How society fools the poor with "work/life balance"

Summary

In this engaging podcast segment, the speaker reflects on building multiple successful companies with his wife, emphasizing the importance of aligning work and personal life. He discusses the misconception of work-life balance, advocating for the integration of passion into work. The speaker shares experiences that highlight the joy of working and the challenges of maintaining a relationship while being deeply involved in business. He also touches on the dynamics of marriage and entrepreneurship, suggesting that shared goals and mutual respect are key to a harmonious partnership.

Takeaways

• 💼 The speaker and his wife have successfully built six multi-million dollar companies in the past five years, with their current portfolio generating about 85 million a year.
• 🎙️ The speaker was recently interviewed on a two-hour long podcast, discussing the balance between work, life, and marriage while building companies together.
• 🔄 The speaker rejects the idea of 'work-life balance' in the traditional sense, opting instead for optimizing life around what he and his wife enjoy, which includes working.
• 🎂 An anecdote about the speaker choosing to work on his birthday instead of celebrating, highlighting his preference for work over leisure.
• 🏆 The speaker emphasizes the importance of working to create options, not to avoid work, and that the freedom to choose when to work is a form of liberation.
• 📉 A period in 2021 when the speaker did not work led to a miserable year, as he struggled to find fulfillment in spending the money he had made.
• 🛠️ The speaker finds joy in building infrastructure and hiring teams for his business, Acquisition.com, after realizing the importance of staying engaged in work.
• 🤝 The speaker believes that successful relationships, especially in business partnerships, require a shared understanding and respect that comes from being in the 'battlefield' together.
• 👫 The speaker discusses the challenges of maintaining a relationship while being deeply involved in business, suggesting that compromise is not necessarily a part of a successful marriage.
• 🏠 The speaker and his wife have found a balance by creating space in their work and personal lives, ensuring they don't become too familiar with each other to the point of losing excitement.
• 🔄 The speaker suggests that the happiest couples are those who have parallel careers with shared goals and values, respecting each other's individual paths.

Q & A

How many companies have the speaker and his wife built in the last five years?

The speaker and his wife have built six multi-eight-figure companies in the last five years.

What is the annual revenue of their current portfolio?

Their current portfolio does about 85 million dollars a year.

What is the name of the platform the speaker runs?

The speaker runs a platform called acquisition.com.

What was the main topic of the podcast segment the speaker wants to share?

The main topic of the podcast segment was the experience of building companies together while being married and balancing work life and marriage.

What does the speaker believe about the concept of work-life balance?

The speaker believes that people should optimize for the things they enjoy doing, and if they enjoy working more, they should work more, rather than adhering to a traditional work-life balance.

How did the speaker feel about the year 2021 when he did nothing but own companies and generate cash flow?

The speaker felt that 2021 was a very miserable year because he tried to spend the money he was making but found it impossible, leading him to question the purpose of his work.

What was the speaker's realization about work after his experience in 2021?

The speaker realized that he works to create options, not to avoid work. He enjoys working and seeks the freedom to choose to work when he wants.

What is the speaker's view on the common dynamics in relationships, especially in the context of entrepreneurship?

The speaker believes that there are two dynamics that work in relationships over an extended period of time: being in it together and the cheerleader and quarterback dynamic. However, he emphasizes the importance of shared respect and understanding that comes from working together.

How does the speaker approach the potential issue of becoming too familiar with his spouse due to working together?

The speaker and his spouse create more space in their relationship by working on separate sides of the house and not attending the same meetings, allowing them to share their day's experiences with each other during dinner.

What does the speaker suggest as a potential downside of couples working together in business?

The speaker suggests that couples working together can become too familiar with each other, potentially leading to a sibling-like relationship instead of a romantic partnership.

How does the speaker define the difference between the 'we're in it together' and 'cheerleader and quarterback' dynamics in relationships?

In the 'we're in it together' dynamic, both partners work towards shared goals and understand each other's experiences. In the 'cheerleader and quarterback' dynamic, one partner supports the other's efforts without necessarily sharing the same work experiences, requiring a very aligned mission and goals.