Category Archives: Marriage & Divorce

Advice from Married Entrepreneurs Sara Blakely and Jesse Itzler – Babson Thought & Action

  Marriage & Divorce

Two of the newest inductees into Babson’s Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs® are entrepreneurial power-couple Sara Blakely, Spanx founder and CEO, and Jesse Itzler, co-founder of Marquis Jet and best-selling author.

In one of their first joint interviews as married entrepreneurs, Blakely and Itzler talked about how they met, why it’s important to build a life résumé, and the most important decisions they’ve ever made.

Get on Their Radar

Jesse: I first met Sara at a poker tournament. She was a customer of my company, Marquis Jet, and we met at a customer appreciation event. I knew I liked Sara, but we were only sort of friends.

I’d signed up for the USA National Ultramarathon championship. I wasn’t a huge runner at the time and had given myself 90 days to train for the event. I wanted to get on Sara’s radar, so I called her assistant. That is a theme in my life: if I want to get on someone’s radar, I cold call them, or I show up.

I called the next day and I said, “Lisa! This is Jesse Itzler, I’m about to run a 100-mile race, and I will run the entire 100 miles in Spanx for a testimonial or a donation from Sara.” [Sara laughs.]

Lisa put me on hold and told Sara a lunatic was on the phone, saying he’s going to run 100 miles in Spanx. Sara said, “I think I know that lunatic,” and a year later, we were married. You can ridicule the process, but it works!

Sara: Even now, if Jesse reads an article in the newspaper, in a magazine, or if a commercial comes on TV, he’ll want to know that person. And he literally finds them and either calls them and goes and meets with them, or sends them letters. It feels like fourth grade: “Do you want to be my friend? Check yes or no.” It’s so funny, but it’s how he operates.

Rip Up the Playbook

Jesse: I met a Navy SEAL at a 100-mile race. He weighed 285 pounds at the time and by 70 miles in, he had broken all of the bones in his feet because he weighed so much. I watched this guy duct tape both of his feet, pick himself up out of his chair, and then run another 30 miles to finish the race.

I was really interested in what makes a guy like that tick. I cold called him, and he said he would give me 15 minutes. We ended up having lunch and by the end, I’d invited him to come and live with us, and he’d said yes. Sara called that afternoon to ask about my lunch meeting, so I said it had gone great, and very quickly I said, “He’s coming to live with us.” She was like “You met him on a bus?!” And I was like no, “He’s coming to live with us . . .

On Friday.

For a month.”

Sara: That was a very fascinating time for our whole family. A lot of times in life we seem to gravitate toward common threads; the people we work with are similar, the people we went to school with are similar, and the older you get the more that happens.

Part of what I love about being married to Jesse is that he just disrupts that whole model. Having a Navy SEAL that had been living on the road out of a backpack collide with our world and live with us in our New York apartment was fascinating. He’s constantly bringing people like that home!

Jesse: Sara brings up a good point. As entrepreneurs, part of our job is to rip up the playbook. Like-minded people are amazing, but you learn so much more from people that are nothing like you. My biggest takeaway from living with a Navy SEAL, or from my recent experience living with eight monks in a monastery, is that you can incorporate their systems and perspectives and apply them to your everyday life to make you better.

I’ve always come from a place of investing in experiences. I believe in building your life résumé as well as building your business and traditional résumé, and that’s worked really well for me. Sara always says the more you experience, the more you have to offer. I’ve just tried to live my life building experiences, and I’m blessed with parents that allowed me to have that freedom, and that it led me to my wife.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Sara: I like to say there’s a job, a career, and a calling. As best as you can, find your calling and pursue a path that you are passionate about. If you are struggling to figure out your calling, ask yourself what makes you cry. That answer can get you close to what you’re really passionate about.

Differentiate yourself. Learn how to tell somebody in a minute or less why you’re different, why you’re the best option, and work really hard. Never underestimate how hard you’ll work. I always say start small, think big, and scale fast.

Jesse: Start the process. It’s more important to be passionate about the process than to be passionate about your product. We often try to get all the I’s dotted, T’s crossed, and get a lot of experience. I like to say that sometimes experience can be overrated. It just takes too long. As an entrepreneur in today’s fast-moving world, I’d say start. You don’t have to have all the answers figured out, but you have to start the process.

Both Blakely and Itzler appreciate that their marriage is something special. They share hopes and dreams for their four young children and have a mutual respect for each other as entrepreneurs. “We respect that each of us moves at a fast pace,” Blakely has said. “That might bother some, but we get it.”

As for the one decision that’s made the biggest impact on their lives? For each, it is the other. “Marry the right person,” Itzler advised at the end of our interview. “It is the most important decision you’ll ever make.”

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Michelle Williams on interracial dating, depression, bridal shower hosted by Beyoncé and Kelly

  Marriage & Divorce, marriage advice

We’ve watched her rock the stage as 1/3 of Destiny Child, act in some of Broadway’s biggest shows, and now she’s fallen for the man of her dreams Chad Johnson. The couple sat down with the A-Scene’s Francesca Amiker to discuss their love story, plans for the future, and the marriage advice Michelle received from her Destiny’s Child band mates.

