Men and women entrepreneurs both know what it takes to make a business successful – passion, excitement, sweat, and tears.
And while one doesn’t often associate the word “business” with the word “marriage”, the truth is that many of the components of a strong business are the same qualities found in a strong marriage.
Both need commitment, empathy, communication, honesty, and even a regular “date night” in order to achieve success.
In this post we’ll list 6 ways a strong business is like a strong marriage.
How can a Business be like a Marriage?
1. Communication is Essential
Out of 886 divorcing couples, 53% cited a lack of communication as a driving factor in their separation.
This statistic highlights the importance of communication between partners. All couples have disagreements. It is how they handle such arguments that determine how successful their marriage will be.
Not only will communicating help spouses get to know each other better, even after many years of marriage, but it will also improve their problem-solving abilities.
A women entrepreneur must be able to communicate in business. This is helpful with:
- Creating partnerships
- Marketing
- Interacting with clients
- Learning about the business’s target demographic
Part of great
communication is the ability to resolve conflict as a team. Couples practice
good teamwork during disagreements when they:
- Listen without interruption
- Discuss problems calmly
- Attack the issue, not each other
- Use “I” statements instead of “You” statements
- Banish distractions such as television or smartphones during discussions
Similarly, conflict resolution is essential for women entrepreneurs in business.
Disagreements with work partners about finances, marketing, and company direction are bound to arise at some point. Savvy businesswomen learn to resolve work-related arguments using teamwork.
2. Honesty is Key
Honesty is essential for a successful marriage. Couples must be able to come to one another with their concerns. This will help prevent misunderstandings and resentment from forming. Couples rely on each other to be faithful and live up to their word.
Women entrepreneurs should be honest with their clients and business partners. Not to mention themselves.
When you start a business, you take on emotional and financial risk. If something isn’t working, an entrepreneur should not ignore such issues.
3. Have Empathy
When spouses can empathize with one another it means they are connected on a deep emotional level. They understand where their partner is coming from and can sympathize with what they’re feeling.
Empathy is equally important in the business world. Business owners need to be able to empathize with their employees in order to maintain morale. Empathy will also help entrepreneurs understand the best way to pitch to investors and interact effectively with clients.
4. Date Night is Essential
Women entrepreneurs know that a relationship thrives when couples spend quality time together. This is an opportunity for couples, even married partners, to get to know one another on a deeper level. Studies show that quality time spent together also lowers stress and promotes relationship satisfaction.
Date night is a great opportunity for couples to bask in the release of the “love hormone” known as oxytocin, which is largely responsible for feelings of trust and emotional intimacy between partners.
Research shows that married couples who have a date at least one or more times a month have lower divorce rates, higher levels of communication, and boosted eros – or romantic love that is strongly linked to passion and excitement.
Much like a marriage, your business also needs a little time for you to relax and enjoy it. Women entrepreneurs are encouraged to take their business partners out on spa days or golfing trips to brainstorm. These outings will reignite their passion and help them remember why they love their business.
5. There is Always a Risk
Research indicates that 90% of new start-ups for both men and women entrepreneurs will fail. By jumping into a new business, entrepreneurs run the risk of losing everything. Their finances, their hard work, and their minds – for a short period of time, anyway.
There is a similar risk in marriage. It is estimated that 42% of first marriages will end in divorce, yet an average of seven out of 1000 couples gets married each year.
So, why take the risk?
The answer is that love is worth the risk. No matter how many times someone is hurt in a romantic relationship, they always go back into the dating game. Similarly, getting married is not a guarantee that the relationship will last forever, yet couples go into their union with love, commitment, passion, and a plan to get through the hard times till death do them part.
The same is true for business. No matter how many times an entrepreneur may be shot down, they are always willing to take the risk to make their company bigger and better.
Conclusion: Both a marriage and a business take work
A business, much like your romantic relationship, needs love and commitment in order to flourish. Thankfully, women entrepreneurs have plenty of passion to go around. Make sure that you can keep your business financially profitable while caring for your marriage by having a great work-life balance.
About Author:
Sylvia Smith is a relationship expert with years of experience in training and helping couples. She has helped countless individuals and organizations around the world, offering effective and efficient solutions for healthy and successful relationships. Her mission is to provide inspiration, support and empowerment to everyone on their journey to a great marriage. She is a featured writer for Marriage.com, a reliable resource to support healthy, happy marriages.
