[Podcast Episode #9] The Problem of Marriage: The Tightrope Walk of Business Owners

In our pursuit of building something great—companies, teams, legacies—we often overlook the very house that, if neglected, can bring the whole structure down. The Medici brothers, Cris Auditore and Dr. Philip Zimmermann, confront this sobering reality in their podcast Get Your House in Order. Their message? You can scale a business, but if your marriage collapses, the cost is higher than any financial loss.

Cris, reflecting on 23 years of marriage, opens up about the turbulent seasons that taught him this truth the hard way. In one episode, he tells the story of a family trip to Italy. It had all the markings of perfection—sun-kissed beaches, gelato afternoons, and Instagram-worthy sunsets. Yet beneath the surface, tension simmered. The vacation, intended to connect the family, instead magnified what had been ignored for months: disconnection, miscommunication, and buried frustrations.

Why does this happen? Because daily routines and distractions mask the cracks. But when you’re on holiday—just you, your partner, and the absence of escape—the silence gets loud.

And here’s the wake-up call: business owners plan meticulously—quarterly reviews, weekly targets, daily KPIs. But when it comes to the most important relationship in their lives, they wing it. No shared calendar. No strategic conversations. Just a hope that love will figure itself out.

Philip and his wife decided to change that. They now apply the same discipline they use in their companies to their relationship. Weekly check-ins. Monthly rhythms. Quarterly visions. It’s not sexy, but it’s saving their marriage. And in business terms—it’s the best risk mitigation strategy they’ve ever implemented.

Sex? Let’s talk about it. The brothers do. Not as a punchline, but as a crucial thread in the fabric of marriage. They candidly discuss the discomfort that comes with navigating differing needs, but also the intimacy and trust that emerge when those conversations are had with care and intention. Tools like The Five Love Languages are not just feel-good resources—they’re strategic assets in the marriage portfolio.

But perhaps the most compelling insight is this: Marriage isn’t just a relationship. It’s a legacy issue.

Divorce, Cris and Philip point out, isn’t just emotionally devastating—it’s financially catastrophic. It can cost you half your net worth, shake your business foundations, and scar the next generation. But beyond the numbers, it fractures the very house you were trying to build.

So let’s be honest. If your business partner mismanaged half your wealth, you’d fire them. But many tolerate negligence in their marriage until the damage is irreversible.

Here’s the alternative: be as intentional in your marriage as you are in your business. Set goals. Block out time. Have the hard conversations. Not to survive—but to thrive. To build a relationship that is not only resilient but radiant.

Cosimo de’ Medici, the father of the Renaissance, knew how to build banks and empires. But he also built a home where relationships flourished. If he could lead Europe and still make time for the people he loved—what’s our excuse?

Don’t jeopardize your family. Don’t jeopardize your legacy. Get your house in order.