7 Things To Know Before Dating an Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are complicated people. They are ambitious, creative, smart, extremely goal-oriented and often very successful. In an ideal world, entrepreneurs would have all the qualities one would look for in a partner. In reality, however, while exciting, dating an entrepreneur can be challenging. It's especially hard if you do not understand them or know what to expect when getting involved with them. Here are a few things you need to know before you date an entrepreneur.

They Read A lot

Always trying to improve themselves, entrepreneurs are avid readers. If you take a look inside an entrepreneur's apartment, I guarantee you there will be a bookshelf or two laden with books. They read a lot. They especially enjoy books that aid in self-development and ones written by other successful entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are motivated by other entrepreneurs and the stories that they tell as well as the advice they often share through their books. Their love of reading means they are always learning and are often willing to share their knowledge. If you decide to date an entrepreneur, be prepared to learn something new every day.

They Have Long Working Hours

While dating an entrepreneur you will eventually realize that they hardly sleep, and they never really stop working. The 9-5 schedule that most of us know and sometimes enjoy does not exist in their world. Entrepreneurs are big on networking and depending on what they do, they will have clients and associates in different time zones. This means that at any time they may need to jump on a call or participate in a Zoom meeting. At other times they are tweaking ideas, testing theories and coming up with new ways to improve their business. They often struggle with balancing work and their social life, the latter usually being the one that suffers.

Their Mood Changes Frequently

Dating an entrepreneur could be a bit like riding an emotional rollercoaster. They can be happy and excited about something at one moment and disappointed and frustrated at the next. This comes with the territory of owning a business. Entrepreneurs often have an emotional attachment to their business and they thrive on its success. Small victories are celebrated and losses are mourned and met with increased determination towards resolving the issues. As the partner of an entrepreneur, it is easy to think that the fluctuating emotions are directed towards you, but more often than not the changes have nothing to do with your or the relationship.

They Are Great at Surprises

Since entrepreneurs are not bound by the limitations of a 9-5 job their workday may be longer or shorter depending on how they structure their day. As a result, their free time will also be irregular. Should you decide to date an entrepreneur, be prepared to have random date nights. At a moment's notice, you can be whisked away to a spectacular location for some much-needed quality time. An entrepreneur may unavoidably miss a few special events and they tend to make up for this by showering their SO with gifts or unplanned adventures. This is especially true when their work takes them outside of the country. Their work will often keep them away from you so when they do find the time, they will go the extra mile to make sure it is special and memorable for you.

They'll Sometimes Need Their Space

Entrepreneurs occasionally need their alone time. The fact isn't that they do not enjoy having you around, they just need solitude sometimes. There are several factors that may contribute to this. They may need to be alone to refuel. Their work sometimes keeps them going for days without adequate sleep. As a result, when they get some time to spare they use it to catch up on much-needed rest. An entrepreneur's brain is always working. As they come up with new ideas, they may need time away from all the distractions around them. This allows them to think clearly and so the ideas will flow freely. While dating an entrepreneur, you will realize over time that their desire for solitude doesn't mean they want to be away from you. You will also learn to make the most of the time apart.

They Need Your Support

You rarely see or hear of a successful entrepreneur without a supportive spouse. Your support means the world to them. Having your support motivates them to work harder in order to fulfil their promises to you. Being supportive isn't limited to celebrating their wins and comforting them through the losses. You can support your partner by being understanding when they don't come home early or when they have to miss an event. Another means of showing your support is by exercising patience. Chances are your partner might not be at the pinnacle of their career, but they are working assiduously towards achieving that goal. Do not expect things to happen overnight, it may take months or even years to get there. If you are willing to continuously be there for them, even at their lowest, you will eventually be able to reap the rewards as they won’t forget your support.

You'll Mean More to Them Than You Think

An entrepreneur's lifestyle often makes it hard for them to maintain a stable relationship. Not a lot of people are willing to stick around when they realize the hard work and patience that is sometimes required. Most entrepreneurs know this and when they find someone willing to put up with all that comes with the relationship best believe you will be cherished beyond compare. An entrepreneur recognizes when they have found a good thing and they will do all they can to keep you in their life. It may not always seem that way but it's true.

Conclusion

Dating an entrepreneur can be an amazing and fulfilling experience or it can be an awful one. Starting a business is a huge step and it requires time and hard work. Many entrepreneurs avoid relationships because their business often takes precedent over everything else. The few that do get into relationships struggle to find the right balance between their business and their relationship. If you decide to date an entrepreneur you must be ready to support them, be patient with them and help them to find the perfect balance.

Have you ever dated an entrepreneur? Share your experiences in the comments below.

See you next post!

Pin for later!