My boyfriend (35m) is envious of my (33f) business and it’s ruining our relationship.

My boyfriend and I met 3 years ago. I own a successful content creation business, which allows me to live a passionate and fulfilling life.

When we met he wanted to join forces with me but lacks the motivation and interest because he sees I’m way ahead of him in the field.

He had just left another province, where he left everything behind.

In his previous life, he ran a service business with employees. He shut it down because he never paid his taxes, was completely irresponsible and just kinda let it become a huge mess.

Before that, he sold a small house for 45K, gave all the money to an app developer to develop a great app idea he had. The guy left with his money because he never established a contract.

And another time, he started flipping things on Marketplace with a friend, and his friend left with all the money in the pot.

Three flops, now he works like a slave, hourly wage, frustrated and needs to pay off big debts to organise his life. Because of this job he is always burnt out. When I ask him to come help me, he is too tired to learn anything.

He thinks he’s exceptional at coming up with brilliant business ideas. When I spot the obvious weak spots or potential problems in his plans, he gets super defensive and angry with me. Saying I’m trying to discourage him from realizing his dreams. He acts like he has more experience than me, and blocks out everything I say.

First year I met him, he wanted to fly drones with me through my business. I’m also a drone pilot. But when he comes along I can focus on other services.

Second year we were together, he became a raging alcoholic and spent thousands of dollars on booze. Wasted his time, while I was following my lifelong passion of becoming a successful videographer and photographer. Now I’m seeing success, and he is extremely envious.

He helped me build a house on my property where we live today. He does a lot of work to keep our home liveable. We have big plans, but he is very far behind due to all the time he wasted having fun and reacting to life’s problems.

I have less and less time to listen and entertain his small conversations to make him feel needed and valued. I learned when I focus on my needs and visions, everything magically works out.

Business owners who work with their spouses and have disagreements, how do you do it?

TDLR: Boyfriend is envious of my business. Wants to build one but has no idea where to start, feels left behind and useless. How can I work with him without him envying me?