I’ve struggled with that question for a while - are love and career mutually exclusive?

I’ve seen entrepreneurs - men and women alike - reach the pinnacle of industry because of their supportive spouses. My heros - Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Zig Ziglar, Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki comes to mind (although in Trump’s case, he got pretty screwed by Ivanka). My mentors, GH, CL and JG, are married and successful in their own ways.

Yet, I have also seen entrepreneurs who feel bachelorhood is better by far. It leaves them with time and energy to pursue what they desire. It is true that being single means no emotional baggage and “one less person” to consult on all matters pertaining to one’s career and life.

Women seem to get the short end of the stick. Marriage and pregnancy always means re-prioritizing their lives - more so than men. It also means they can’t be as ambitious as before - like a road bump appeared and derailed your train of success.

I have to believe that there can be a middle-ground. I’ve seen it happen with all my heros.

I think getting your soulmate early in life means one big “To Do List” out of the way - affording one more time to focus on the knucklehead stuff like that next business deal or company buy-out.

Having one’s soulmate onboard also means we get a different perspective to life from time to time. That its not just about the rat race or winning the game. It also means you have someone to celebrate your victories and comfort you in your trials and failures.

Sadly, of late i am having trouble believing in that.

My new year resolution for 2007 was to find my soulmate. Suffice to say, i haven’t been too successful in the dating game. I had made quite a fair bit of adjustments in my life:

• Slowing things down to create space for a significant other in my life
• Down-pacing some development projects to give time for relationships to grow.
• Accommodate with schedule of whomever i am dating - even to the extent of giving up time with my family.
• Abundant giving of my time and resources (sometimes monetary).

I guess you get the picture. I guess i discovered the high opportunity cost associated with my attempt to find a soulmate. Several business opportunities are coming up that requires my unbridled time and effort for it to succeed.

I had to make a choice. Something’s gotta give.

Eventually, I made a decision over the Christmas holiday to say farewell to the dating game for a while - at least till i’m 35 (don’t ask me how i came to that figure - i just know). Yes, no more one-on-one dates with members of the opposite sex.

I guess there are 3 goals that have come to the forefront:

• Financial security.
• Financial freedom.
• Retirement planning for my parents.

I hope i can find someone someday… who can be compatible with my goals.

Meanwhile, that probably means more time to blog too…