The secret to a strong business partnership is the same as in marriage.
It’s not about crafting a perfect agreement, trust, or equal shares. Those matter, sure, but they take a backseat.
The main thing—do they value what they're building more than themselves?
In marriage, it’s the bond between two souls. It’s worth fighting for. Fighting who? First and foremost, with your own demons.
Daily routines breed irritation, anger, resentment—plenty to go around. You can’t dodge tension. It grows and, suddenly, spills into conflict. Both sides feel right.
The real question: Is there something you’d protect at all costs?
At all costs means rising above yourself:
Don’t assume your partner’s out to hurt you.
Recall all you’ve survived and achieved together.
Take a breath, pause, talk to a therapist.
Ask what you’ve added to this mess.
Be the first to reach out and say the unsayable: “I’m sorry.”
This only works if your answer to that question screams, “Hell, yes!”
But like a marriage, a business can mean little to one partner. If so, he’ll always put himself above the venture. You see it in:
Slacking off when the stakes are high.
Chasing side projects that steal focus.
Refusing to step aside for someone sharper.
Blocking a sale to a strategist who’d grow it faster.
Ignoring his own flaws, unwilling to grow.
It’s different when partners give everything for the business. Then the business doesn’t just grow—it shapes them.
The reward? Not just wealth, but maturity, wisdom, and knowing yourself.
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.
Stuck? Your business grows when you do. I’m your business therapist to guide your shift. See testimonials here. Ready? Book your Catalyst session.