Choose partners carefully

It’s easier to go the long distance with a team than it is on your own but don’t just go out looking for a partner and don’t let the lack of a partner prevent you from starting. Partners seem to find each other. It’s all about timing, connecting, looking for opportunities and having similar goals. A partnership is a lot like marriage.

When it comes to deciding whether someone is the right partner for you or not it’s important that you know yourself, know what you want and what you don’t want. Know what you’re good at and what you’re not so good at.

Find someone that compliments your skills and personality. You don’t need a clone of yourself as a partner, you need a companion, someone to walk the long lonely road of entrepreneurship with you. You don’t need someone who agrees with everything you say, you need someone who will be willing to stand up to you and argue with you constructively for the good of the business and your product.

Make sure you get the details on paper and define what will happen if someone decides to leave the business or dies. Also make sure that all partners have valid signed wills, without this you can end up in a very long drawn out process if one of your passes away.