Recently, my husband and I had one of my girl-friends and her boyfriend visit. The evening started with a random conversation about our fancy Nespresso machine which then lead to the topic of boob jobs and then to the topic of relationships. In fact, the four of us spent half the night talking about what it takes for a millennial entrepreneur - and millennial couples, in general - to find balance in her love and work life.
Drawing from the conversation, my personal life observations, and my life experiences, I put together a 3 Step Millennial Entrepreneur's Guide for Partners in Love & Work.
Step 1 - Know your values and your partner’s values. For example, I value health, privacy, truth, growth, and family. If you know what you value and what your partner values, then you also know what’s important to each other. This knowledge allows you and your partner to help each other live life true to yourselves. So, 1) identify and define your values; 2) talk about your values with your partner; and 3) make sure you are doing all you can to honor and live up to your values - as a team! Collaboration is key.
Step 2 - Know your love languages and those of your partner. For me, my love languages include acts of service and quality time. If you have no idea what I am talking about, then I recommend you go to Google Gary Chapman's 5 Love Languages quiz! Once you understand your and your partner’s love languages, ask each other whether you are loving each other in the appropriate love languages. If you are, great, and if you are not, then make the effort to do so! Love is essential.
Step 3 - Live life aligned to your values, your love languages, and make space for those of your partner. This step is all about putting it all together. Simply put, make sure you do steps 1 and 2, and then apply them to everyday life. To start, translate your values and love languages into real world actions. For example, for my value of health, I require a minimum of 7 hours of sleep and a minimum of 4 yoga classes a week; and for my love language of quality time, I require a weekly meeting with my husband to talk about how we are both doing physically, mentally, and emotionally; we cover love and work and make sure we are helping each other live a life aligned to our values and love languages as individuals and as a couple.
To balance love and work as a couple, it always will require genuine commitment to value and love language alignment. It will take effort and it will be worth it! There is nothing better than to feel loved, supported, and appreciated!
Lolita is a wife and a millennial who loves food, travel and tech. She is a sales tech intrapreneur by trade and a social entrepreneur by nature. Lolita produces, speaks, and writes, at times. She lives in sunny San Diego with her husband and puppy. Follow her on Twitter: @LolitaTaub
For more female millennial entrepreneur-intrapreneur insight, visit: youtube.com/thefshow