Comments on: I’m a Geek, How Do I Pick a Business Partner I can Trust? http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/03/27/im-a-geek-how-do-i-pick-a-business-partner-i-can-trust/ Entrepreneurs, Startups and Co-Founders Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:07:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: ronronny http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/03/27/im-a-geek-how-do-i-pick-a-business-partner-i-can-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-270 ronronny Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:35:50 +0000 http://blog.fairsoftware.net/?p=133#comment-270 Be open-minded. Enthusiastic business-types LEARN FAST -- because they're enthusiastic. Don't pass on an enthusiastic Business major with only a little experience -- if they're enthusiastic, you will be surprised at how much they'll do for you while they learn on-the-job. Give an enthusiastic person a chance to learn.<br><br>MOST IMPORTANT: Unless you're Mark Andreesen or Steve Wozniak, if you're a technie and pretty new to being a co-founder of a firm -- you have to be realistic and be willing to team up with a business type who is just about at your experience level in his domain.<br><br>I have several techie friends starting companies right now who call me to ask about 'this MBA' or 'that guy with an undergrad in Business' and without fail my friends keep passing on people at their same experience level, holding out for an MBA who has a highly successful startup or two under their belt.<br><br>If you're just starting out yourself -- and you are too picky -- you may NEVER GET ANYWHERE. One of my friend's wasted 12 months working on something waiting for the 'Perfect MBA' and has asked me for advice on about 2 people per month he meets at networking events, and about half of them would really have helped him along. The WORST thing you can do is develop in a vacuum as a techie and remain clueless about how to get sales, how to do marketing, segmenting, pricing, on and on. Be open-minded. Enthusiastic business-types LEARN FAST — because they're enthusiastic. Don't pass on an enthusiastic Business major with only a little experience — if they're enthusiastic, you will be surprised at how much they'll do for you while they learn on-the-job. Give an enthusiastic person a chance to learn.

MOST IMPORTANT: Unless you're Mark Andreesen or Steve Wozniak, if you're a technie and pretty new to being a co-founder of a firm — you have to be realistic and be willing to team up with a business type who is just about at your experience level in his domain.

I have several techie friends starting companies right now who call me to ask about 'this MBA' or 'that guy with an undergrad in Business' and without fail my friends keep passing on people at their same experience level, holding out for an MBA who has a highly successful startup or two under their belt.

If you're just starting out yourself — and you are too picky — you may NEVER GET ANYWHERE. One of my friend's wasted 12 months working on something waiting for the 'Perfect MBA' and has asked me for advice on about 2 people per month he meets at networking events, and about half of them would really have helped him along. The WORST thing you can do is develop in a vacuum as a techie and remain clueless about how to get sales, how to do marketing, segmenting, pricing, on and on.

]]> By: kevin http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/03/27/im-a-geek-how-do-i-pick-a-business-partner-i-can-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-248 kevin Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:54:11 +0000 http://blog.fairsoftware.net/?p=133#comment-248 Attended two meetups: Co-founders 1 and Tribe x. Co-founders 1 'felt' more corporate where the scale of the event makes its more difficult to comparison shop for compatible personalities. Tribe x was much smaller. Tribe x emphasized team building concepts and personality 'presentations'. Tribe x may has touched the concept of trust but newbies can absorb only so much in a first meetup.<br><br>My impression is that both meetups have some common areas of interest. Attended two meetups: Co-founders 1 and Tribe x. Co-founders 1 'felt' more corporate where the scale of the event makes its more difficult to comparison shop for compatible personalities. Tribe x was much smaller. Tribe x emphasized team building concepts and personality 'presentations'. Tribe x may has touched the concept of trust but newbies can absorb only so much in a first meetup.

My impression is that both meetups have some common areas of interest.

]]> By: Telecommunications http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/03/27/im-a-geek-how-do-i-pick-a-business-partner-i-can-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Telecommunications Mon, 11 May 2009 11:34:26 +0000 http://blog.fairsoftware.net/?p=133#comment-67 This process will help highlight differences and weaknesses in both candidates. Only then can you make an educated choice................... This process will help highlight differences and weaknesses in both candidates. Only then can you make an educated choice……………….

]]> By: Christian Stewardship http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/03/27/im-a-geek-how-do-i-pick-a-business-partner-i-can-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Christian Stewardship Mon, 11 May 2009 11:33:26 +0000 http://blog.fairsoftware.net/?p=133#comment-66 This process will help highlight differences and weaknesses in both candidates. Only then can you make an educated choice................ This process will help highlight differences and weaknesses in both candidates. Only then can you make an educated choice…………….

]]> By: Christian Stewardship http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/03/27/im-a-geek-how-do-i-pick-a-business-partner-i-can-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Christian Stewardship Mon, 11 May 2009 11:32:31 +0000 http://blog.fairsoftware.net/?p=133#comment-65 The number one trick to choosing the right business partner is reference checks............... The number one trick to choosing the right business partner is reference checks……………

]]> By: Florida News http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/03/27/im-a-geek-how-do-i-pick-a-business-partner-i-can-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Florida News Mon, 11 May 2009 11:31:17 +0000 http://blog.fairsoftware.net/?p=133#comment-64 making money is critical and a good business partner can make the difference between success and failure............ making money is critical and a good business partner can make the difference between success and failure…………

]]> By: spot coolers http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/03/27/im-a-geek-how-do-i-pick-a-business-partner-i-can-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-63 spot coolers Mon, 11 May 2009 11:30:21 +0000 http://blog.fairsoftware.net/?p=133#comment-63 One of them had no qualms about putting complete fabrications on his resume................ One of them had no qualms about putting complete fabrications on his resume…………….

]]> By: Lennox Furnace Part http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/03/27/im-a-geek-how-do-i-pick-a-business-partner-i-can-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Lennox Furnace Part Mon, 11 May 2009 11:28:24 +0000 http://blog.fairsoftware.net/?p=133#comment-62 If you can find a friend of a friend who will vouch for that person, you’re in great shape......... If you can find a friend of a friend who will vouch for that person, you’re in great shape………

]]> By: Lennox X6673 http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/03/27/im-a-geek-how-do-i-pick-a-business-partner-i-can-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Lennox X6673 Mon, 11 May 2009 11:27:17 +0000 http://blog.fairsoftware.net/?p=133#comment-61 Joe has a ton of business contacts and looks great in a suit. Compared to you............... Joe has a ton of business contacts and looks great in a suit. Compared to you……………

]]> By: Aprilaire Part http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/03/27/im-a-geek-how-do-i-pick-a-business-partner-i-can-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-60 Aprilaire Part Mon, 11 May 2009 11:26:03 +0000 http://blog.fairsoftware.net/?p=133#comment-60 I can’t emphasize this enough. Don’t take the potential partner’s word for it, listen to other people who have worked with the candidate........ I can’t emphasize this enough. Don’t take the potential partner’s word for it, listen to other people who have worked with the candidate……..

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