Important Traits To Look For In A Co-Founder

“I take thee, to be mine, in good and bad times, in sickness and in health, for rich or for poor, until….” So binding are the words of nuptial vows. Such commitment by one to another. When trying to single out a mate, out of the many fish in the sea, what do people seek? Do you look for somebody with whom you have tones of things in common or do you find one who complements you, thus completing you?

One must climb a tree from the bottom and work their way up. Growth and progress are gradual. Every business starts up. No doubt. Unless one acquires an already running company, which at one point also started up, then they must build it from the ground up. One of the most decisions is whether to go it as a solo mission or to pair up with a like-minded individual. Entrepreneurship is about filling gaps. With this in mind, more likely than not, an entrepreneur will find a problem they have suffered to solve. Scratching their own itch. Realizing that this is a need for many others like themselves, they find a business opportunity to tap into.

The search for a co-founder, is much like a marriage. The party that originates the idea has to court the other party to see the possibility of materializing this idea between the two of them. A lot like dating. Should they find they get along then they graduate through the bases and in due time they may spend more time with each other than with their significant others. Arguably, of course and for all reasons work.

What then, should one keep their eyes peeled for when in search of a co-founder in a start-up? There are basic traits one cannot over look in their criteria to nominate and eliminate business partners. Consider building a house, one starts with a foundation. A firm one at that. Just as in the parable in Bible, if you build your house on sand, you have shaky foundation and your house will tumble and crumble. Finding the right co-founder is sitting your house on rock. It will remain unshaken and weather the storm in your entrepreneurial life together. As always, the weather man is never right, so one must always employ the scouts motto and be prepared.

First, and in no particular order, you must share a value system with this person. There are things that will be necessary to have in common and maybe without much compromise. These are the things one considers important in the way which they live and work. They determine your priorities and decision making processes. There are pairs of individuals who gel well with contrasts of themselves. They appreciate their differences, work around them and complement each other. The way in which a puzzle is complete by piecing together pieces cut out in different shapes to bring forth a vivid picture is the same concept of finding a co-founder. They ought to complement your skill set. Therefore, an entrepreneur should be looking for somebody who has skills they do not have to meet their own half way. Take for example a techie who is great at design and creating a product. He should find a great marketer, a developer, networker who has experience that they can both mutually be beneficial of as a unit.

People work differently under varying conditions. All the same, work must be done efficiently and effectively.  For co-founders to steer away from constantly locking horns they should strive to have a similar if not matching work ethic. Whereby one doesn’t have to chase the other to have one assignment or the other done and such and such. It is rather frustrating to work with someone who doesn’t have regard for time, financial resources and work model as you do. Your co-founder needs to be reliable and they bear half the weight of the venture. If one person is caught up doing most of the work and the other is giving them the run around, they will breed resentment and their plane will not take flight, worse still, there is no promise of a safe landing.

On selling the dream to your potential co-founder, they must be as enthusiastic as you are about your start up. Passion inspires a long term vision which is key. This will conjure up strength, tenacity, resilience to withstand the turbulent times. Both parties must know that the first lap is full of hurdles to jump but eventually and over time they will realize the good times. Businesses are built for profit. Between one person and the next, the translation of       success is relative. Some people are working to simply get rich, some want to build and sell up, others want to be famous. Of importance is that co-founders have congruence in their goal for the business they are setting up. They both ought to feel as strongly about seeing their plans into fruition and sticking it out for the long haul.

Every relationship, of every nature is a roller-coaster. It’s a fun ride amidst all the ups and downs. What’s important through this ride is to have a partner who has emotional intelligence and can handle disputes in a bid to resolve the conflict rather than be passive aggressive or adamant about having their way and you can hit the freeway. It’s of paramount importance to note that you will both be caught up in a rut from time to time, and to make sure you don’t end up a hot mess as you go along, ensure this person can contain themselves. This way you will also know how they will handle disputes with your future clients, suppliers and so forth. A lack of this can upset the balance of things and tip over your ship therefore consider it especially crucial.

Since the beginning of time, no perfect man has walked the earth. Life in itself is a give and take. If you are to go half on a business with someone, take your time to engage with them, familiarize with them. Use your experiences to gauge how you relate and factoring in all the important traits make a sober, calculated decision on the way forward with them. And may no one put asunder what you have put together between one person and the next, the translation of success is relative. Some people are working to simply get rich, some want to build and sell up, others want to be famous. Of importance is that co-founders have         congruence in their goal for the business they are setting up. They both ought to feel as strongly about seeing their plans into fruition and sticking it out for the long haul.

Every relationship, of every nature is a roller-coaster. It’s a fun ride amidst all the ups and downs. What’s    important through this ride is to have a partner who has emotional intelligence and can handle disputes in a bid to resolve the conflict rather than be passive aggressive or adamant about having their way and you can hit the freeway. It’s of paramount importance to note that you will both be caught up in a rut from time to time, and to make sure you don’t end up a hot mess as you go along, ensure this person can contain themselves.

This way you will also know how they will handle disputes with your future clients, suppliers and so forth. A lack of this can upset the balance of things and tip over your ship therefore consider it especially crucial.

Since the beginning of time, no perfect man has walked the earth. Life in itself is a give and take. If you are to go half on a business with someone, take your time to engage with them, familiarize with them. Use your experiences to gauge how you relate and factoring in all the important traits make a sober, calculated decision on the way forward with them. And may no one put asunder what you have put together.