Marriage Preparation vs Business Preparation!

I am one lucky lady, my partner proposed in the summer and we are due to marry in August 2012.

Last weekend, we were requested by the Reverend marrying us in my local church that we attend a “Marriage Preparation Course”. Initial thoughts were mixed, my partner made numerous jokes and comments about how a 3 hour course could never prepare somebody for a lifetime of marriage and I must admit, I agreed with him. However, it did get me thinking about how we prepare for the big challenges and changes in life, and how had I prepared for the other big challenge in my life, the setting up of my business.

Now although I would like to think I prepared myself as best I could for a career as a young entrepreneur, I must admit I could have done better. A couple of Business Link courses and some research online was as much as I could muster before I had to throw myself head first into the business world. Being a much more “hands-on” person, I got bored of taking notes and wanted to crack on with the practical stuff.. impatient is the word to use here. It didn’t take long to realize that I had some major hurdles to overcome and that I had a lot of things to learn “on the job”. Perhaps this will be the same in marriage.. I still can’t cook (although I’m not envisaging that to be a problem now we’re comfortably in the 21st Century) but I’m expecting other problems to arise that neither of us will be prepared for. Learning “on the job” is sometimes the only way, and its often the most effective way.

Although I haven’t taken quite the same impulsive and impatient route into marriage (my partner assured this by waiting 3 years before proposing!) I do feel that a general “fear of the unknown” is starting to creep into my life. Whats going to be different when I’m married? How will things change? Will I suit married life?
When I started my business, I had the same feeling. What’s going to be different when I’m running my own business? How will things change? Will I suit the life of an Entrepreneur?

Unfortunately, I didn’t attend a “Life of a Young Business Woman Preparation” course.. although I’m sure, had I looked hard enough one would have been available! These questions were left to be worried about by myself. But I must admit, there is a familiar feeling in the back of my mind now, as I’m preparing to get married, as there was when I was preparing to become my own boss.
Somehow, I just know it will work.

I am of the understanding that a successful and happy married life requires a lot of hard work, passion and of course, commitment. To me, this seems strikingly familiar to the skills an Entrepreneur or Woman in Business must encompass to build a successful, and happy, working life.

Wish me luck!