Читать книгу Start & Run a Graphic Design Business - Michael Huggins - Страница 24

Partnerships are created as a way of simplifying complicated problems and dealing with unknown challenges that could arise when you go it alone. Unfortunately sometimes partnerships create more complexity than they simplify.

Partnerships are founded on the principle of compromise. Any partnership involves managing the expectations of both parties. If you have ever been in a long-term relationship with someone, you know that it’s not an easy thing to do. Think of your partnership like a hard-core marriage contract. You are committing to work alongside someone through thick and thin.

I’ve been married to Anita for more than 23 years (and I love her like crazy), but in our years of marriage I don’t think we have initially agreed on more than maybe 30 or 40 percent of the things that have come into our lives together. We certainly don’t think the same! If I think, “Go left,” you can bet Anita thinks, “Go right.” I’m not confessing a bad marriage here (I have a great marriage — I love you honey!), but all situations have the potential to end in disaster unless we agree to reach some kind of a compromise with the many issues we disagree on. That’s the point. You have to be willing to play the same game if you’re considering a business partnership. That’s exactly what a business partnership is: compromise and an agreement to work things through. The truth of partnerships is that they are constant lessons in the need for clear communication, not to mention downright hard work. Simplicity is often not part of the equation.