Source: NecoleBitchie.com
Kanye West has been getting a lot of flack for dating “below his level” with his new love, Kim Kardashian. Granted, Kris Jenner has made her daughter one of the most talked about celebrities of the day. And Kanye’s ego feeds off his celebrity, but he’s still a musical genius, an description that doesn’t quite fit Kim.
Kanye may know exactly what he’s doing. There are benefits to having a partner that isn’t on the same level professionally as you are. A über famous supporting role may be the perfect fit for Kim’s skillset. We all saw Taraji’s dilemma in “Think Like a Man”; sometimes having two power players in a romantic relationship is more than said relationship can handle.
The Harvard Business School reported that 80% of women at the top of their field have husbands who don’t work, showing that it is difficult to sustain a relationship between two people completely devoted to their careers. As picturesque as the Obamas and the Knowles-Carters of the world make it look, being a power couple is hard work. The high-profile break ups that continuously plague tabloid front pages show that sometimes it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
Brokering a relationship between two workaholics requires flexibility and compromise – values that aren’t as prized as they used to be. We live in an era of individualism. Everyone is more concerned with making the most of his or her own lives rather than sacrificing personal interest to build something with another person. With power coupledom comes the danger of the relationship eclipsing the individuals involved, something some self-involved overachievers have a hard time stomaching.
Being one half of a super duo isn’t all bad. Long time couples like Will and Jada Smith find ways to allow their personal and professional lives to support one another. Two incredible drives joining forces can lead to a union that pushes both individuals to be better. The power couples that put as much effort into maintaining their relationships as they do their careers are the ones that seem to last.
Just in case Kim’s reality television schedule becomes all too much for Kanye to handle, here are some tips relationship experts point to for helping workaholic couples make it for the long haul. Keep these rules in mind when planning your own personal mergers.
- Share the control. You may run everything at the office, but that mentality won’t work quite as well at home. Don’t waste time battling for supremacy, and be willing to take a backseat if your partner needs a supporter.
- Develop ground rules together. Decide what compromises both of you are willing to live with, and establish your relationship’s priorities.
- Respect your partner’s work. Do not view their career as an imposition on your time together, but as a means to build a future together.
- Work together to build something together. Just like any other partnership, a relationship is a great opportunity to capitalize off each person’s strength.
- Be willing to put in the hard work necessary to work thorough problems that will arise. You shouldn’t expect to give your all at work and skate through your relationship.
- Arrange your schedule in advance so that you set aside free time to spend together. When you do get time together, leave the work and the stress at the office.
Cortney Cleveland is a freelance writer and content strategist in New York City. You can follow her on Twitter @CleveInTheCity.
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