Here are some examples from their conversation for you to try with your parent or relative: Intentions: Mom, I want to talk about how our relationship is so tense so we can try to make it better. My intention is for us to feel closer and for it to be easier for us to spend time together. Concerns: I’m concerned that you’re going to feel bad or

Esther Perel, a couple’s therapist, once told us that if we stayed together for a long time, we would have more than one relationship with each other, and we’d have to be prepared to allow our relationship to evolve.

What worked in my delivery? What didn’t work? How did it feel to hear what I had to share? How could I have been more effective in my delivery?

Boundaries: Are there any topics we should avoid during the talk? What is the room like? Will I be able to see the audience? How many people will be in the room? What time of day am I speaking? Is it okay to ask questions of the audience or ask them to interact with each other in a workshop-like activity? How does your audience feel about the use

Dreams are your goals combined with heart, action, and humanity. Sharing them

Schedule a weekly check-in to review the budget and update plans. Assume positive intent when communicating with each other.

John Gottman’s Four Horsemen of the Relationship Apocalypse theory shows how criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling lead to breakdown and disengagement. (We avoid these in our marriage, too!)

If this goes incredibly well, what will be true after it is over? How will you feel during and afterward? Where will you be in your life, career, or geographically? What business metrics will have shifted? And by how much?

Notice that concerns might bring up values and assumptions.