Your partner should not be a source of chronic anxiety. Your partner should be a source of momentum.

In this episode, Esther and Paul are joined by Alexis Marquez for a wide-ranging conversation about partnerships of every kind: dating, marriage, business partners, clients, teams, mentors, therapists, and family. The throughline is simple: alignment beats performance.

We introduce a lens that instantly clarifies compatibility: Rocket vs Anchor. Rockets are driven by growth, variety, big vision, and expansion. Anchors thrive on stability, roots, and local legacy. Neither is better. The problem is pretending they are the same. Misalignment shows up later in the decisions that shape your life: where you live, how you spend holidays, what you build, and how far your dreams want to travel.

We also challenge the checklist approach to partnership. Money, titles, and status can look impressive, but they do not tell you how someone handles truth, growth, conflict, and commitment. Values do.

Try these questions from the episode:

• What kind of life am I building, and does this person genuinely want that life too?
• Would I start a business with this person? If the answer is no, pay attention.
• Am I hoping they will save me, or am I becoming the person I say I want to be?

ABOUT ALEXIS MARQUEZ
Alexis Marquez is a coach and systems thinker with a Master’s degree and a background in urban planning and international program management. She specializes in DEIJ leadership and neuro-inclusion, has trained US goverenment teams on best practices for working with neurodiverse populations, and has facilitated 120+ coaching sessions for Foreign Service staff, creating spaces of belonging across cultures and sectors. Her promise to clients is simple: “I got you — I’m your ally, coach, and your safe space to breathe and begin again.”
Instagram and TikTok: @TheAlexisMarquez

SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS!
This show is for YOU! Let us know if you have a question you would like us to answer, if you would like to appear on the show, or if you have a topic you would like for us to discuss. Find us:
Instagram: @be.act.change
Website: beactchange.com
Email: hola@beactchange.com

THEME SONG
“HIGHER” by Kingsley
Written and performed by Kingsley exclusively for the podcast.

Stream “Higher” here: https://www.iamkingsley.com/higher-by-kingsley
More music: kingsleymusic.bandcamp.com/track/higher-awaken-the-trailblazer-within-podcast
Instagram: @yokingsleymusic
Website: iamkingsley.com

Keywords: partnerships, values alignment, rocket vs anchor, relationship anxiety, intentional dating, healthy love, business partnerships, hiring by values, client alignment, leadership relationships, therapy fit, coaching relationship, legacy, growth mindset

#JustWhatINeeded #Podcast #Partnerships #ValuesAlignment #RocketAndAnchor #IntentionalDating #HealthyRelationships #BusinessPartnership #Leadership #Coaching #Therapy #Legacy #GrowthMindset