Comments on: The Power of Two: 2 > 1! http://www.fabricegrinda.com/entrepreneurship/the-power-of-two-2-1/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:46:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Ilia Muriente http://www.fabricegrinda.com/entrepreneurship/the-power-of-two-2-1/comment-page-1/#comment-7986 Ilia Muriente Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:41:20 +0000 http://www.fabricegrinda.com/?p=904#comment-7986 My experience has showed me that having various partners that focus on different parts of a business that is being born, can be a great part of a *lean* operating strategy. And as long as there is great communication and whatever "needs" of each partner simultaneously grow with the company, problems can be minimized. Keeping focus on the company's well being, being fully aware of your function as leader in your area, respecting each other's subject areas and being totally sincere throughout the life of the company can be elements that, if applied, could greatly diminish risk. Usually a person that goes "solo" is never really alone. There has to be some kind of structure that will support whatever project the "single CEO" may have. So, promises, deals, shares, and money play a big role in how "solo" can someone be at the top. Lets not forget about the component of stress AND skimming on details, which, at the end, is what really makes the difference in any B2B now a days. You can bust your own bubble if you missed an important detail that, if you would have had a partner, may have possibly come up on a trivial conversation and you could have saved yourself and possibly your family, the grief of a business gone sour. My experience has showed me that having various partners that focus on different parts of a business that is being born, can be a great part of a *lean* operating strategy. And as long as there is great communication and whatever “needs” of each partner simultaneously grow with the company, problems can be minimized. Keeping focus on the company’s well being, being fully aware of your function as leader in your area, respecting each other’s subject areas and being totally sincere throughout the life of the company can be elements that, if applied, could greatly diminish risk. Usually a person that goes “solo” is never really alone. There has to be some kind of structure that will support whatever project the “single CEO” may have. So, promises, deals, shares, and money play a big role in how “solo” can someone be at the top. Lets not forget about the component of stress AND skimming on details, which, at the end, is what really makes the difference in any B2B now a days. You can bust your own bubble if you missed an important detail that, if you would have had a partner, may have possibly come up on a trivial conversation and you could have saved yourself and possibly your family, the grief of a business gone sour.

]]> By: Matthew Putman http://www.fabricegrinda.com/entrepreneurship/the-power-of-two-2-1/comment-page-1/#comment-7874 Matthew Putman Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:29:14 +0000 http://www.fabricegrinda.com/?p=904#comment-7874 Really thoughtful post. As you mentioned, it is not clear if this is just the few major successes here, or a general rule. Still, on a much smaller scale, I work very closely with my father. Generally decisions can be made as fast because we know each other so well. We always seek consensus with each other, no one else, and because of our relationship and knowledge of each other, we usually think of the opposing view before we even discuss it. I feel lucky for this, and it is likely what you, and the others mentioned must have. It is very lonely to be going into it completely alowithout someone you completely trust and respect. Really thoughtful post. As you mentioned, it is not clear if this is just the few major successes here, or a general rule. Still, on a much smaller scale, I work very closely with my father. Generally decisions can be made as fast because we know each other so well. We always seek consensus with each other, no one else, and because of our relationship and knowledge of each other, we usually think of the opposing view before we even discuss it. I feel lucky for this, and it is likely what you, and the others mentioned must have. It is very lonely to be going into it completely alowithout someone you completely trust and respect.

]]> By: wanarua http://www.fabricegrinda.com/entrepreneurship/the-power-of-two-2-1/comment-page-1/#comment-7872 wanarua Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:22:04 +0000 http://www.fabricegrinda.com/?p=904#comment-7872 Fabrice am in total agreement with your article.if any start up especially tech one is a one man show,then there is no future at all.that is fact!even ancient people believed two heads are better than one. Fabrice am in total agreement with your article.if any start up especially tech one is a one man show,then there is no future at all.that is fact!even ancient people believed two heads are better than one.

]]> By: Becky http://www.fabricegrinda.com/entrepreneurship/the-power-of-two-2-1/comment-page-1/#comment-7868 Becky Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:42:14 +0000 http://www.fabricegrinda.com/?p=904#comment-7868 Having a partner in my business venture has proven to be successful, and like Sam, I think that sometimes you can get too many partners (4 people is too much in my opinion too). One thing I wanted to say to Sam though is that I just read a great book..."Built To Sell" by John Warrillow (I had the opportunity to preview this awesome book before- it doesn't come out until February)In the book, Mr. Warrillow made a great statement... He said that he learned more from his mistakes than anything he did right. The book offers a blueprint to help business owners/entrepreneurs create and maintain a successful business. Sam maybe you should try another venture, with less partners this time :). http://www.builttosell.com/ Having a partner in my business venture has proven to be successful, and like Sam, I think that sometimes you can get too many partners (4 people is too much in my opinion too). One thing I wanted to say to Sam though is that I just read a great book…”Built To Sell” by John Warrillow (I had the opportunity to preview this awesome book before- it doesn’t come out until February)In the book, Mr. Warrillow made a great statement… He said that he learned more from his mistakes than anything he did right. The book offers a blueprint to help business owners/entrepreneurs create and maintain a successful business. Sam maybe you should try another venture, with less partners this time :).

