So, as we all know..I LOVE me some Love & Hip Hop. These characters embody so many relationship dynamics and qualities we see everyday..and its just admirable to me to willingly live out your whole damn life on television so open to judgement.

This week, I want to focus on Erica & Rich.

I like Rich. I really do..at the base of it all he is a gentleman. He stands up & believes in his woman. Supported her when EVERYONE around him was telling him to drop it & let her go in all definitions of the word…but I have to ask :

Can you really mix Business with Pleasure?

In my honest opinion I would have to say no. No matter how you try to work around it, once you mix pleasure in a situation, you have to invite emotions to the party. There are no shortcuts. As much as people like to believe in intimacy without attachment, it is a myth. For this reason alone, business in this equation..is a no go. There are decisions that have to be made in business that can not be made objectively if they are clouded by emotions. We see this happen, repeatedly throughout the show. Erica, my girl, is a live wire. She is a clear example of what happens when a woman who is damaged, hurt & highly emotional gets with a man who is the same..she exploits him..without even thinking about it. Erica played Rich like a fiddle. This man willingly gave her everything he could to further her career (FOR FREE)..and she didn’t even sign to his label..disrespected his best friend (who actually has talent – Hey Olivia!)..and made money on the side without even shooting Rich an email. The shade.

We have all been in one of these situations…the promoter who wants to give you a little “something extra” to come host a party..one of your exes coming to you with a proposal to “make you a little change”…or even that boss who likes to get a lil too friendly when you are closing the office/store. Honestly, if everything looks legit and you feel you can separate the two, I say go for it..but if the only time your “business partner” wants to meet is after 10pm in a dark room with some Trey Songz playing..or if they can never talk strictly business without taking the conversation there…Step. Find yourself a partner who wants to make the cash..not tap that ***.

Talk To Me Divas! Have You Ever Mixed Business With Pleasure?