 Are you thinking of starting a business right now? Transitioning into a gig economist, SMB owner or freelancer? 欄 Have you considered partnering with someone on your new venture? While there are ➕advantages and ➖disadvantages, either way, it’s imperative you do your due diligence regardless if you link up or dive in solo. ️ I, myself, have tried to collaborate with screenwriters in the past.  Yup, I moonlight as an actor, producer and screenwriter while away from my daily role as a career consultant and resume writer. While I find myself not doing as much with the Hollywood stuff, I still will have that want to do some creative writing. Honestly, out of the 10+ collaborations, only 1 person meshed with me, and even that didn't amount to much when life gets in the way. So my advice is to not force it. Try it out. If it works, expand the relationship. If it doesn't, move on to someone else. That will benefit everyone more than force. ❓Can you offer advice for people starting a business with a friend?

1. A BUSINESS
A BUSINESS
A BUSINESS
WITH A
WITH A
WITH A
FRIEND?
FRIEND?
FRIEND?
CONDISERING
CONDISERING
CONDISERING
STARTING
STARTING
STARTING

2. 1. Collaboration breeds creative brainstorming and a form
of checks and balances.
2. You can bounce ideas off each other, whether it's 8 AM or
midnight.
3. You always have someone who's also thinking about the
same stuff.
4. You can create multiple strategies, and offer some
opportunity for A/B testing.
5. When you can test more strategies together, you can
build up the right company together while remaining
transparent.
PROS
PROS
PROS
N
E
W
Y
E
A
R
2
0
2
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NEW YEAR 20
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N
E
W
Y
E
A
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2
0
2
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3. CONS
CONS
CONS
IF YOU'RE STUCK ON
THE IDEA OR
PROCESS OF
SOMETHING YOU
REALLY LIKE, IT CAN
BE HARMFUL IF THE
OTHER PERSON
ISN'T ON THE SAME
PAGE.
COMMUNICATION
CAN SHUT DOWN
REAL QUICK,
ESPECIALLY IF
THERE ISN'T A
THIRD PARTY TO
APPROVE OR DENY
THE VOTE.
ONCE THAT
RELATIONSHIP IS
HARMED, IT CAN
LEAD TO A
DETERIORATING
BUSINESS,
REPUTATION,
BRAND, AND
EVENTUALLY YOUR
CLIENTS.

4. MONEY
MONEY
MONEY - MAYBE ONE PERSON
- MAYBE ONE PERSON
- MAYBE ONE PERSON
OFFERS MORE COLLATERAL THAN
OFFERS MORE COLLATERAL THAN
OFFERS MORE COLLATERAL THAN
THE OTHER.
THE OTHER.
THE OTHER.
TIME
TIME
TIME - WHAT IF SOMEONE IS
- WHAT IF SOMEONE IS
- WHAT IF SOMEONE IS
PUTTING MORE INTO THE BUSINESS
PUTTING MORE INTO THE BUSINESS
PUTTING MORE INTO THE BUSINESS
THAN THE OTHER, THAT CAN LEAD
THAN THE OTHER, THAT CAN LEAD
THAN THE OTHER, THAT CAN LEAD
TO NEGATIVE FEELINGS AND
TO NEGATIVE FEELINGS AND
TO NEGATIVE FEELINGS AND
COMMUNICATIONS.
COMMUNICATIONS.
COMMUNICATIONS.
THE
THE
THE
CHALLENGES
CHALLENGES
CHALLENGES

5. MORE
MORE
MORE
CHALLENGES
CHALLENGES
CHALLENGES
NETWORK
NETWORK
NETWORK - SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE A LARGER
- SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE A LARGER
- SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE A LARGER
NETWORK, WHICH CAN BE A LARGER BASE FOR
NETWORK, WHICH CAN BE A LARGER BASE FOR
NETWORK, WHICH CAN BE A LARGER BASE FOR
OPPORTUNITY. THIS MAY LEAD THAT PERSON
OPPORTUNITY. THIS MAY LEAD THAT PERSON
OPPORTUNITY. THIS MAY LEAD THAT PERSON
INTO THINKING THEY CAN GO ALONG SOLO.
INTO THINKING THEY CAN GO ALONG SOLO.
INTO THINKING THEY CAN GO ALONG SOLO.
SUCCESS
SUCCESS
SUCCESS - SOMEONE'S IDEAS MIGHT WORK
- SOMEONE'S IDEAS MIGHT WORK
- SOMEONE'S IDEAS MIGHT WORK
BETTER THAN THE OTHERS, AND THIS CAN
BETTER THAN THE OTHERS, AND THIS CAN
BETTER THAN THE OTHERS, AND THIS CAN
LEAD TO COUNTING THE SUCCESSES
LEAD TO COUNTING THE SUCCESSES
LEAD TO COUNTING THE SUCCESSES
INDIVIDUALLY. NOW IT BECOMES MORE OF
INDIVIDUALLY. NOW IT BECOMES MORE OF
INDIVIDUALLY. NOW IT BECOMES MORE OF
A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT.
A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT.
A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT.

6. 1. SCHEDULE EVERYTHING AND BE
TRANSPARENT.
2. GIVE EACH OTHER HOMEWORK.
HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE.
3. SHARE EACH OTHER'S NETWORK.
4. SHARE EACH OTHER'S IDEAS AND
INFORMATION.
5. BE HONEST. BE SINCERE. BE
GENUINE.
ADVICE?
ADVICE?
ADVICE?