http://www.builttosell.com/

]]> By: Jordan Cooper http://www.fabricegrinda.com/entrepreneurship/the-power-of-two-2-1/comment-page-1/#comment-7867 Jordan Cooper Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:23:53 +0000 http://www.fabricegrinda.com/?p=904#comment-7867 Interesting read. I've given a lot of thought to this question of late. My net takeaway is that while I recognize the value that a cofounder represents in the early stages of company building, I don't think it's worth checking this box at the expense of organic development. Wrote a response to your post on my blog: http://bit.ly/8KyYgQ Interesting read. I’ve given a lot of thought to this question of late. My net takeaway is that while I recognize the value that a cofounder represents in the early stages of company building, I don’t think it’s worth checking this box at the expense of organic development. Wrote a response to your post on my blog: http://bit.ly/8KyYgQ

]]> By: Ryan Graves http://www.fabricegrinda.com/entrepreneurship/the-power-of-two-2-1/comment-page-1/#comment-7859 Ryan Graves Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:31:53 +0000 http://www.fabricegrinda.com/?p=904#comment-7859 Great thoughts here but I question one statement... "but similar people who respect each other is probably best" Wouldn't you prefer to have people or are dissimilar so that they can take on different tasks, ie. CEO - business, and CTO - technology? Thanks. Ryan Great thoughts here but I question one statement…
“but similar people who respect each other is probably best”
Wouldn’t you prefer to have people or are dissimilar so that they can take on different tasks, ie. CEO – business, and CTO – technology?

Thanks.
Ryan

]]> By: Fabrice Grinda http://www.fabricegrinda.com/entrepreneurship/the-power-of-two-2-1/comment-page-1/#comment-7857 Fabrice Grinda Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:56:26 +0000 http://www.fabricegrinda.com/?p=904#comment-7857 Ultimately what matters is not the % of the company you own but how much your stake is worth. 5% of $1 billion is better than 100% of $1 million :) The way to think through the decision whether it's to raise money or to take a partner is: will the value created by the new person or the money raised be greater than the dilution you suffer. If the answer is a clear yes, go for it! Ultimately what matters is not the % of the company you own but how much your stake is worth. 5% of $1 billion is better than 100% of $1 million :)

The way to think through the decision whether it’s to raise money or to take a partner is: will the value created by the new person or the money raised be greater than the dilution you suffer. If the answer is a clear yes, go for it!

]]> By: Robert M. Cavezza http://www.fabricegrinda.com/entrepreneurship/the-power-of-two-2-1/comment-page-1/#comment-7856 Robert M. Cavezza Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:50:52 +0000 http://www.fabricegrinda.com/?p=904#comment-7856 What do you think about the greed factor? Not taking on partners because you want a higher stake of the company for yourself. What do you think about the greed factor?

Not taking on partners because you want a higher stake of the company for yourself.

]]> By: Xenios http://www.fabricegrinda.com/entrepreneurship/the-power-of-two-2-1/comment-page-1/#comment-7854 Xenios Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:49:16 +0000 http://www.fabricegrinda.com/?p=904#comment-7854 Very interesting topic and one i’ve dug in myself considerably. However if I may add my two pence: having more than one founder or co-founders does not necessarily mean that one of them is not the ultimate decision maker! In most of the below theres one key figure-head: Zuck in Facebook, Steve Jobs in Apple, Bill gates in Microsoft .. etc. I think Google is a rare exception and they countered that by bringing in Eric.. Youtube was too fast a story to even have time to develop power struggles so that too is not an appropriate case study I think.. Very interesting topic and one i’ve dug in myself considerably. However if I may add my two pence: having more than one founder or co-founders does not necessarily mean that one of them is not the ultimate decision maker! In most of the below theres one key figure-head: Zuck in Facebook, Steve Jobs in Apple, Bill gates in Microsoft .. etc. I think Google is a rare exception and they countered that by bringing in Eric.. Youtube was too fast a story to even have time to develop power struggles so that too is not an appropriate case study I think..

]]> By: Sam http://www.fabricegrinda.com/entrepreneurship/the-power-of-two-2-1/comment-page-1/#comment-7853 Sam Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:48:43 +0000 http://www.fabricegrinda.com/?p=904#comment-7853 These are great points!!!! I once went through a partnership of 4 people in business school- a VERY small clothing venture, but learned a ton - essentially most of what you pointed out below. But 4 people was just too much and I would never do it again. These are great points!!!! I once went through a partnership of 4 people in business school- a VERY small clothing venture, but learned a ton – essentially most of what you pointed out below. But 4 people was just too much and I would never do it again.

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