, and putting something solidly on your calendar can help you more fully disconnect from your hectic professional life.
You’ll be surprised what a little planning can do. After all, what’s the difference between planning a date with your partner and planning dinner with a friend you haven’t seen in a while? Pencil each other in.
Ask for What You Want
Although life can seem like a zero-sum game, challenge yourself — and your partner — to find ways for both of you to get what you really desire. But to do this, you have to be honest and vocal. To assume that your partner should always know exactly what you want, and vice versa, is a real passion killer.
Instead, encourage your different desires, learn more about your partner’s deepest wishes, and find ways to contribute to each other’s desires — whether they be emotional, sexual or business related. It might be a romantic getaway, a date night or even a night off to get some work done. The more you ask, the more you receive — and the more you can create.
Pursue Your Own Passions
If you feel there’s an imbalance in your relationship, it is often because of time constraints. Perhaps you have a lot of time on your hands and your partner doesn’t. Or maybe you’re knee-deep in a new business venture and have no time to devote to your spouse.
Either way, this is where hobbies come in. Instead of looking for a romantic partner to fill the void, try pursuing something you genuinely enjoy — and encourage your partner to do the same. See time apart as an opportunity for self-growth.
And here’s an added bonus: Many times, embracing a new adventure leads to unexpected business possibilities as well.
Demands and restraints have very little to do with love, so whatever you do, don’t hold each other on a short leash. Relationships prosper from opportunity, and the more you are willing to let your partner explore, the closer the two of you will become.