Dr. Mark Goulston is a former UCLA professor who helps high performing leaders, senior management and sales people reach their full potential using skills he learned training FBI and police hostage negotiators. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches and writes the weekly Tribune syndicated career advice column, "Solve Anything with Dr. Mark" and columns on leadership for FAST COMPANY and Directors Monthly . He is frequently called upon to share his expertise with regard to contemporary business, national and world news by television, radio and print media including: Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Newsweek, Time, Los Angeles Times, ABC/NBC/CBS/Fox/CNN/BBC News, Oprah, and Today. Mark Goulston is the author of The 6 Secrets of a Lasting Relationship: How To Fall In Live Again and Stay There (Perigee, 2001). For more information visit: www.markgoulston.com.

Guest Blogger Mark Goulston--

The Ugly Dozen - When to call it quits in a relationship

1. You can't stand the sight of them and they make your skin crawl
2. You are afraid of them
3. Friends keep telling you to get out
4. They are mean to the children
5. The children are afraid of them
6. You can't remember anything good about them
7. You no longer enjoy anything with them or look forward to doing anything with them
8. They come in the door and your heart sinks
9. You don't want to go out with them with friends or family because they are too embarrassing
10. They keep making promises they don't keep
11. You're no longer proud of them
12. Quirks you originally found amusing are now embarrassing to you

Bonus hint:

They keep violating the restraining order you have on them.

There's good and bad news about this list:

The good news, you're not alone if this applies to your relationship and there probably are people who would want to help you make the break when you decide to do it.

The bad news for you – if any of the list applies, it is probably not going to get any better by itself.

The bad news for me – my wife came up with the list.

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