Business & Best Friends… The Practicality Of It All
Remember trading baseball cards or selling lemonade in 3rd grade? It was rewarding to make a little change right? But as you mature, you begin to formulate bigger and bolder ideas. You find yourself wanting, (and needing), more than weekend spending money. You want to take the leap. Begin the journey. Start your first business!
Now, assuming that you’ve immersed yourself in the business world to some degree (stop reading this if you haven’t), you understand how challenging it is to run a successful business. Especially your first! I’ve stumbled upon a hack to make the startup process 10x less stressful and 20x more fun.
Make your best friends your business partners. Here’s 4 reasons why:
1. Trust
Going into the unknown is always challenging, mainly because you’re forced to adapt to new environments. The hardest thing to adjust to is people. How do you know John made that call? Did Sarah actually analyze that spreadsheet?
Lack of trust doesn’t come from a place of negativity, rather a place of uncertainty.
2. Chemistry
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Some are planners while others are presenters. Some are more EQ than IQ and vice-versa. We’ve all tried to do things outside of our immediate skill-set. It always results in a loss of your biggest asset. TIME!!!
Now you may be thinking, “isn’t it good to get out of your comfort zone?”. Of course, but understand that
getting out of your comfort zone should elevate your main qualities rather than develop sub-par skills.
The key in a business setting is knowing everyone’s strengths and weaknesses so you can maximize efficiency. Leaders determine that level of efficiency but working with your best friends starts you off on the right path.
3. Openness
Openness automatically comes with starting a business with your best friends. Humans naturally LOVE to avoid conflict at all costs (unless you’re a Reality TV star). However, healthy conflict sparks game-changing ideas that you couldn’t have thought of as individuals. Working with an unfamiliar team minimizes honesty and as a result, limits creativity.
My co-founders and I have known each other since elementary school so we have no problems speaking our minds. Our brainstorming sessions and weekly meetings always generate powerful ideas and strategies that we built together. We’ve developed a Mastermind (this is separate story).
You can achieve this team culture without having your best friends on board but it’ll definitely take a lot longer. Maybe a year. Maybe 5. It varies so I suggest you go with the easiest option.
4. Enjoying The Grind
Building something from nothing is extremely difficult. You don’t know everything. You don’t have all of the skills. You’re not generating income. You have little to no time for anything else. The list goes on and on.
It’s tough and I commend anyone who seriously invests the energy and focus into launching a startup.
You’re going to war every single day. Why not go to war with your best friends?
It’s way more fun! You get to create memories that will last forever.
Over 1 year into the process (yes, it takes time), I’ve seen massive growth from my guys. They have a newfound confidence about them that fires me up!!! Seeing them get to where they are now is well worth the sleepless nights, various obstacles, and overlaying pressure from the outside world.
I’m not saying you can’t have fantastic experiences with business partners that you met 6 months ago, but if you want to have an unfair advantage going into the startup process, find your friends who are passionate about business, tell them your idea, and get to work!
