Our Mission

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, we decided to kick off Founders’ Therapy focusing on love during the brisk evening of February 11, 2016. Participants were provided warmth, food and a valve to decompress about the stresses of balancing business with romance and relationships. Founders’ Therapy was created to show entrepreneurs that they aren’t alone on their journey towards success, allowing others to share their pain and triumphs … over drinks of course.

The Master Plan

We assembled a diverse group of entrepreneur heroes and heroines from all walks of life and business stages to discuss and understand what it’s like to balance the demanding nature of business and romantic relationships. Participants got down and dirty about about their lives in a judgement-free zone, coupled with the guarantee of anonymity. So, as they say: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”
From operations Managers in the restaurant industry whom aspired to be entrepreneurs to budding video production companies and seasoned 12-year business owners  in technology, the melting pot of experience provided a vast amount of perspective around business challenges and emotional tolerance (or lack thereof). No matter how successful they are, it’s certain that these go-getters don’t have it all together in the love department like one would  think.

Journey of Trials

Joey Digital warmed up the crowd telling his struggles on decision-making in choosing a partner. While this takes no time to do in world of dollars and cents, it could be an issue in the personal arena. Several others felt the same, many alluding to two problems: It’s difficult to gauge when to take some prospects serious and hard to turn off that persistent drive in courting or getting what one wants out of the relationship. Sometimes you just don’t have the patience to make something last due to the erratic hours, frustrating clients or lack of consistent income that come with the entrepreneur’s journey.
For an business owner, you’d think skills of decision-making and patience transfer easily when dating, but they don’t since people are not finite and structured objects like businesses can be (despite the roller coasters we ride with them). Yet, some said they couldn’t help but try to apply savvy business skills to the pursuit of happiness. Setting high expectations for partners and communicating specifically what you want seemed to serve as both bad and good traits to have as we listened to the varying dating scenarios, which many participants lamented:

• “Relationships can be a distraction” – Some can’t get what they need to get accomplished if i’m focused on someone else. Deadlines wait for no one.
• My business is my “bae” – We often don’t have time to waste on trivial things or emotional capacity to deal with others, especially those that don’t get it.
• “It’s all about me. I need all of the attention” – Someone just needs to be there to support, rub backs, provide security, cook, or create an escape for our chaos.
• “Elevation requires separation” –  The more successful we get, the less time we have to give.

Saving the Day

After venting and vetting through a myriad of problems and situations, there are a few solutions that stood out among the consensus. Some of our seasoned, single and married participants thought it best to tackle the evils of dating and love. No one could agree more that companionship and its pursuit requires understanding of self, along with a keen awareness of how others may feel while in relationship with you. Another golden rule is to respect others’ time as you’d expect yours to be respected.  But, above all, our entrepreneurs concluded that the below 4 key takeaways are imperative to consider – regardless of whether you’re lost in love or dangerously in love:

• Know Thyself: Temperament is a good thing to find the right partner. Understand yourself and the person you’re with or dating.
• Create Mirror Moments: Take time out occasionally to reflect (individually or together) on whether you’re doing what you ask of your significant other/prospects.
• Find Fault In You: It’s easy to say what someone else does wrong, so try to think of things that you can improve on.
• Romance and Finance: If you’re thinking of making a family or co-habiting, budget according to a set and secure income.  

 
So, whether a person has a significant other, or his/her “business is bae,” everyone agreed that love, friendship and meeting in the middle are the ingredients to making romantic relationships last.
Tell us how you balance business and romance? Comment below or on Twitter with your thoughts! Follow us and don’t miss out on the next edition of Founders’ Therapy!