For 18 years and counting, Grant and I have been taking the concept of a committed relationship to new heights…
We relentlessly pursue our mission to help billions of people.
We push each other to set, reach, and surpass “impossible” targets.
And through it all… we are building an unshakeable empire.
Over the years, we have strived to embody the true meaning of a committed relationship. To do so, we always go back to the definitions:
“WHOLEHEARTEDLY DEDICATED [TO] THE STATE OF BEING CONNECTED”
For us, this connection goes far beyond marriage…
Business. Health. Finances. Personal development. All these pieces are crucial to our success as a power couple.
Yet how do we manage to keep the parts moving seamlessly?
Today, in this deeply personal article, I’ll be unveiling the details that have made all the difference for Grant and me.
But right before we dive in, there’s something I need you to be aware of…
The Difference Between Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships
When making a long-term commitment, it’s important to evaluate the partnership’s health status.
On a regular basis, take the time to ask difficult yet necessary questions:
- Does respect go both ways?
- Are there any trust issues?
- Do both partners feel valued, heard, and empowered?
To help you get a clearer picture of your own relationship, here are some green and red flags to watch out for…
| Healthy | Unhealthy |
| Encouraging career growth | Scolding for “working too much” |
| Working towards mutual goals | Moving in opposite directions |
| Cheering each other on | Belittling roles & accomplishments |
| Getting on the same page | Refusing to meet halfway |
| Forgiving & celebrating | Blaming & shaming |
| Focusing on the future | Staying stuck in the past |
| Sharing strong values | Clinging to limiting beliefs |
| Fostering productive habits | Partying, drinking, sleepless nights |
| Eliminating enemies from inner circle | Keeping toxic people around |
| Building together | Destroying the empire |
If you find yourself resonating with the actions in the “healthy” column, it means your relationship is on the right path.
Be proud of what you and your significant other are creating, and continue to build upon this foundation.
Now, I will move towards answering the question you’ve likely been thinking about this entire time…
How Did Grant and I Build a Successful Committed Relationship?
As spouses, parents, and business partners, Grant and I constantly push the boundaries of the conventional relationship. And we never settle for anything less.
We’re an ever-evolving work-in-progress, with expansion at the forefront of our minds.
Here are the key values which have been fueling the continued success of our relationship for nearly two decades…
Alignment
Grant and I wouldn’t be where we are today without our shared vision, mission, and purpose.
We invest time, energy, and effort into aligning our goals. As a result, we have a crystal clear picture of what we are here to accomplish — and how we can fulfill our purpose together.
Whenever the going gets tough, we always go back to why we do what we do:
- Helping every person we can to realize their potential
- Designing the lives we have always wanted — and guiding others to achieve the same
- Creating an incredible family legacy to empower our daughters and all the generations to come
As part of the ongoing alignment process, we complete each other with our individual strengths. For example, I own my role as the Architect with a creative vision. In turn, Grant is the Engineer who takes massive action to bring the vision to life.
Although our roles are complementary, there’s one value which is identical in our eyes…
Ethics
Regardless if we’re working on our relationship or business ventures, Grant and I are committed to being ethical.
No matter how audacious our goals are, we honor our agreements. If we say we’re going to do something, we will stop at nothing to make it happen.
Our fierce commitment to ethics has allowed us to:
- Build trust from day one — and keep it just as strong even years after
- Have each other’s back through thick and thin
- Move as a fortified unit even through the greatest hardships
Equipped with this ethical mindset, the following piece comes naturally…
Accountability
If we don’t hold ourselves accountable for our success, no one will. And our responsibility is to show up every moment of every day for our empire.
Something that sets us apart from other couples is the sheer amount of effort we put into this.
There’s a common misconception that if each partner brings 50%, the 100% will come full circle…
Yet nothing could be further from the truth for me and Grant. Our individual accountability for our collective success means we EACH bring 100% to the table on the daily.
And if one of us slips up with anything less, the other will make sure to check them on it.
How?
Communication
We talk about everything with full transparency. No stone goes unturned.
I don’t have any reason to be afraid of discussing issues with Grant, even though the topics might be hard. We treat these conversations with honesty and integrity, and we know these values will guide us to solutions.
Therefore, we start by openly communicating our concerns, wants, and needs. It would be unfair of me to expect Grant to magically know these aspects without telling him, and vice-versa.
