Margarita Confessionals: The hustle is a girl’s best friend
It’s Margarita Monday! Each week, we’ll be publishing a story about dating by Lauren Levine and/or Ali Washburn to go along with the latest episode of “The Margarita Confessionals,” a podcast for the jaded dater. You can find it on Soundcloud or iTunes.
We recently introduced a new segment on the podcast called “The Hustle is a Girl’s Best Friend.” The notion is that when someone posts a picture of her engagement ring, social media explodes, showering the soon-to-be bride with hundreds of likes and congratulatory messages. But when that same woman is announcing a job promotion or the start of a business, she usually receives a golf clap in comparison to the thunderous applause she got for her relationship news. While getting married and starting a family is amazing, the segment aims to shed light on the badass, beautiful accomplishments women are achieving beyond marriage and kids.
Our first hustler was Jordan Dollard, owner of Elsa Fine boutique (head to the shop’s grand opening party today!).
This week’s featured hustler is Corri Smith, owner of Black Wednesday Social Co. Corri has worked with tons of clients you know, and she’s also the co-creator of one of our favorite networking events ,#instabeerupclt. If you look at her portfolio, you’ll be blown away, but as we chatted with Corri it’s clear that running a business and maintaining a personal life is a tough balancing act.
As someone who’s doing the freelance thing, I can relate. So what can you do if work is at the core of who you are but you still want to enjoy a relationship?
Set time aside
If your professional and personal lives intertwine, you might have to force yourself to build in time for dating, knowing how easy it is to fill up your week with commitments. Make a conscious effort to keep room in your calendar for first dates, events where you might meet someone new, or time to see who’s out there on apps like Bumble or Tinder.
Be upfront about your lifestyle, but don’t apologize for it
When you’re committed to your career (whether you want to grow in your field, are looking to start a business, are freelancing, etc.) sacrifices need to be made. You’re going to have to stay in when everyone else is out sometimes, and you’ll decline invitations you’d probably like to say yes to. Not everyone you date will understand this. There’s no need to apologize for your approach to life, but you should be honest about it when you’re dating. How much do you need to work? When do you need to get to bed? Being upfront ensures that the person you eventually choose to build a relationship with supports the way you structure your week.
Adapt in a way that makes you comfortable
Relationships require give and take, and if finding another person to spend time with matters to you, you’re going to have to adapt to meet someone else’s needs. Think honestly about what that might look like. What are you willing to change and what’s non-negotiable? Taking inventory of your life and finding wiggle room enables you to build in space for a relationship without feeling like you’ve compromised what matters the most to you.
Find the right kind of person for you
When your career takes up a lot of your attention, you need to find someone who respects this. Seek out someone who has something they’re chasing too. Even if it’s not a work-related passion, maybe they love playing music or restoring old cars. They’ll have a better understanding of your whole-hearted commitment.
Photo: Courtney Schramm
This story was originally published July 17, 2016 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Margarita Confessionals: The hustle is a girl’s best friend."