The Business of Love: 9 Best Practices for Improving the Bottom Line of Your Relationship

Dr. John Curtis
IOD Press (2006)
ISBN 0977344401
Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins for Reader Views (11/06)

Dr. John Curtis has a background in both business consulting and marriage therapy.  I suppose it is inevitable that he would combine the two into a recipe for marital success.  Dr. John Curtis penned “The Business of Love” to save the most important business venture anyone will ever delve into—marriage.  If you do not think that marriage is a business, try getting divorced.  I believe that you will see things differently. 

Why does Dr. Curtis believe that marriage is a business venture?  Dr. Curtis views each individual as a sole proprietorship.  They have functioned on their own for many years.  When they marry, they merge into a couple or a consolidated company.  Dr. Curtis points to the unity candle that is used in weddings symbolizing the joining of the couple.  Anyone who has studied business knows that mergers create complications in cultures.

Sometimes it is the small things that grate on a spouse’s nerves.  Does one person let the laundry pile up on the bathroom floor while the other loathes that horrible habit?  Maybe one spouse expects all the canned goods to be faced the same direction.  The other spouse may consider that to be over-the-top. 

Dr. Curtis teaches his readers to discover what their expectations as a couple are before they become a couple; however, this book will help couples who did not do so.  He teaches that everything needs to be laid out.  Couples must discuss topics from religion to bill-paying.  He also encourages couple and couples-to-be to discuss sex.  Even if you have refrained from sex until marriage, it must be discussed. 

Dr. Curtis approaches the start-up of marriage as a start-up of a small business.  The first question you are supposed to ask yourself when starting a small business is, “What business are we in?”  This leads to the formation of the vision statement, mission statement and objectives.  For those who have not studied business, “The Business of Love” details each step.  For those who have studied business, the application of business planning to marriage will seem like a no-brainer, but how many of us really have utilized this brilliant plan?

“The Business of Love” has many lists of topics to discuss with your significant other.  Some of the items may not be relevant now.  For instance, maybe you do not have children yet, so you may not think that those questions are relevant.  Think about them anyway.  Even those of us who do not plan for parenthood are surprised by it sometimes. 

Vision statements, mission statements, and objectives are subject to change.  Look over them from time to time.  Alter them accordingly.  From time to time look over the checklists in “The Business of Love.”  This is not a book to read and give away.  Keep it and expect to reread it throughout your dynamic relationship.
Dr. John Curtis brilliantly wrote “The Business of Love” to help all couples—married or not, male or female.  Read “The Business of Love” and may your relationship grow splendidly.

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