A Built to Last Marriage

After reading “Good to Great” by Jim Collins, I was amazed how long it takes to build a great company. Kroger, one of the companies that analyzed in the book, was around 100 years old. It often took at least 5 to 10 years of doing the right things in companies before the results were realized. Greatness takes time. Greatness takes patience.

The same principle also applies to marriage. A marriage grows greater by doing rights things over a long period of time. Karol and I are celebrating our 10th Anniversary on Friday. Ten years sounds like a long time but it has gone too quickly. We truly enjoy ourselves and our relationship (plus we’re madly in love with each other). A great marriage is enjoyable. A terrible marriage is miserable. Making improvements in your relationship and investing towards a better marriage over 10 years pays dividends.

Here are some recent purchases I made to make my wife’s life easier and more enjoyable:

A 2004 Honda Odyssey minivan with easy entry for 3 kids: $12,000

Playground which provides endless hours of entertainment for the kids: $1,600

Gym membership for Karol and kids to have fun during the day: $130 per month


Blackberry phone with Bluetooth for hands-free talking when you’re herding 3 kids: $80


A happy wife: priceless.