Choosing a Business Partner

[ElijahRYoung]

I just read an article, and posted it on my Twitter feed that talked about how much your perspective business partner should agree with you.

How Much Should You Agree With Your Business Partner?

What are your thoughts? Is 90% too much? Is 50% too low? Does it even matter. I would love to know your opinions.

[DerekS]

There really isn't a right or wrong answer, as every partnership has a different dynamic- but personally I like a partner who disagrees with me. I like having a foil to my MO.

I wouldn't want someone who is purposely disagreeable, but if their arguments are grounded in reality, the partnership takes on a whole new life. It's nice to have someone looking left while you're looking right (instead of both of you with your heads in the sand!)

[Tdadd]

To be honest, partnerships can be risky and are not always the right decision. You should consider starting or running your business yourself.

[ElijahRYoung]

Well I'm not asking for myself, I'm just commenting on an article...

I do find it interesting that you would use the term "risky" as a reason to avoid something on an entrepreneurship board.

Personally, I think it's a personal choice, but you will need to enter into partnerships of some kind to be as successful as you would like, whether that translates into sharing equity depends on you

I prefer to disagree with the partners that I've had pretty frequently. My personal belief is that adversity creates greatness, and every idea needs to be challenged.

I guess, based on principle, I would have to agree with Derek

[rogercbryan]

I've seen this exact same post a dozen times on here.. You can't answer this question with out all the details of the business. I know people who are a 5% partner, I'm in a few businesses at 20% and a couple more at 50%. Each situation calls for a different agreement.

[rogercbryan]

Well I'm not asking for myself, I'm just commenting on an article...

I do find it interesting that you would use the term "risky" as a reason to avoid something on an entrepreneurship board.

Personally, I think it's a personal choice,*1 but you will need to enter into partnerships of some kind to be as successful as you would like*2, whether that translates into sharing equity depends on you

I prefer to disagree with the partners that I've had pretty frequently. My personal belief is that adversity creates greatness, and every idea needs to be challenged. *3

I guess, based on principle, I would have to agree with Derek

Underline *1: WRONG- It's not a 'personal' choice. It's a choice based on sound business decision making.

Underline *2: WRONG- If you can go it alone you'll see the most personal profit from a well run company. Partnerships should be your last option when you are starting out. There are a lot of ways to go with this point but your comment stating that "you need to enter into a partnership" is way off base.

Underline *3: CONFUSING- So you tend to disagree with partners but at the same time you think adversity leads to greatness? You must be a glutton for punishment. What is the use of having partners if you are always in disagreement with them?

I'm not sure what you experience is but you seemed to have a warped idea of the reasons why and the benefits and/or drawbacks of being in a partnership are. It sounds like you may have had a bad experience in the past.

I just want to note to those reading this... please do not take this thread as an example of sound reasoning for or against a partnership.

Any questions???

[ElijahRYoung]

Hmmmm

1. Having a partner or not for a startup business is a personal choice. No matter what business concept you're developing, no matter how amazing your concept is. The execution of said concept will depend on the people behind the business. In the end, you have to decide whether you have the tools to collaborate and execute your concept with another person, or if you should do it alone. I don't care how much "business" sense it make on paper, you need to evaluate your abilities first, and that makes it a personal decision first

2. By partnership, i mean collaboration between two or more parties. You'll need to form alliances with other organizations, or people to amplify your own efforts no matter what. This could be in the form of bringing someone on your team, or it can just be an mutually beneficial agreement (written or not) to collaborate. In short, you can't get to where you need to be all on your own.

3. Since you're confused, let me explain. I love to argue/debate/play devils advocate. This doesn't have to have a negative connotation to it. Adversity does create greatness. Being challenged makes you better. Working with someone who agrees with you all of the time will more often lead to groupthink, and that's not synonymous with the best idea.

I don't see where any of that is warped, or suggests that I am for or against partnerships.

Nor do I see any instructional attempts anywhere in this thread.

This was simply a conversation about a blog article I read, nothing more. Instead of assuming, or asking for questions; it may be beneficial to just ask some yourself before an incorrect dissection and rebuttal.

Any questions?