Balancing Business and Romance

It is no secret that balancing a startup and a relationship can be very hard. Mainly because your business and your partner are both competing for spot #1 with limited time and that can be very hard on both parties. Being that it is the season of love, I want to share some tips on ways to balance both. 

As business owners, our free time is limited and when we have it, we want to spend it doing something we enjoy and make the most of it! A very efficient way to maximize that time spent with you partner is understanding how you both show and receive affection. Your love languages. 

There are five love languages and knowing them can help you in business and your personal life. The five love languages at a glance are words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, gifts and physical touch. I will expand more into each in a bit, but why is this important? Knowing how you and others communicate love is a very adept skill to refine. This will help you maximize your limited time spent with your partner and it will help you develop a relationship with them in a way that they understand and feel loved. This can also serve as a greater knowledge for understanding psychographics in the business world. 

The Five Love Languages:

Words of Affirmation - You often hear that actions speak louder than words, but for a partner who values words of affirmation--words are everything. Your partner will appreciate compliments, thank you's, hand written notes and words of encouragement. Surprise them with sweet notes in the kitchen, their suitcase or laptop case. Keep in mind that your words are very powerful to them and can be very hurtful too. 

Quality Time - This love language is a way of expressing your love in undivided attention and who doesn't want that? This type of partner knows that time is a finite resource and that every minute is irreplaceable. Consider doing personal, deeply bonding activities with this partner like playing a board game, reading a book, attending a local event or a quality day trip or weekend getaway. 

Acts of Service - This partner loves to do acts of service to show their affections. It becomes apparent when they take your car and fill it with gas or buy and cut up your favorite fruit. Pay attention to the things your partner likes and doesn't like to do. They will appreciate you for all the small things and for doing anything that they don't enjoy doing. 

Gifts - The gifts love language often is considered materialistic, but this is all about intention. A gift is only a gift when given as a genuine expression of love, not as an effort to cover up a past mistake. Gift giving doesn't have to come with a high price tag to be effective for this partner, the principle will do. Oh... and they often love surprises. 

Physical Touch - Placing your hand on your partner's or giving them a kiss on the forehead are great ways to speak this partner's love language. Consider going to a walk or hike and hold hands or slow dance with them in the kitchen. It will make them so happy and, not to mention, is SO CUTE!

Identifying how you and others accept interaction from others will help you to develop your relationship in all areas of your life. Try it yourself!

Click here to read more on why the most important relationship is with yourself.