Business Education

So, You and Your Business Partner always Agree – Why that’s Really Bad News

“If two people in a relationship are the same, one of them is unnecessary.” You’ve probably heard this worded in one way or another. And, it does demonstrate a very good point. Often most attributable to romantic relationships, it’s just as true for business partnerships. After all, opposites attract and we’ve seen successful pairs throughout history. Take for instance Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. One, a marketing genius. The other, a hardware guru. And, completely different personalities. Winston Churchill and General Bernard Montgomery are another unlikely pair. But together, an unstoppable force. So, why is that?

Why Business Partnerships are so Difficult

The truth of the matter is, the business world is a tough environment. Partnerships supposedly make it easier. But, there’s the notorious five D’s of partnerships: death, disability, disinterest, drugs, and divorce. Each one alone can split up a business partnership.

Successful startups often have partners who have different strengths. One person might be the technical genius, while the other takes what they do and sells it to the masses. Having two personalities allows each individual to grow. If you can’t be challenged by a partner, you probably shouldn’t be in business at all. —Fast Company.com

Why do business partnerships fail so often? It could well be one of the five D’s. Then again, it could also be the two are too much alike. That takes us right back to the notion that if two people are the same, one of them isn’t necessary.

Why Your Business Partner should be Your Polar Opposite

Now, let’s take a quick look at why your business partner should actually be your polar opposite. Sure, it seems counterproductive and most certainly feels counterintuitive. But, there are the following advantages:

It brings strengths to the surface. A business partner who is your opposite will more clearly define your weaknesses. Hence, reveal your strengths, in the process. By the way, that’s a two-way street and the same will benefit your partner. Ultimately, making it a win-win scenario.
It allows both of you to learn and grow. When your business partner is the opposite, you’ll begin to see things from a different perspective, over time. That’s also a good thing because both of you will learn from one another and grow as a result.
It creates a more dynamic environment. Friction is a difficult phenomenon but it is very productive at the same time. Being challenged gives rise to a number of positives — a dynamic environment is just one example.
It allows you to leverage your differences. Your differences can also be a real source of inspiration and productivity. Use your differences strategically and you’ll find them advantageous in more ways than one.

What other advantages are there to having such opposites? Have you found working with someone who is totally different is more beneficial? Please share your thoughts and experiences!

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

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What are the Pros and Cons of Giving Small Business Employees Holiday Bonuses

December 12, 2019 No Comments

Small business employee holiday bonuses have their advantages and disadvantages. As with most kinds of incentives, it creates different scenarios that small business owners should be aware of before introducing them. As any entrepreneur knows, there are upsides and downsides to just about everything. So, let’s take a quick look at the most common pros and cons of giving small business employee holiday bonuses. Small Business Employee Holiday Bonus Cons We’ll start with the disadvantages. First, it creates unrealistic expectations. For instance, if you have a stellar year and profits are high, it’s only natural to want to reward your people. But this sets up an expectation for the following year, even if it’s a very poor one. Also, bonuses sometimes fosters unhealthy competition. In other words, it will cause some employees to up their game substantially, even at the expense of their teammates. Also, one person might exceed expectations so much, his or her performance could cost you a hefty tax bill. Your small business can’t operate successfully without the help of your employees, which is why it’s important to maintain a happy, focused workforce. Of course, giving your hardworking employees a bonus or raise can decrease turnover and boost staff morale, but these monetary rewards can easily take a toll on your business’s bottom line. —Intuit QuickBooks Speaking of taxes, giving out bonuses creates new tax implications for your small business. Of course, that’s not your employees’ problem but it will certainly cause you to think twice. Lastly, another downside of bonuses –specifically performance-based models — is the fact it might marginalize and/or demoralize those who aren’t eligible or simply do not perform as well as top producers. Small Business Employee Holiday Bonus Pros Now, let’s look at the benefits of giving small business employees holiday bonuses. Bonuses incentivize employees. On the flip side, overall employee performance will notably increase — probably enough to substantially benefit the company’s bottom line. Of course, that’s a terrific win-win scenario and one you’ll definitely strive to repeat as many times as possible. Bonuses help retain key staff. Bonuses are also a great retention tool, particularly for performance-based models. It helps to give employees more control over their earnings and hence, take ownership in the company. Plus, that extra earning power reiterates the fundamental attractiveness of the company itself. Bonuses instill responsibility. Bonuses are a powerful motivator, so much, individuals will likely take on more responsibility, even to the point of tackling tasks not in their job descriptions. For instance, a salesperson who personally picks up and delivers one or more orders when other team members are struggling to keep up or falling behind. What other pros and cons about giving employee bonuses would you add? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