Even more so, we go the extra mile, put our must-haves in writing, and turn them into lists. Grant jots down his wants and needs, I do the same, and then we swap papers.
If there’s anything the other can’t do, we negotiate terms and see how we can make this work together.
Sacrifices
Neither Grant nor I was born rich. We had to give up a lot to get to where we are right now — individually and as a couple.
Before we met, we had both become successful in our own rights. However, sacrifices had paved the way, and they continue to fuel our committed relationship to this day.
While some of our acquaintances were out partying, we were in the studio recording shows to promote our products.
We worked through holidays. Held workshops on weekends. Slashed spending habits when we almost lost everything in the 2008 recession.
EVERY SACRIFICE WE MADE WAS FOR THE FUTURE WE ARE LIVING TODAY.
Grant has this wonderful saying which always keeps us on track…
“Pay the price today so you can pay any price tomorrow.”
When the tough moments come — and, boy, do they keep on coming, no matter how successful we get — this quote serves as a much-needed reminder…
The sacrifices are worth it, and they all lead to…
Growth
When all is said and done, the glue that holds us together is continuous expansion.
“Settling” is out of the question. So are terms like normal, balance, or average. The only way is forward, with the powerful 10X mindset Grant has instilled in our relationship.
Sure, we can confidently say that we have achieved financial freedom for our family. And we’re grateful for the progress we’ve made.
But this milestone will never stop us from being more, doing more, and having more.
Nothing in this life is guaranteed, and the only way to maintain wealth is to multiply it. And it’s not just about finances.
The same principle applies to all life areas, health to business, and, of course, relationships.
At the end of the day, the reason I’m sharing the intimate lessons we’ve collected in our marriage is to help you enrich your partnership.
So, the next piece I have in store for you is putting these insights into practice.
3 Actions to Improve Your Committed Relationship Today
In addition to the values that drive our relationship, Grant and I take practical steps to improve what we already have.
And I’d like you to do the same for the connection you have with your significant other…
1. Play a Round of ‘The Lotto Game’
First, I want to introduce you to an exercise which helps us aim higher, even when faced with adversity.
The Lotto Game is based on a simple yet powerful question:
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON $200+ MILLION IN THE LOTTERY?
Put pen to paper and outline all the ways you would use the money. Not just how you’d spend the amount as a couple — but how you would store, invest, and multiply it.
This is exactly what Grant and I did during the nightmare that was the economic crash of 2008. The moment was pivotal for seeing outside of our circumstances and sliding back into a growth mindset.
As time goes by and you go back to the game, increase the initial $200 million.
In our case, it ended up with me challenging Grant to achieve billionaire status. Mission accomplished.
Now, the next step in our Lotto Game is to reach $10 billion in assets. We’re already halfway there.
Dare to dream bigger and bigger as a couple. Take the daily steps required. Then watch how your successful future unfolds.
2. Invest in Personal Development as a Couple
No day goes by without investing in ourselves. And I’m not talking about buying the hottest sports cars in Miami.
We’re deeply committed to personal development — separately and together.
Conferences. Workshops. Summits. Webinars. Masterminds. We host and attend them alike.
If you’re not sure where to start, I’d love to have you and your partner as my guests at the upcoming Build an Empire — Relationships Mastermind.
At the intensive two-day workshop, I’ll go deeper into all the points I touched on in this article. You’ll have my undivided attention and support. By the end, you’ll leave with the blueprint for your own 10X relationship.
3. Write Out Each Person’s Role
Finally, before I let you go, I want you to go back to basics.
You already know how important it is to have a shared vision. But what will each person do to bring it to fruition?
King and Queen. Emperor and Empress. No matter how you frame it, building, defending, and expanding an empire takes action from both sides.
Therefore, the last exercise I want you to complete is writing out roles.
Please note that this activity is NOT about outdated “man/woman” labels. It’s about coming together as a unit to see who excels at what, regardless of how “traditional” or “modern” your marriage is.
So, take a piece of paper and divide it into two columns. One for you, one for your significant other.
Take turns writing down bullet points with all of your strengths. If any weaknesses come up, delegate them to the other party.
By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap of how each role contributes to the empire you’ve always dreamed of.
May all these lessons help you build yours,
Elena Cardone
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