A lot of people ask me how to find the right co-founder or business partner. But the truth is, that’s not the first question you should be asking. The better place to start?
Are you partnership material?
That question isn’t just about personality or preferences. It’s about whether you’re capable of holding up your end of a legally binding, high-stakes, emotionally challenging relationship. That’s what business partnerships are. If you get into one without being ready, it won’t just be stressful. It could ruin everything you’re building.
You Can’t Be a Team Player If You Can’t Meet Deadlines
Billy has a great idea. He’s passionate. He’s excited. But Billy also rarely makes deadlines. He thinks he’ll change because this time, it really matters.
It almost never works out that way.
Deadlines aren’t optional in business. They’re money. They’re trust. They’re your reputation. If you’re the kind of person who always needs a push to finish something, a partnership won’t fix that. It means someone else has to drag you across the finish line. Eventually, they’ll stop trying.
That’s not a partnership. That’s dead weight.
You don’t have to be perfect, but if you consistently miss deadlines, consider whether you should hire support. Or… whether you’re ready to run a business at all.
Consistency Isn’t Glamorous But It’s Non-Negotiable
Billy doesn’t work consistently. He jumps from idea to idea, motivated only by bursts of excitement. This isn’t unique to Billy. Most people struggle with consistency.
But being your own boss means being your own accountability system. If you can’t manage that, it will damage your company no matter your role. And if you’re in a partnership, your inconsistency will become their problem.
Business requires discipline. Not sometimes. Always.
Communication Isn’t Just a Skill. It’s a Foundation
Billy avoids conflict. Instead of expressing how he really feels. He tells people what they want to hear. Eventually, the frustration boils over and he explodes. Now there’s damage control to do. Again.
Sound familiar?
Business partners need to be able to navigate difficult conversations, express disagreement, and set expectations clearly and consistently. If you can’t communicate, you can’t lead. You can’t collaborate. And you definitely shouldn’t commit to a partnership.
If You Can’t Be Honest, You Can’t Be Trusted
Let’s go one layer deeper. When Billy tells people what they want to hear instead of what’s true, he’s not just being non-confrontational. He’s lying.
Yes, everyone lies sometimes. But in business, lying, especially to avoid conflict, can be catastrophic. You’re not just hiding problems. You’re burying the warning signs of failure.
A good partner needs to be able to say:
- “I’m falling behind.”
- “I disagree with this direction.”
- “We need to fix this.”
If trust breaks, the whole business breaks with it.
Your Relationship Style Will Follow You Into Business
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: if you can’t maintain trust, openness, and shared responsibility in your personal relationships, you’ll struggle even more in business ones.
A business partnership is a legal and emotional bond. It’s like a marriage, except instead of raising kids, you’re raising a company. If you’re hiding things, holding grudges, or resenting accountability, it will unravel fast.
Great partnerships are built on self-awareness. That starts before the paperwork is signed.
I’ll Go First: Know Your Strengths (And Your Limits)
Let me give you an example—me.
I’m laid back. I don’t argue. I’ll ask someone if they’re sure, I’ll raise the red flags, and then I’ll let it play out. If it fails, we’ll fix it. I know how to pivot. I know how to let go. But not everyone can handle that kind of leadership style.
It means I need partners who:
- Can thrive with autonomy
- Don’t take silence as agreement
- Know that mistakes are part of growth
And if there’s a blow-up? Sometimes the best fix is a break. A weekend off. Vegas. Come back, reset, and deal with it as a team.
Some people think that’s wild. I think it’s survival.
The Real Question Isn’t “Who Should I Partner With?” It’s “Should I?”
If you don’t make deadlines, don’t work consistently, avoid hard conversations, and struggle with trust, that’s not a business partner problem. It’s a you problem. And that’s okay.
You don’t have to be partnership material to succeed. You can hire. You can build solo. You can lead in your own way.
Don’t drag someone into a legally binding, emotionally draining, financially risky situation because you’re hoping a partnership will fix what you haven’t worked on yourself.
When you are partnership material, you’ll attract better partners. You’ll choose more wisely. And you’ll be ready for what comes next.
Answer the big question honestly: Would you want to partner with yourself?
📌 Changelog
- May 26, 2025: Article re-written to narrow focus. Added image.
- May 30, 2014: Original article posted.
