Better Plan ahead to avoid disaster

The end should be happy - contd.

Better to plan ahead. Here's how you, too, can forge a better match:

Choose wisely. Do you even need a partner in the first place? Maybe not. A potential mate should bring something substantial to the table -- like deep pockets or industry connections. Be sure to choose someone who complements, rather than mirrors, your own skills. At ATM, Clark is the sales whiz, for instance, while Ambuehl is the manager. "We knew going in that we had these strengths," says Ambuehl. "It offers us two viewpoints on everything, and even though we can step into each other's roles, we've always been real careful not to step outside our bounds." Just as important is for you and your partner to share the same strategic vision. If you have dreams of going public in five years, for instance, and your partner is happy running a small shop, there's bound to be conflict down the road.

Sure, complementary skills and a shared vision are a good starting point, but you should never underestimate the importance of actually liking your partner. Just ask Naomi Miller, an architectural lighting designer based in Troy, N.Y. Miller joined a lighting firm in San Francisco as a co-partner in 1991. She knew and respected her partner professionally, but while the pair agreed on business-related matters, Miller quickly realized that the two had no personal rapport. "I found that I didn't really look forward to going to lunch with this guy," she says. "I just wasn't having as much fun as I had anticipated." Two years later, when Miller had the chance to leave San Francisco and end the partnership, she didn't hesitate. (....contd)


By: Dimitra Kessenides