"Growing Apart: The #1 Reason Marriages Fail (It's Not Cheating)"

Entrepreneur couples often face a unique challenge: one partner's ambition accelerates while the other feels stuck, left behind, or forced to keep up. In this episode, Marie (intimacy coach) and Adam (business coach) get personal about the times their own growth was mismatched — and what they learned about mindset, attachment, and control along the way.

Key Discussion Points:

Adam's Ironman training story and how it triggered feelings of abandonment for Marie

What a "fixed mindset" really is — and how it often traces back to childhood safety patterns

Carol Dweck's growth vs. fixed mindset research and how it applies to relationships

Why growing apart (not cheating) is a leading cause of marriage breakdown

Anxious attachment and why a partner's growth can feel like a threat

The Michelangelo phenomenon: how great couples sculpt each other into their ideal selves

Letting go of control vs. trying to "fix" your spouse

The Dolly Parton example of supporting a partner's individual growth

A practical exercise: the Vivid Vision practice for growth-minded couples

Introducing the SPARK framework for weekly relationship check-ins

Resources Mentioned:

Mindset by Carol Dweck

Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold

Free Couples Connection Workbook (SPARK framework) — link in description

Connect with Startup Spouses:

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