Successful professionals, let's talk ROI: Why investing into your love life is a power move for your career</span>
You’re a successful professional. You've spent your life working hard, achieving, go-getting, and being a good student of your career. You’ve invested into it, and invested into yourself.
Your 20s and 30s were a flurry of endless board meetings, deals, and sitting in offices with ever-increasingly better panoramic views. You also had a personal life that you thoroughly enjoyed: you travelled a lot, you saw the world, you had your adventures. You also achieved a heck of a lot of success. And honestly, whilst you would love to have achieved more (because, is it ever enough? ;)), you’re proud of yourself. You know you’re tenacious, hardworking, and still have a LOT ahead of you.
But lately, all of this feels a little…empty. You're a powerhouse at work, but your personal life has recently felt more and more like some sort of neglected side hustle. It’s not going too well. And it’s a bit…well, flat.
You tell yourself, "I need to focus on my career, money is the most important thing, and I still need to make more.”
"Love is a distraction; I don’t have time to chase after a relationship. I need to prioritise work, that promotion, that project."
You admit that you feel a bit empty and a little sad on Sunday nights, but you distract yourself with a glass of wine, a Netflix show, or focusing on your week ahead, setting goals, getting your ducks in a row, and making sure that you’re ready for another long week.
Thing is, folks, I'm here to tell you this:
A healthy, nourishing love life is NOT a luxury, it's a strategic investment with the highest ROI you'll ever make.
As a high-performance relationship coach and social scientist (obsessed with data-driven research), I can tell you for sure that:
Your unhappiness in your personal life bleeds into your professional life.
Let's delve into the science behind it.
Stress: Feeling alone because you are single, or feeling alone because you are in an unhappy relationship, often creates chronic stress in the body.
A 2020 study by the University of California, Berkeley, found that chronic stress shrinks the prefrontal cortex, the brain's decision-making center.
This translates to poorer focus, impaired judgment, and a decreased ability to handle complex tasks – all crucial for closing deals and making strategic decisions.
Happy relationships, conversely, act as a buffer against stress. A 2015 study published in Personal Relationships: Journal of the Cure for Loneliness found that strong intimate connections lower cortisol levels, the stress hormone. A calmer mind means sharper thinking, better decision-making, and a stronger leadership presence.
Sleep: Restless nights translate to low productivity. A 2018 Harvard study revealed that sleep deprivation diminishes cognitive flexibility – the ability to adapt to new information and changing situations. In a fast-paced business world, adaptability is key. But when you're tossing and turning over relationship woes, sleep becomes a luxury you can't afford.
Conversely, a happy relationship fosters restful sleep. A 2022 study by the University of Chicago found that couples who sleep next to each other experience deeper, more restorative sleep. Imagine waking up refreshed, ready to tackle the day with a clear mind – that's the power of a good night's sleep fueled by a happy partnership.
Health: Let's face it, folks, neglecting your health isn't a badge of honor anymore. It’s not 1960.
Unhealthy habits often stem from emotional dissatisfaction.
A 2013 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that people in unhappy marriages are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors like smoking, excessive drinking, and poor diet choices. These habits translate to more sick days, lower energy levels, and a diminished capacity to perform at your peak.
Conversely, a happy relationship encourages healthier habits. A 2021 study by the University of Michigan found that couples are more likely to adopt each other's healthy habits, leading to a healthier, more productive workforce.
But the benefits extend beyond just mitigating negatives.
Love fuels our creativity, motivation, and resilience.
A 2017 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that people in happy relationships experience an "optimism bias," leading to increased motivation and goal achievement. Think about it – when you have someone cheering you on, believing in you, success feels more attainable. They become your support system, your sounding board, the safe place to land when you come home from a weary day at work.
Now, let's talk finances.
Studies consistently show that married men tend to earn more than their single counterparts.
A 2023 Pew Research Center analysis revealed that married men, on average, earn 12% more than single men. This could be due to various factors: the increased support system, the motivation boost, or even the simple benefit of having someone manage household tasks, freeing up your time for career advancement.
The U.S. Census Bureau in 2023 revealed that married householders under the age of 35 had a net worth 9.2 times greater than unmarried female householders, and 3.1 times more than unmarried male householders. Between 35 and 54, the median wealth of married couples surpassed that of unmarried people at an even more drastic rate.
But it’s not just any marriage that is worth it financially.
The wrong marriage can cost you.
Not only does mortality increase with the more divorces you have (eek) (Forbes showed the mortality rate is 1,363 per 100,000 for divorcees compared with 779 per 100,000 for married couples), but the average cost of a high-achiever marriage can easily exceed $100,000.
Not to mention the emotional cost, the trauma, and the fact that with each divorce you have, your odds of having a healthy relationship decrease. 67% of second marriages end, and 73% of third marriages are dissolved.
Whether you’re single and want to make sure you are investing into finding the RIGHT life partner, or married and want to ensure you optimise your marriage, or make sure the next person you are with is the RIGHT person…
Investing in your personal life is not a distraction; it's a strategic decision.
It's about creating a foundation of happiness, support, and well-being that empowers you to reach your full professional potential. So, smart folks, don't let the world tell you love is a luxury. It's the best thing you can do. It’s the ultimate power move.
Where to start?
Start by discovering these three things, rooted in the Behavioral Science of Attraction:
What’s holding you back from being happy and fulfilled in relationship. Where are you self-sabotaging by accident? Where are you blocking yourself? Where are you getting held back by your past? In my methodology, this is the Liberation Phase, and the crucial place to start.
What do you NEED to be happy? Who are you at your core? When you drop beneath the superficial garbage of society and your conditioning, what do you actually need to thrive? You likely won't know this until you’ve done the Liberation Phase.
How can you make your life magnificent and happy NOW? What changes can you make, based on who you are and what you need to be happy, to start being in greater integrity with your authentic self, and your authentic voice, NOW? This is the Integrity Phase in my program, and where the law of attraction really kicks off to start bringing you the most magnetic, delicious, incredible relationships into your life - the type that raise you up and help you achieve your greatest potential.
The Behavioral Science of Attraction can help you with all of these. My methodology, the Successfully in Love ® method, rooted in science, can take you through all of these phases in a seamless, end to end, clear and easy way.
I’d love to tell you more.
DM me ‘Behavioral Science’ to learn more.