Show Notes:

What does it mean to be in a fulfilling meaningful relationship with someone?  How do intimacy & sex complicate that relationship?  Enter Ken Blackman, known relationship coach who’s guidance for couples seeks to foster deeper relationships between partners.  In this podcast, Kevin delves into the complex dynamic of how relationships can often bring out both the best (& worst) in people working together.  Ken draws from years of experience in coaching couples to provide sound advice in helping partners meet mutual goals:  both professionally and sexually.

From a coaching perspective, Ken believes that perception remains one of the strongest influences in our personal relationships with others.  Projecting negativity can manifest poor life experiences.  However you feel about yourself is also what you are destined to attract.  As feelings about ourselves change for the better, so will those forces gravitate towards us.  Mentors are instrumental in helping us see ourselves differently and drag us out of ruts.They help us to relate with ourselves and others differently.

Ken explains about deconstructing historical stereotypes of gender roles within society and how they influence our interpersonal relationships.  Helping people recognize WHAT goals people seek out in others and within their relationships has become Ken’s focus.  There is no new “model” or template by which to set relationship roles.  There is no “producer” or “protector”, so Ken is working on organizing that modern dynamic in his new book.

Ken's primary Key Performance Indicator by which he measures relationship success is:  Are they generally happy on a day to day basis - do they operate from a point of generosity? (willing to give unto the others)  In a happy relationship people look for ways to serve others.  

Society will sometimes try to whitewash a stigma of women being primary breadwinners within a household.  Couples that are attracted to Ken are normally when SHE is stepping into her power and how to go about setting up that dynamic. That dynamic isn’t flipped, it is dismantled and requires an entirely new mindset for a prosperous future.

Key Points From This Episode:

-Lasting relationships require partners to recognize and nourish what the other brings to the table.

-Ken explains Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for good relationships.

-There is no secret formula for setting a baseline of relationship dynamic in society.

-Sometimes the greatest barriers are those that we create for ourselves.

-Much of the techniques used by Ken are from experience with previous couples.

-Challenging societal stereotypes can be a challenge in changing public opinion on breadwinners in relation to gender roles.

-Reforming corporate stereotypes with relationships can help modernize the workplace.

-As a woman steps into her power, couples need a new understanding of their relationship.

Tweetables:

“In a healthy relationship, couples are looking to do more for each other.”  - Ken Blackman (26:47)

“In clients (men) you work with, these are common threads (gender societal stereotypes) that are put upon people.”  - Cassandra Shuck (17:56)

“We no longer operate from that old (traditional) model of masculinity.”  -Ken Blackman (18:57)

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Cassandra Shuck

Ken Blackman

Sex & Connection Blog