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Chad Johnson and Michelle Williams visit ‘Extra’ at Universal Studios Hollywood on November 7, 2018 in Universal City, California. (Getty Images)

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AMIKER: So, I’m very curious. We’re going to just jump right in it here.  You guys met on a retreat. Now, as someone who is single, I’m like, “Girl, is that something that you would recommend?”

WILLIAMS:  You are so hilarious. A few women have been like, “Girl, what’s the name of that retreat?”  So, Chad has a Young Adult retreat every year outside of Phoenix called “REMIX” for his young adults based off of his ministry called Elevate. So that’s how we met. A friend of mine said, “You gotta come to this retreat. It’s gonna change your life.” And of course, I said yes. I love being in church.  That’s how we met.

'The A-Scene' Entertainment Scoop

'The A-Scene' Entertainment Scoop

AMIKER: So, this is really a match made in heaven, a match that will soon be in matrimony. You guys are very faith-based and religious. So, what drew you to her? I heard you made the move.

JOHNSON: I did make the move. I wanted to kinda wanted to test the waters.  She kinda gave me the Heisman, gave me a little stiff arm, but it ended up working out because look what’s on her finger. Persistence pays off.  

WILLIAMS: Sometimes you want a man to be clear on his communication.  So when he first approached me. I said, “I don’t know what you talking about.” That’s pretty much what he meant by the Heisman.

AMIKER: March 21st, and now you guys will be walking down the aisle in your time. I have to ask…reality tv. I didn’t see this coming but you all see it in your future. What made you say let me jump in reality television and showcase my life with my new man?

WILLIAMS: Well I didn’t think reality tv per se, which of course technically that’s what  it is.  I thought lets have the cameras roll on a real pre-marital counseling session because so many people we know or so many people that follow us have told that “me and my husband never did  pre-marital counseling.” And I’m like how? I just don’t think we can be successful without all the tools and pre-marital counseling brings up all the topics you need to talk about now.

AMIKER: So you’re slowing starting to find some things out about Michelle.

JOHNSON: Yeah, and counseling has helped out a lot.

AMIKER: So in this recent episode, it really got heated. You guys have been doing press and of course, you’re talking about it. A lot of people went after Chad when he went after your mental health, and you did come to his defense but why do you think it is important for you to say the thing about the mental health, “did you take your meds”?

JOHNSON: Well it wasn’t important in the moment. That episode is interesting because it captures just a portion of our counseling session and so that specific episode was on communication, and we were talking about how we communicate, the different nuances that we’re learning to understand one another through. And that was one thing that we failed at and we decided to show our failure, and in showing our failure, the world decided to make a story of it.

WILLIAMS: Take it and run with it! And then the crazy thing is. Yes, he asked me did I take my meds.  But in that same episode, if you watched the episode, he says “I apologize, I should have never said that.” But people don’t even know what I was saying in that same disagreement, argument, whatever you want to call it. So, don’t come after Chad. Please don’t do that. I haven’t either in my communication with him. He said it one time. He’s never said anything crazy like that. So, you know, things happen. I just want people at home to search your communication with your parents, with your significant other, with how you treat people at work. I feel like while you’re running your mouth about what Chad said, make sure your communication is crystal clear and perfect too.

AMIKER: And you guys being on this show really do show this new light on interracial dating as well. Have you both ever had a relationship that was interracial?

WILLIAMS: No, I recall trying to date someone outside my race and the person’s mom told him, “No, you can have black friends, but you just can’t date them. I said I want you and your mom to have a relationship so I’m gonna be out. But I was in 7th grade…I was really young. I haven’t thought about it since. You can say when we  got together we didn’t think about race. The world brought it…they think about it.

JOHNSON : It’s not my first time dating outside of my race, but definitely going this far.

AMIKER: And then getting engaged, so when you all have children because we know that is a possibility, do you find that it might be a difficult conversation to have because they need to know?

WILLIAMS: I feel like we can prepare for things. But you won’t know until we’re actually having children when they start asking us questions. I do think that’s when we’ll know the temperament of each child and we’ll, of course, be honest. Yes, mommy is black. Yes, daddy is white. You are beautiful.

AMIKER: What’s been the most difficult thing about shooting this. You are displaying your life in front of the world. 

WILLIAMS:  I will say the shooting schedule is not consistent. Sometimes you don’t know the night before what you’ll be doing.  But I will say the most difficult thing, knowing the intent of the show, our heart was to inspire people let people know don’t just call us relationship goals because of a cute, fly picture you saw on social media. Just know behind that picture is work.  Love is going to win no matter what!

AMIKER: You go, girl!

WILLIAMS: That was the intent of our show and I feel a little bit like man, should we have done it? You know older folks mention the Bible talking about, “Do not let your good be evil spoken of.” We wanted to be good. We wanted to be a light.  We wanted to inspire as a form of ministry. We wanted this platform to speak on the realness of a relationship.

