Business Education

3 Subtle but Serious Signs a Business Partnership is in Big Trouble

Ostensibly, a partnership is an ideal way to bring two necessary but different skill-sets together. After all, it makes sense to join various strengths in order to form an alliance. Such an arrangement seems like it will yield fruitful results.

However, far more partnerships fail than succeed. There are many obvious reasons why this happens. But, it’s not always so clear-cut. So, let’s take a look at some subtle telltale signs that a partnership is in trouble.

The Biggest Partnership Dangers

Dave Ramsey has made famous his five dangerous D’s of partnerships: death, disability, disinterest, drugs, and divorce. Of those, only one makes the list below. That’s because it’s not always crystal clear that something is awry.

You generally spend more waking hours at work than at home, which means you have more opportunities to interact with your business partner and the nature of your interactions tend to be more intense, with more potential for conflict because there are so many external variables that are beyond your control. —Forbes.com

There are scenarios when very subtle factors are in play. Unfortunately, most business people miss these signals put out by their partners. Eventually, they become more pronounced and at that point, it is usually too late to save the enterprise.

3 Signs a Business Partnership is in Jeopardy

When a business partner goes through a very difficult time in his or her life, it’s usually quite easy to see the writing on the wall. But, there are instances when there are no overt problems or issues. Here are three subtle yet serious signs a business partnership is in trouble:

Apathetic. Let’s begin with the only sign that makes the list above — disinterest. This can manifest in two different but similar forms: distraction and apathy. A lack of concern and focus can wreak loads of havoc on a business. Before you know it, the onus falls on you alone. That’s when you’ll realize your partner is no longer interested in participating. And, by this time, it usually causes an irreversible rift.
Autonomy. On the opposite side of the spectrum is autonomy. Sure, being able to operate independently is typically a good thing. Except when there’s far too much of it. So much, you find out about key decisions well after the fact. This is a sign that unpleasant news is most likely on its way to you.
Elusive. This is a very tough one and perhaps, the most frustrating of the two because it’s so difficult to understand. When your partner becomes elusive, that is to say, overzealous one moment and indifferent the next, you’ll struggle to cope with why. This will only lead to unnecessary disruptions and make the partnership unsustainable.

What other signs would you add to the list? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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The Secret Weapon for Small Biz: Unlock a Pool of Brilliant Summer Interns (Before Your Competitors Do)

June 5, 2025 No Comments

Forget expensive hires and chasing talent you simply can’t afford. Your small business needs a competitive edge this summer, and it’s not what you think. While your rivals are scrambling, you could be tapping into an often-overlooked goldmine: brilliant summer interns.

Entrepreneurs — Post-Pandemic, This One Single Word will Become Your most Powerful Tool

June 11, 2020 No Comments

Just one word can serve as your most powerful ally in a coming post-pandemic business world. It’s actually one of the shortest words in the English language, but wields an incredible amount of influence. It’s a single syllable that can save you from a lot of trouble, and even one that can help you realize a profit. This magical word? It’s “no,” and it will be very difficult to utter in the coming months. Why “No” will Become Absolutely Necessary Risk is inherent in entrepreneurship, and that’s why it’s so difficult to turn things down. Business owners realize when they do not seize upon a seeming opportunity, they ostensibly lose out in one way or another. Call it FOMO or fear of missing out. Call it pride or even stubbornness. Whatever it is, there’s an impulse to accept things as they come. It’s easy to say yes and hard to say no. Anyone who has children knows how effortless it is for kids to learn the word ‘no.’ They love to say it—all the time! So, it’s curious that as we get older, the word ‘no’ becomes a distant memory and ‘yes’ is the order of the day. This is especially true if you are a people pleaser. Let’s face it, deep down we all want to be liked. For an entrepreneur, learning to say no is crucial because it can mean the difference between success and failure. —Forbes This isn’t to say it’s necessary or even smarter to avoid risk, but rather, to measure it on a case-by-case basis. And in a time when you’re in a position to help others out in their time of need, it will be extra tempting to accept rather than pass. This can easily become detrimental to your business in a very short period of time. So, it’s critical that you learn or relearn how to say “no.” How to Say “No” The real problem with saying “no” is that you’re not saying “yes.” If you think about it for a moment, that becomes fairly profound. In other words, “yes” carries a positive connotation, while its antonym is, understandably negative. But, that doesn’t mean that saying “no” can’t have a positive income. Here’s how to say “no,” when you impulsively want to say the opposite: Suggest alternatives. Instead of just posing an objection and leaving it at that, suggest alternative scenarios. It will help you to feel a sense of usefulness and even a sense of accomplishment, perhaps pride. This way, you’re offering solutions rather than shutting the other person out. Explain your reasoning. Although we’ve all heard the phrase “No is a complete sentence,” in many instances, it’s just not enough. So, take a moment to explain why you’re saying “No thanks,” and don’t belabor the point(s). After all, if you do prolong the situation, you’re opening yourself up to self-doubt. Don’t rationalize your decision.This goes right along with the last point. If you begin to rationalize, you’ll send yourself out on a path to going the opposite way to “yes.” And, that defeats the entire purpose of saying “no” in the first place. What other suggestions would you add? Please share your thoughts and experience by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Top Networking Mistakes Too Many Entrepreneurs Make

