A wise old friend once asked me, “Joe, do you know why divorce is expensive?” Naturally, I fumbled with the usual suspects—lawyers, alimony, child support, therapy bills for the dog. But he stopped me short: “Nope. Divorces are expensive because they’re worth it.” Touché, my friend. Touché.

Now, I don’t recommend testing this theory (trust me, my three marriages were enough research for a lifetime), but there’s no denying it: marriage breakups are a blow to the wallet and a gut punch to the soul. Yet, for entrepreneurs like me, there’s often a deeper question lurking in the aftermath of failed relationships: “Is it me?”

I’ve always thought of myself as a good guy—respectful, kind, empathetic. So why was I starring in a real-life rom-com turned tragedy? Turns out, the culprit wasn’t my character—it was my career.

The Entrepreneurial Bug: Dream Big, Love Hard, Stress Always

From a young age, I knew I wanted to carve my own path. Growing up in a family of medical pros and degree-wielding scholars, I didn’t want to follow the well-trodden road. Nope, I wanted to build the road, pave it, and slap my name on the tollbooth. Little did I know that while entrepreneurship was a thrilling adventure, it could also be a relationship graveyard.

Skipping the traditional education route didn’t help. Sure, I got by, but hindsight’s a relentless heckler. A degree would’ve made my climb less vertical. Instead, I spent my 20s hustling, making things happen, and learning to live on adrenaline and ramen noodles.

Why Entrepreneurs and Relationships Don’t Mix

Here’s the kicker: as I look back, my professional friends—those steady, salary-drawing folks—seem to enjoy happy, long-term relationships. Meanwhile, my entrepreneurial friends (and, uh, me) boast résumés of failed marriages to rival their business pitches. Coincidence? I think not.

It’s not that entrepreneurs are inherently selfish or callous. On the contrary, most are charismatic dreamers who can charm a room—or a date—effortlessly. But the entrepreneurial life? It’s chaos in a blender. And while entrepreneurs thrive on unpredictability, most people (especially partners) crave stability.

An entrepreneur's partner signs up for a rollercoaster without ever seeing the height requirement. One day, it’s “We’re on the brink of bankruptcy!” and the next, “I just closed a deal—time to pop the champagne!” The emotional whiplash isn’t for the faint of heart.

The Relationship Math: 1 Entrepreneur + 1 Dream ≠ Domestic Bliss

Here’s the brutal truth: most people, and especially women (shoutout to my therapist for this nugget), value security and predictability. Entrepreneurs, meanwhile, are like, “What’s a pension? Oh, you mean the dream fund!” This game has no safety net—just long hours, stress, and a relentless drive that can eclipse everything else.

This lifestyle creates a relationship mismatch so profound it’s as if the couple lives on different planets. The entrepreneur is off colonizing Mars, while the partner is left wondering why Earth isn’t good enough.

The Rare Unicorn: A Partner Who Gets It

The partners who do survive the entrepreneurial rollercoaster are superheroes in disguise. They don’t just support the person; they marry the dream, the chaos, and the constant hustle. They provide the stability the lifestyle doesn’t. Behind every successful entrepreneur is a partner who deserves a standing ovation and maybe a cape.

Love + Entrepreneurship: Can It Work?

So, what’s an aspiring entrepreneur to do? If you’re single and building a business, maybe press pause on the whole “happily ever after” thing. A failing relationship is like tossing a grenade into your already-stressed brain. Creativity? Zapped. Energy? Toast.

But if you do find someone who’s genuinely ready to ride shotgun on this crazy journey, hold on tight. When it works, the results are magical—like 1+1 equaling 11.

In the end, being an entrepreneur means making tough choices. Love and business aren’t mutually exclusive, but the balance takes extraordinary effort. And when you find someone willing to dream your dream alongside you, well, that’s worth every penny—even the expensive ones.

Joseph Willmott, blog: www.buildacashcow.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-willmott-0a746b/

#Entrepreneurship #relationships #JosephWillmott #buildacashcow #Life Transformation

Share this article
The link has been copied!