JOHNSON: And I think it’s a joy to show you the reality, because so many people think this love thing, this marriage thing, is all this great fantasy and fairy tale that you see in a Disney film. But the reality is it takes work. You can love each other and still have to work.

WILLIAMS: And it can be a fairy tale when you can get through some of the hard things that I can speak to forever, our engagement to each other did amplify things in me that I didn’t know I was healed from. And you will see that in this show as it plays out.

AMIKER: We have quite a few Michelle Williams fans in the building so they put out one question for you and it was “So you are now engaged to the love of your life, have you received any type of marriage advice from Kelly Rowland and Beyonce?”

WILLIAMS: Of course! Of course! They are so excited. They can’t wait to plan this bachelorette party. I’m like I don’t want…I just want to go to the spa and drink a peach Bellini or something. I just want chill.  I want to go into marriage chill not…it takes too much energy. I’m gonna just let them plan whatever they want. You (pointing at Chad) can’t plan yours though. I’m planning your bachelor party.

AMIKER: Oh, no you’re not! You can’t do that. (laughs)

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11Alive’s Francesca Amiker sits down with Michelle Williams and Chad Johnson to chat about their new series “Chad Loves Michelle”

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Marriage Advice Relationship Help Bestselling Book Kindle Download Announced

  Marriage & Divorce, marriage advice

(Newswire.net — November 20, 2018) — Author Dr. Stephen Openshaw has announced a Kindle download of his book Seven Choices: Save Your Marriage & Sex Life Before It’s Too Late. The download will be available for free for three days only from November 24, otherwise available to purchase at its usual price.

More information can be found here: Get Your Free Copy.

The book offers a practical approach to teach couples simple strategies that will help them in different areas of their marriages. The core strategies taught in the book are how to support each other like great partners, how to rekindle the romance in a relationship, how to communicate better and truly understand each other, and how to know where to focus their efforts to keep the love alive.

Dr. Stephen Openshaw wrote the book after being motivated by the sudden and unexpected loss of his marriage of 25 years. He drew upon his own personal experience and his Masters and Doctorate in clinical psychology to write a book to help couples overcome the trials and tribulations of marriage.

In addition to his extensive education in clinical psychology, Dr. Openshaw has received extensive training in couples therapy and has worked with the founders of the UCLA Human Sexuality Program and the Institute for Sex and Marital Therapy, learning how to effectively help couples with their intimate difficulties.

This volume is the first part of his Seven Choices series, with the 2nd volume coming out next year titled Seven Choices: Great Relationships and Marriage in the Military. Dr. Openshaw has spent time helping military veterans with various injuries and relational problems, and continues to support the armed forces as a clinical health psychologist at the Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.

The book has received numerous accolades, including this Amazon review reading, “This is a great book with extremely helpful, actionable tips for people who want to make their love last. Steve’s story is touching and relatable, and he writes with a fresh voice that you’ll enjoy. I highly recommend Seven Choices.”

More information and the link to purchase can be found by following the above-mentioned link, and readers can enjoy a free Kindle download for 3 days only starting on November 24.

Luke Bryan's Wife Shared Funny Advice For A Successful Marriage

  Marriage & Divorce, marriage advice
Celebrities & Pop Culture

The couple is going strong more than a decade later, so these tips must work!

Getty Images | Jason Kempin

There’s no denying that marriage takes a lot of work. Matrimony is not just about making a commitment to each other, it’s also about promising to always improve your relationship, even through difficult times.

Want your partnership to last? Caroline Bryan, the wife of country music star Luke Bryan, says there are two keys to a happy union: Always find things to laugh about and sometimes pretend you can’t hear anything.

Caroline, who’s been with the singer for two decades, shared her hilarious relationship tips in a recent Instagram post. Check it out below:

“2 tips for a successful marriage: Have a sense of humor and selective hearing,” the mom of five captioned her post. She added, “Many days I swear Luke needs a hearing aid.”

It’s safe to say that all couples should heed her marriage advice. After all, Caroline and Luke have been hitched for more than 10 years, so clearly her tips work!

But Caroline’s advice for a rewarding relationship wasn’t the only hilarious part of her Instagram post. The Georgia native also shared a funny photo of the couple on vacation for a friend’s wedding. In it, Caroline is giving some side-eye to the camera and sipping on a drink.

It seems Caroline takes “sense of humor” to heart!

2014 Billboard Music Awards - ArrivalsGetty Images | Frazer Harrison

Of course, the college sweethearts know that making a marriage work takes more than selective hearing and a sense of humor — though those are surely important. Unwavering support and gratitude will also go far in helping a partnership last.

Case in point: When Luke started out his country music career, Caroline was the financial rock. “When we got married, her career supported me when I was making about $10,000 a year,” the “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” singer said during an appearance on a recent episode of  “Pickler & Ben,” according to People. “She was the one bringing in the dough.”

More than a decade later, the couple is still going strong.

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