Swiping Right on Strategy: How Dating is Basically Running a Business
Let's be honest, dating in the modern age feels less like a romantic comedy and more like a high-stakes negotiation. You swipe, you chat, you hope for the best, and sometimes, you just want to delete the app and order takeout. Sound familiar?
Ironically, I recently found myself navigating this chaotic landscape again, thanks to a rather unexpected addition to my business plan last November – a personal development goal that, shall we say, encouraged me to re-engage. My mastermind group, bless them for being all in, provided the necessary (and sometimes brutally honest) nudges. They pointed out some glaring parallels between my approach to business and my, ahem, lack thereof, when it came to dating.
This got me thinking: are dating and business really that different? Turns out, they're practically twins separated at birth. Let's look at the uncomfortable, hilarious, and surprising similarities.
The Highs and Lows: Rollercoaster Rides of Emotion & ROI
Just like building a business, dating is a rollercoaster of highs and lows.
You celebrate a successful launch (a great first date), only to face the crushing disappointment of a failed product (a ghosting). If you forgot how much I hate ghosting, you may want to revisit that blog post.👻
You experience the thrill of closing a deal (finding someone you really connect with) and the gut-wrenching anxiety of a potential market crash (realizing they're just not that into you).
Both require resilience, a thick skin, and the ability to learn from every experience. In business, you analyze market trends; in dating, you analyze text messages for hidden meanings. Either way, you're looking for signs of success or impending doom.
The Abundance of Choices: Paradox of Plenty & Market Saturation
Today, both the dating pool and the business landscape are overflowing with options. Apps provide an endless scroll of potential partners, while the internet offers a plethora of business opportunities. This abundance, however, can lead to the paradox of choice. Too many options can paralyze you, making it difficult to commit or choose wisely.
You start to second-guess every decision, wondering if there's a better option just a swipe or click away. Just as you need to niche down in business to stand out, you also need to clarify what you're truly looking for in a partner to avoid getting lost in the sea of possibilities.
The Uncomfortable Growth: Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone & Taking Calculated Risks
Both dating and business demand that you step outside your comfort zone. You have to put yourself out there, pitch your ideas (or your personality), and face the possibility of rejection. Networking events feel suspiciously like speed dating, and pitching a client is a lot like asking someone out on a second date.
You learn to embrace the discomfort, knowing that growth happens when you push your boundaries. Just as you invest in market research and business development, you invest in self-improvement and emotional intelligence to navigate the complexities of relationships.
The Importance of Feedback (and Rejection): Market Validation & Personal Growth
In business, customer feedback is crucial for refining your products and services. If you aren't collecting feedback, you're missing a wealth of low/no-cost feedback direct from your clients. In dating, feedback comes in the form of dates, conversations, and, yes, rejections. Both are invaluable learning experiences.
Rejection, though painful, provides insights into what's not working and helps you adjust your approach. You learn to listen, adapt, and iterate, whether you're refining your business model or your dating strategy. My mastermind group helped me realize that the feedback I was avoiding in dating was the exact same feedback I avoided in business. Both were holding me back from growth. Now I try to embrace it.
The Need for a Solid Strategy (and Plan): Business Plans & Relationship Goals
Just as a business needs a solid plan to succeed, dating requires a clear understanding of your goals and values. What are you looking for? What are your non-negotiables? More on this one next. Without a strategy, you're likely to wander aimlessly, wasting time and energy on incompatible pursuits. A business plan outlines your vision, target market, and growth strategy. Similarly, defining your relationship goals, understanding your values, and knowing your deal-breakers will help you navigate the dating world with more clarity and purpose. My business plan helped me find focus, and my mastermind helped me apply that focus to dating. They said, If you plan your business, plan your love life. It was an odd addition, but it was right.
The Non-Negotiable List: Setting Boundaries & Protecting Your Sanity
I said I'd say more on this one, and here we go. In business, you have deal-breakers – things you simply won't compromise on. In dating, it's just as crucial to create a non-negotiable list. This isn't your grocery list; it's a brutal, honest assessment of what you absolutely will not tolerate. In business, I've learned taking clients that weren't a good fit is a big recipe for disaster. Now, I'd rather pass up the money than put myself intothat situation again. In dating, there are some non-negotiables too. Some of mine - honesty, open communication, and, I am not at all willing to date someone in an open marriage. You need to be crystal clear about your boundaries and stick to them. It saves you time, energy, and a lot of heartache. Don't be afraid to be picky. Your non-negotiables are your shield.
The Profile as a Resume: First Impressions & Effort Matters
I'm consistently amazed at how many people fail to fill out their dating profiles fully. It's like showing up to a job interview with a blank resume. This is your first impression, your chance to showcase your personality and what you're looking for. If you can't put in the effort to create a compelling profile, it's a huge red flag for me and I swipe left. Just like a well-crafted business proposal, a thoughtful profile demonstrates that you're serious and invested. Show some effort, people!
Honesty and Integrity: Building Trust & Avoiding Red Flags
Honesty and integrity are non-negotiable in both business and relationships. If your profile says you're 52, but you later reveal you're actually 59, that's a problem. It raises serious questions about what else you're hiding or lying about. In business, you wouldn't misrepresent your product or services, so why do it in dating? Trust is the foundation of any successful relationship, and it starts with being honest from the get-go.
All this to say, whether you're building a startup or building a relationship, the core principles remain the same: understand your goals, embrace the challenges, learn from your mistakes, and be willing to pivot. And who knows, maybe your next business strategy session will inadvertently lead to a breakthrough in your love life. Or vice versa. They're surprisingly similar. So, embrace the chaos, learn from the swipes (and the spreadsheets), and remember, sometimes, the best partnerships – in business and in life – come from taking a calculated risk and putting yourself out there. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a pitch meeting... and a chat I need to get back to.