Guest Quarters: Partnerships: Are They the Secret to Success or Are They Way Too Much Stress? - July 29, 2009Another great piece from one of the co-founders of Hatch Network. I have worked with 1000’s of women starting and growing businesses. Something I always hear is “how much easier this all would be if only I had a partner to help . . .” To me, that sounds about the same as waiting for Prince Charming to ride in on his big Mercedes with a fat bank account, maids, stylists, and personal travel aide. Partners, like, Prince Charming sound great. But the reality is that finding the right person takes time. In addition to the challenges of finding that person, you must always remember that even though half the work will be shared, so will half the sales. That $100,000 salary you want to pay yourself just doubled to $200,000 with your new partner. Yes, things will be easier, but once again, you’re growing I always relate my business life to my personal life and I think that finding the perfect partner is a lot like dating. However, dating is something many women prefer to skip and just get right to the marriage. BIG MISTAKE. I see it all the time. Picture this first date scenario: the guy is dreamy. the girl is hot. He asks her out, she says “yes.” They go to drinks, dinner, then walk to ice cream. Everything is perfect. The date ends with a kiss on the cheek and the promise to do this again sometime. What happens next in dating is the same that happens in business partner forming. One person (in the dating version usually the woman), spends the rest of the evening envisioning the wedding, their future kids, the family holidays, and vacations. The other person (usually the guy), goes home, turns on the TV, falls asleep on the couch, wakes up, moves to his bed, sleeps again, wakes up, goes to work, sees another hot girl, asks her out on a date, repeat scenario one. What happened? The woman went out with her future husband. The man went out on a date. 
As women, we are so ready to dive into relationships with men. We want to skip all the “getting-to-know-each-other” and time it takes to form a strong bond. It happens in business too. In the business version, it’s not about planning the kids names. But the woman on a hunt for a partner will have fantasies about all the business tasks that the other person is going to take off her already overloaded plate. She thinks, “Ah, how great life would be once I have a partner. Wait! I think I see one now . . .” And she’s off to meet her match! Meanwhile, her partner-to-be is some unassuming lady at a networking event. She agrees to coffee, shakes hands and says “let’s do this again.” One goes home picturing her business-babies. The other goes home and wonders what she did with that business card she just received. You can see the flaw, right?
Not taking the time to date and being desperate to find someone to “just help,” is the reason I believe many “partnerships” fail before they even got to the starting line. The irony, is that such a “failed partnership” is not a partnership at all. In truth, it was probably a great date that didn’t turn into a marriage. When you want to partner with someone in business, it needs to be approached the same way as you would a partner for your life. Shared values and vision are key to the success. Lifestyles need to be complimentary. Business skills should be different but not so different that you can’t understand what the other person does. It takes time and patience. I can go on and on about should’s and have-to’s but the truth is, all I can really share is what works for me and my business partner, Claire. Every partnership is different. Finding one the works without comparing yourself to others is key. Here is what Claire and I do as partners: We recognize each other’s strengths and appreciate them, compliment We have been working together since we met in September 2006. We have since gone 50/50 on Hatch Network. I am beyond happy with my business partnership. Now if only I could get past that first date . . . Alison Covarrubias
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