June 13, 2017 No Comments

Even though we’re becoming more digitally connected through social media and other technology, personal interaction cannot be replaced. Whether you want to open a retail shop or start another type of business, you’ll have to network. While reaching out on social media is a must, there’s just no substitution for face-to-face conversation. We’re innately social creatures and you can definitely use this trait to your business’ advantage. But, don’t put unnecessary obstacles in your way. Instead, understand which networking mistakes most entrepreneurs make. Top Networking Mistakes too Many Entrepreneurs Make There’s no question opportunity awaits for you to start a business. And, there are also a number of financing options available. However, there’s another component to starting a company and making it successful. Of course, this requires customers patronizing your business. The question is, just how do you find customers or clients? The age-old answer is simple: networking. This practice provides a wonderful opportunity but it’s vital to do it right. There is a right way and a wrong way to network. If you are one of those people who hate to network and view it as phony or pretentious, then you are doing it all wrong. Networking is not about building a mammoth list of contacts or passing out business cards like you’re dealing poker. Networking means building mutually beneficial relationships. —U.S. News and World Report Networking allows you to become a known quantity. It also serves to sharpen your people and communication skills. But, it can also be frustrating, tiring, inconvenient, as well as near disastrous. What’s worse, is networking can also be counterproductive. If you want to get the most out of networking, you’ve got to know what does and doesn’t work. Here are some of the worst networking mistakes too many entrepreneurs make: Selling, not networking. Alright, this makes the “all-too-obvious” list. But, it definitely bears inclusion here because it cannot be left out. Think about what’s most annoying about those loud, hard-selling commercials you hear and see. Now, imagine you are the embodiment of those — selling, selling, selling to each individual you meet. That’s certainly not productive. Keep the sales talk to yourself and meet people, have pleasant conversations, instead. Failure to make and follow a plan. Entrepreneurs are notorious for making plans and following them step-by-step. Planning and executing provide awesome results because you set goals and then achieve them, one-by-one. That gives you a sense of accomplishment and increases your level of motivation. So, do the same when you go to a networking event. Make a plan and follow it. Not networking with regular consistency. If you network, you’ve got to do so consistently. Without consistency, you send a modest signal you’re not really interested in others. Also, without consistency, you run the real risk of always being relatively unknown and that’s not a good thing. Talking too much, as well as listening too little. Even if you’re not engaged in selling this or that product and/or service, talking too much is a big no-no. Everyone knows talking too much is downright impolite. Moreover, if you manage to hold back, be sure to actually listen. There’s a difference between being politely silent and being an active listener. Making pre-conceived assumptions about people. “Never judge a book by its cover.” So the old adage goes and it’s proven true, time and time again. Since this is the case, make a sincere effort to not form assumptions about others. If you do, it will have an impact on how you come across. What networking mistakes do you think should be included? How do you approach networking at-large? Please, share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group. [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]