“Never apologize for something that wasn’t your fault.” I can still hear my father’s voice as he tapped into his inner Mr. Miyagi, while grooming me into the karate kid that I am today. I appreciated that valuable life lesson, as it’s served me well along the way—particularly as I navigate the sometimes rocky terrain of the entertainment industry.

Let me be candid for a moment: while lasting love is the ultimate end goal to your relationship journey, there are a few things that you’ll have to give up the moment you decide to commit. Some concessions will be good, and others … well, let’s just say that they’ll take a little getting used to.

It’s time for us as members of the male brotherhood to understand a very basic dating principle: Women are judging our every move. Don’t believe me? Just think back to a time when your significant other brought up an incident (whether good or bad) that took place in the early phases of your relationship.

So last night I participated in an event called Venus vs. Mars here in Atlanta. It was a relationship panel where some of the best and brightest minds in the entertainment industry came together to duke it out in the ultimate battle of the sexes. When the dust cleared, the men had came out on top (hey, was there any doubt that this would be the outcome?)

If communication is the key to happiness, then the ability to have tough conversations with your significant other may be the act that turns the key and unlocks the door to a lifetime of happiness. (I know, enough with the metaphors.) It’s true, though. I believe it’s virtually impossible to have a successful long-term relationship if the two of you can’t handle tough conversations.