Three Big Mistakes Woman Entrepreneurs Make in Relationships

“Don’t let mistakes ruin your relationships. Put them behind you, so you can move on and grow stronger together.“ – Unknown

Relationship mistakes can change lives for women entrepreneurs. Setting priorities and strong communication can make or break a relationship. Women who are entrepreneurs realize they may not have the same drive as their spouses or partners. Their dreams are the same but how they get there is totally different than someone who works from 9 to 5.

The Trap…

Your partner kisses you goodnight as you pound away at the computer keyboard. You think you just want to finish one more project or task on your to do list. Before you know it, the clock strikes 2 AM. You truly love what you do because there is no way you would continue working into the wee hours of the morning on that next project. The drive to succeed runs through your veins.

Getting one more thing done is going to pave the way to money and happiness. In the meantime, your relationship is strained. It’s so easy to fall into the trap that the other person understands the long working hours and the obsession of making your business work. But what’s simmering underneath?

A client whom I’ll call Michelle talked about mistakes she had made in her relationship. “I should have seen the warning signs,” Michelle said. “He began to distance himself from me. He didn’t want to talk or be intimate anymore.”

Michelle leaned forward sobbing with her hands cupped over her face, “Jeff kept telling me how he felt alone in everything he did. I was doing as much as I could, working and trying to take care of the house. But that’s not what he wanted. He wanted to be with me.”

Here are three big mistakes women entrepreneurs make in relationships:

Relationship Mistake #1: You stop listening.

Entrepreneurs are intense, driven people. The adrenaline flows so much from stress that you are only focusing on what is in front of you. Listen intently to the words being spoken from your loved ones. Listen for patterns in messages spoken over and over. They may have signs of problems you may not be aware of on a daily basis.

Relationship Mistake #2: You don’t make your relationship a priority.

Saying no to making plans with your spouse or partner repeatedly can be a path to permanently harm the relationship. Carve out time that you share the activities that you both love to do. Make an appointment each week to connect with your beloved. Keep that appointment no matter what seems to pop up in your schedule. Set an agenda of items you want to talk about, such as plans, finances and issues important to your relationship. Make sure you are honest, open and willing to work on the issues at hand.

Relationship Mistake #3: You believe that your partner would always be there.

Don’t get into the mindset that you believe they will understand and always be there. Plan to give back to your partner by doing those sweet gestures that sparked your relationship in the first place. Treat others how you would like to be treated. Otherwise, resentment can grow and damage your relationship, possibly beyond repair.

When your business drives and fuels your life, blinding yourself from potential issues can be hazardous to your relationship. Make time for the ones you love. Make sure you don’t make these big mistakes that can be costly to your personal relationships.