“Single vs. Married Entrepreneurs: Who Has the Edge”
So, who’s better off in business: the single entrepreneur with an unlimited supply of midnight oil to burn or the married entrepreneur with obvious time limitations, but also the support of a loving spouse and family?
Here, a look at how being single or married can give you an edge when it comes to three important aspects of living a successful entrepreneurial life.
Flexibility
Who has the edge? Single entrepreneurs
“A single entrepreneur has the benefit of not stressing out about getting home to take care of building a relationship,” Brackett said. “They may date, but it doesn’t really take the same sort of energy.”
For example, having the flexibility to attend networking events in the evenings, while married entrepreneurs may not be able to, can certainly offer an advantage when it comes to growing a business. If your industry also requires constant travel, the flexibility of being able to hop on a plane at a moment’s notice can also offer an edge to the single entrepreneur.
Work-Life Balance
Who has the edge? Married entrepreneurs
Finding ways to balance work and family is often top of mind for married entrepreneurs because they grapple with it on a daily basis, while single entrepreneurs can — albeit unwittingly — shift their personal needs to the back burner.
“When you’re married, you’re always revisiting the priorities, asking yourself: ‘What am I doing this for? What’s the long-term goal?'” Brackett said. “That’s a benefit because it forces you to make choices, you’re probably going to be happy with in the long run.”
To be sure, married business owners are also left wondering if their business is suffering because they need to spend more time working. Still, experts agree that finding some semblance of balance between work and play is critical for any business owner. Of course, that’s not to say single entrepreneurs don’t think at all about long-term goals, they’re just not necessarily forced to face them every day.
Time & Energy
Who has the edge? Single entrepreneurs
A single entrepreneur has more available time and energy to throw toward their business, and I think that unquestionably contributes to the success and thriving of a venture.
On the other hand, being in a loving relationship can bring an emotional high and there’s an energy and optimism that goes a long with it. When we’re feeling good and optimistic, we tend to get past our fears about taking that next step in business because we don’t feel so isolated. Whether you have a lot or a little time, experts say what’s most important to being a successful entrepreneur is knowing how to manage it.