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Be the 60% spouse. The person you marry is one of the most important decisions in your life. You will spend more time with this person than anyone else. You will make decisions together, grow together, and raise children together. If you choose the right person to marry, your life will be filled with happiness and prosperity, but if you choose the wrong person, you will be condemned to a life of unhappiness, drama, and financial problems. But choosing the right spouse is only half the battle. A good marriage is not created on your wedding day. It comes from the constant work that you and your spouse do to be a good partner to each other over time. Because the word “partner” gets used often when speaking about marriage, most people think a husband and wife should each bring 50% of the value to the relationship. A happy marriage isn’t 50/50 though. It is 60/40 with both partners trying to be the 60%. When you and your spouse are trying to bring the extra effort to the relationship, it is nearly impossible for the marriage to get off course. This is especially important on the hard days when one of you is tired, annoyed, or angry. My wife and I have seen the benefits of this principle over the years. She constantly looks out for me, tries to predict things I may need in the future, is always ready with a few words of encouragement at the right moment, and does whatever is necessary for our marriage and our family to be successful. I do my absolute best to return the favor. Sometimes this extra effort can be small things like buying her flowers unexpectedly, surprising her with a date night, or doing a few extra chores around the house. Other times I may help with her professional work or spend time talking with her about the important things going on in her world. Whenever I see an opportunity to do something that will make me the 60% of the relationship, I try to seize it. And the beauty of our marriage is that she does the same thing. So my wish for each of you is that you find a spouse that has a similar approach to marriage. But here is the secret: you will only find this person if you first become the type of person who aspires to be the 60% in a relationship. It is this lack of selfishness that will attract the person who is a good partner you can build an amazing life with. The 60% approach applies to any relationship you are a part of, including business, investing, or your personal life. Those who give the most tend to get the most. It is a powerful law of the universe. But nowhere is it more important than in your marriage. As you get older, and you have been married for longer, life starts to happen. There is the complexity of managing chaotic schedules, children become more needy, and it is easy to be less intentional about your marriage as you focus on other things. But don’t fall into this trap. Be the 60% spouse. Go the extra mile, and you will pick your head up in 50 years and be proud of the incredible relationship you built with the person you love most. This is an excerpt from my new book, How To Live An Extraordinary Life Volume 2. You can buy a copy of the book here: https://t.co/KW3fShJkON