4 Steps to Keeping the Love Alive

The famous duo is never quite in sync. The lovers experience passion (but not permanence) throughout their epic love affair, and their stormy marriage reflects the surrounding Civil War battles. The flirtatious Scarlett can't make up her mind among her many suitors, and when she finally decides to focus on Rhett, her fickle nature has driven him away — and, well, he just doesn't give a damn anymore.

We all have quirks and habits that can grate on our colleagues. Fundraising in a climate like this is taxing, and that's the time many relationships flounder. Stay alert to keep your relationship smooth, and jump on the bumps as they surface — because you need more than love.

Encourage each other to grow

Respect for each other is absolutely fundamental. This means appreciating and accepting your marcom colleagues for the wonderful, unique human beings they are. And vice versa. I see so many love relationships in which one partner expects the other to conform in the way he or she deems appropriate. This is more like slavery than love and not conducive to a mutually satisfying, lasting relationship.

Your marcom colleagues might want to grow in ways you don't like or team with you on strategies or experiments you're not comfortable with. But flat-out refusing to consider their ideas stifles them — and the relationship because your colleagues will, in turn, treat you the same way.

Rather than restricting each other's freedoms, it's far better for partners to encourage each other to build on their own skill sets and confidence. That gives each of you the opportunity to grow both on your own and through each other. This is the only way true love — or a good fundraising/marcom partnership — can flourish.

Keep the spark alive