Lessons we can learn from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Mackenzie's divorce
After 25 years in marriage, Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie have decided to divorce.
The two announced the move on Wednesday via Twitter.
“We feel incredibly lucky to have found each other and deeply grateful for every one of the years we have been married to each other. If we had known we would separate after 25 years, we would do it all again,” read part of their announcement.
Unlike other divorces whereby money is involved, Jeff and Mackenzie’s divorce is turning out to be one of the most amicable.
Here are the lessons we have learnt from the Bezos.
Strong family values
The two have vowed to remain as a family, and “cherished friends” even as they continue co-parenting their four children – three sons and one adopted daughter.Their strong regard for family before anything else has manifested throughout their marriage.
According to a Vogue magazine article, Mackenzie took a decade to finish her first book so as to spend more time with her children. Similarly, The New York Post reported that Jeff never schedules early morning meetings, so that he can make breakfast for his four children. One of Jeff’s greatest hobbies was washing dishes after their family dinners.
No need for business to suffer
In their divorce announcement on Twitter, the two revealed that they will continue to be friends and continue working together as partners in ventures.
Throughout their marriage, they devoted their lives to each other’s career. Jeff is reported to have taken a whole day off to read Mackenzie’s manuscripts in one uninterrupted seating. Mackenzie was also present as Jeff wrote Amazon’s business plan and she worked as an accountant during the early stages of Amazon.
Amazon, which started out as a book selling website, has grown to become an e-commerce avenue that sells all kinds of merchandise, and is now worth $811 billion. Jeff, 54, also owns a rocket ship making company called Blue Origin, and The Washington Post, which he bought for $250 million in 2013.
Though Jeff and Mackenzie’s marriage has come to an end, their respect for each other and their vows stand out. Their graceful ending shows that a divorce doesn’t have to be violent and unsettling but it can be settled amicably.
