By: O.L./Sway Buckley
I'll conclude this series with this article.
But, as husbands, this is the time of year when we either finish strong or don't.
Q4 is the time of year when life goes fast, and our weeks are filled with routine, regiment, and food. The monotony of business launches, work, school, to-dos, and get-togethers becomes all-consuming.
We build businesses and bury feelings. This can be viewed as admirable and strong, but it can also be unhealthy.
The assumption is if we're not complaining, then we're somehow being a good leader.
And yes, to become a good leader, one must be known as someone other than a complainer. We find ways to get things done, and we don't gripe.
Wait a minute, how did we learn to blur the lines between complaining and healthy communication? This is why defining terms is so important.
Complaining, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is to express dissatisfaction about something.
Venting, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is to give free expression with strong emotion.
More clarity will be helpful for the sake of this article.
Complaining (I think we can all agree) has negative connotations. Therefore, complaining is expressing dissatisfaction with no attempt to resolve it.
Then, venting (expressing strong emotion) can be healthy if it respects boundaries and doesn't compromise influence. In other words, as husbands, we should learn to vent without complaining while maintaining respect for our wives/others and not compromising our influence.
We've likely all seen leaders lose it and think less of them afterward.
Now, how will you finish the final quarter of 2023?
The demand for our time and attention will stay the same. The uptick in to-dos won't decrease; they'll likely hold steady or increase.
In one principle, venting (in a productive manner) will benefit both the business and the family. Your clients/customers will notice, and so will your family.
Legacy isn't just what we build; it's also how we build it.
After ten years of entrepreneurship, I've learned to vent my thoughts and do it sooner rather than never. It's helped me love, build, and show up better all four quarters of the year.
Again, how will you finish Q4 2023?
Will you finish strong, or will you struggle unnecessarily into 2024?
If you're looking for insights on systems that help keep you two working powerfully in sync, get on the Q4 FinishStrong Waitlist.
Here's to living purposefully, powerfully, and profitably in sync,
O.L. & Sway
O.L. is a former banker turned real estate consultant and entrepreneur. Sway is a former CEO of a staffing firm she started on her dorm room floor to pay for college. Together, they co-own Marriedpreneur Life Consultancy, equipping faith-based married entrepreneur couples with high-level systems to scale (without strain). They're the creators of the Marriedpreneur Operating Systems and the co-hosts of The Marriedprenuer Life Podcast, which was praised as one of Wedding Wire's top relationship podcasts. Learn more at MarriedpreneurLife.com.