Baby Steps Giant Leaps Love, Money And Fulfillment

Friends of ours that have been married for 16 years are suffering. The economy destroyed most of their retirement plan which increases stress. In the last 16 years they have really gotten to know one another, but not always in a good way. You might say that they have learned to take one another for granted.

As a result, they are drifting apart emotionally and financially. They have lost the enthusiasm and sense of newness they once experienced with one another. Their ability to see the value in one another has dimmed and they no longer work well together.

Unfortunately, our friends are too much like too many couples.
But is it their fault?

Their lives are like most of our lives.

From the time they awaken in the morning until the time they drop into bed, exhausted at night, this is where their time, focus and energy go:

*Children and family
*Job or business
*Home/household maintenance
*Bills, finances, taxes, legal matters
*Friends, hobbies, sports or social commitments
*Groups, clubs, community
*Entertainment, amusement and education - TV, reading, internet
*Health maintenance
*And so much more...

Notice the time left over...THERE ISN'T ANY!

To make it worse, we live in a time when our attention span is shorter than a Nat's wings. We are taught to expect something new almost every second.

So where in this environment do we find the time, energy and focus to build love, wealth and fulfillment that lasts?

Dr. Terri Orbuch, PhD in her recent article in Psychology Today talks about four ways to make relationships stronger and happier. Dr. Orbuch makes a simple but powerful point that adding small positive behaviors to a relationship make a big difference.

Dr. Orbuch says that having realistic expectations of one another, acknowledging your partner in ways that matter to them and talking with your partner about something besides yourselves make a demonstrable difference in your life.

Peter Drucker, the management guru, once said that more than knowing what we are good at doing is to know what we are not good at doing. Then don't do that thing.

Applied to a marriage or other committed relationship our weaknesses can become the strength in our relationship and in wealth building. When your partner is good with spreadsheets and numbers but you are good at building teams, you not only complement one another's skills, but you just strengthened your relationship.

Strength commands respect and appreciation, magnified when that person is your partner too. Strength in any business...home or office comes from focusing on what you are really good at doing and letting your partner do the same.

If you are building a million dollar business, are you going to alienate your customers and business partners?

In a marriage or other committed relationship, most couples want to build both the relationship and the long term financial security of the family. Applying the same principles and practices you use at the office to your home matter greatly to your success.

Baby steps in attitude, management, leadership and habits lead to giant leaps in long term stability, cooperative synergy and fulfillment. What can be more rewarding than a shared victory?

So where do you put your time, energy and focus?