“Being your own boss” is not without its significant challenges. And these challenges can spill over into all aspects of your life – including marriage.
Business owners have to focus on their business endeavors in order for it to grow and succeed. You work long and unpredictable hours – often taking your work home with you. You stress over every detail and there is a lot riding on every decision you make – from your own income, your family’s well being, to your employee’s welfare.
Marriage itself takes commitment and work. It’s no surprise that, with the added demands of owning a business, the divorce rate among business owners is much higher than among couples who are traditionally employed.
Here are some of the reasons why marriage can be hard for entrepreneurs:
Time is hard to come by.
In a marriage, time spent together is critical. While sacrifice and patience is necessary when one or both partners are building a business, resentment can quickly build if one spouse is not able to commit time to the marriage.
When you own your own business, it can feel like there are never enough hours in the day. It can also mean that the lines between work and home life are blurred when you’re tempted to just answer that one email after dinner or take weekends that would normally be reserved for your family to work on your business.
What you should do:
While scheduling time for your marriage might not seem romantic, it can be necessary in order to make sure you’re continuing to invest the time and effort in the relationship even amidst the demands of your business.
Treat your time with your spouse as non-negotiable – they are your most important client or customer and this time should be blocked on your schedule. Put a weekly date night on your calendars, or pick one day of the weekend that is dedicated solely to your spouse and/or family – no business allowed.
Entrepreneurship and Financial Stress
Especially in the growing stages, can put a strain on your finances – and money stress is the leading cause of divorce in most marriages. Whether you’re having to invest savings or cut back on luxuries and expenses, these can cause strain in your relationship that can ultimately lead to the adding pressure in a marriage.
One of the biggest things that can drive a wedge between a couple when it comes to money is a lack of communication and collaboration about finances.
What you should do:
Be open and honest with your spouse about finances and see your spouse as a partner to make financial goals. Approach money like a puzzle you fix together instead of something that pulls you apart.
Your business can feel like “the other man/woman” in the relationship
It’s easy for a business owner’s mental space to be taken over by business matters and for your spouse to feel like they are no longer the most important thing in your life. If all of your time and emotional energy is being invested in your business, your spouse might begin to feel resentful of the business itself – just as they would if you were carrying on an affair with another person.
What you should do:
Be present in your marriage and don’t take things for granted! It goes beyond scheduling time with your spouse – though that of course is important. It’s critical to make sure that you are truly present with your spouse when you are spending time with them.
Put your phone away at dinner or turn it completely off to avoid work calls. Ask about their day and make an effort to not let all conversations focus on business.
If you own your own business and are facing divorce, contact the experienced Tampa divorce attorneys at Anton Garcia Law today: 813-907-9807.
Marriage Tips and Preventing Divorce For Business Owners
You may be thinking, “Where can I find a family lawyer near me?” Anton Garcia Law’s family and divorce attorneys are compassionate, experienced and dedicated to representing your best interests. Contact us today! Serving the following areas:
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If you are looking for a Tampa family law attorney, look to Anton Garcia Law, a 2021 SuperLawyer “Best Attorney” award winner. Our office is located near beautiful downtown Tampa, where we proudly serve clients from around the state of Florida.
Christina Anton Garcia
Partner
Described as “an extremely passionate and energetic individual who loves life and lives it to the fullest,” Christina Anton Garcia is a force—equal parts powerhouse attorney, fearless entrepreneur, and relentless advocate for families. Her personal motto? “Every day, you must make some time to laugh and smile—no matter what.” And it’s that joyful tenacity that powers both her life and her law firm.
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