How To Avoid A Valentine's Day Massacre Or 5 Easy Steps To Keep Your Valentine Forever!

Here are some little known facts about Valentine's Day:

1. Nationwide, 6,000 couples will tie the knot on Valentine's
Day 2008. Even when that date does not fall upon a Saturday,
February 14 is consistently one of the most popular days of the
year to wed.

2. 255,000 other couples will become engaged for Cupid's
favorite holiday. No wonder that date is beloved by greeting
card shops, romantic restaurants and diamond jewelers.

3. Yet (and here's the sobering part) based on current trends,
118,000 of this year's Valentine-launched unions will be
dissolved via divorce by Valentine's Day 2015!

Does all that mean the odds are stacked against lasting love
and long-term marriage? That even the most romantic love-birds
should anticipate break-up and disappointment in a few years?
That there is little hope for the thousands of couples
celebrating Valentine proposals and nuptials (or unions that
begin on any other date) this year?

Not at all! You and your sweetheart CAN overcome the
statistics, avoid break-ups, steer clear of divorce, and take
simple steps that keep Valentine love flourishing
forever--whether you're newly dating, newly betrothed, newlywed
or not-so-newly paired up. Use the following information to
avoid a possible "Valentine's Day Massacre!"

Start by recognizing that fewer people are getting married than
ever. Our nation's rate of marriage has dropped 50% in the last
40 years. In fact, for the first time in United States history,
more of us are single than married! That can certainly affect
our marriage numbers and success rate. But don't despair.

Next, make sure that yours is a "Built-to-Last" relationship by
treating your marriage like a business. Think about it... the
top objective of any business is long-term success. You can
apply the same proven business strategies that make for a
successful business to create a successful marriage...
Built-to-Last!

To keep love alive, you'll want to:

1. Develop a "love logo" which becomes the distinctive "brand"
for your one-of-a-kind relationship as you find and create an
image that reminds you how great your marriage is--just like a
corporate logo reminds you of what it stands for.

2. Write his and her job descriptions. Know what it expected of
each party to make this marriage business WORK. Start by
pinpointing each partner's chores and responsibilities around
the house. Don't risk losing that loving feeling over simple
things like who takes out the trash or who walks the dog.

3. Give each other timely "Performance Appraisals" based on how
well each of you is doing with your job descriptions. Be
prepared to make recommendations and garner praise. Love
blossoms when you're working in cooperation for success.

4. Expect an "emotional paycheck" in the marriage. Learn how
and when to ask for the raise you deserve--like more hugs,
compliments or flowers.

5. Meet frequently for couple's strategy sessions,
brainstorming, problem-solving and romantic retreats. These
meetings represent ideal opportunities to define and re-evaluate
the relationship, and to renew and refresh your bond.

Anyone can apply this business relationship model to strengthen
a budding romance to help get a new marriage off to a good
start OR to validate and fortify a relationship that has
already lasted for decades. Love IS a business! A wonderful
business you'll want to reinforce and sustain for a lifetime!

About The Author: Dr. John Curtis is an organizational
consultant, researcher, business trainer and author. His popular
books include The Business of Love! at
http://www.thebusinessoflove.org and Happily Un-married: Living
Together & Loving It! at http://www.cohabitating.org. Contact
jcurtis@iodinccom or 828-246-0459 (NC)

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