How Successful Entrepreneurs Stay Calm Under Pressure

May 16, 2017 No Comments

There’s one thing that’s certain about starting and running a business, there will be challenges. Some are mere annoyances, while others are minor and easily dealt with, then, there are times when it seems the earth moves. It can happen in the blink of an eye, a simple error demonstrating much to your chagrin the butterfly effect. One tiny mistake or misstep makes a larger-than-life impact, and, your team looks to you to deal with the situation. We are told our whole lives that when faced with a challenge to remain calm. While it’s easy to do so as an exercise, things get a lot more complicated in real time. It starts with a stark realization, your heart drops into yours stomach, and, you begin to look desperately for answers. For most of us, that’s a normal reaction, however, for successful entrepreneurs, there’s a different approach. How Successful Entrepreneurs Stay Calm You’re not alone if you believe that stressful situations wreak havoc on lives and cause physical damage, particularly because it’s backed by science. Dr. Travis Bradberry helped to conduct a research study on more than one million people. As the nearby quote states, the analysis revealed that a whopping 90 percent of those categorized as top performers were able to stay calm, manage their emotions, and remain in control. The ability to manage your emotions and remain calm under pressure has a direct link to your performance. TalentSmart has conducted research with more than a million people, and we’ve found that 90% of top performers are skilled at managing their emotions in times of stress in order to remain calm and in control. —Forbes What this teaches us is that people learn to deal with stress, and other neuroscience research has found this to be true. One of the secrets revealed is that staying calm and under control is not an inborn trait. In fact, we also know this because of our instinctive fight-or-flight response–both can make a bad situation a whole lot worse. So, how is it that successful entrepreneurs stay calm under pressure? Well, they do these things: They take a breath and step back. Okay, we all know to do this, but, how many of us actually practice it? Too often, we let our gut instinct fly, which in most instances, isn’t a path to solve the problem but exacerbate the situation. Taking a deep breath allows you to breathe, in other words, calm your nerves, and your brain. They solicit and seriously entertain ideas. Look to some of the most successful people in business, and, you’ll definitely find a common trait: trust. We’re not talking about self-confidence, but trusting in others, or, put another way, giving serious consideration to the ideas and suggestions of other people. Behind every successful business person, there’s a team of people they trust and rely on for advice. They think carefully but don’t fret the outcome. Rather than focus on the moment and allowing it to become an exercise in fear and doubt, look to the future. While what you face might be heart pounding at the moment, it’s quite helpful to see the good that will come from it. Fear produces poor decisions but hope gives you options and a sense of peace. They stand by their beliefs and principles. When confronted with a problem, rather than give into the pressure, successful people choose to stand by their beliefs and not compromise their principles. While this might cause a setback, it serves a higher purpose and makes a statement. They relabel their emotions. Though not easy, this is very helpful. Instead of giving into fear, reroute the feeling into anticipation. You can turn frustration into desire, and transform dread into wise caution. It takes practice to do these things, but becomes more natural over time. That’s a good thing, because you’ll learn a lot on your journey and different constructive coping mechanisms that produce real results. [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]

Two Rockstars, One Promotion—Here’s How Smart Managers Make the Toughest Call

July 10, 2025 No Comments

When two exceptional employees are vying for the same promotion, the decision becomes one of the most challenging yet crucial choices a small business owner can make.