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by PakG1
5576 days ago
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I've admittedly heard more stories like this than success stories. But even so, it seems to me that it just comes down to the fact that you often don't know people as well as you think they do, you don't predict how they would change as well as you think they would, and you don't know yourself as well as you think you do. If not for that information asymmetry, I'd say that there would be no reason to not go forward with something like that. After all, there are success stories on that front too. |
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And in fact, all things considered, I believe we are both doing pretty well now, separately. So you could say that all's well that ends well.
My business with the 3rd partner has lasted far longer than the typical small business. And I think my programming soulmate is doing OK. The latest information I can find on him is that he left his next job (who was formerly a large customer of ours), and I can also see that he subsequently sued them for back pay. Those legal documents listed that he was owed over $100K from the company he left (and there are certain other indications that he was terminated abruptly).
If you end up in legal battles with your last two employers, that's not a good sign. This supports your theory that I didn't know him as well as I thought I did. On the other hand, I'm sure his side of the story is that I was a huge ass in the process, but I honestly tried to live up to every agreement that we made. Still, I carry guilt to this day.
I must have said to my lawyer and 3rd partner at least 100 times that I want what's fair to my family, but no more than what's fair. I could see we were going to be saddled with huge debt payments, and I sure as heck wasn't going to put that burden on my family, to the benefit of the guy who was stiffing us!
I know my soulmate kept saying over and over that he just wanted out. I understand that the pressures were tremendous from his wife. All he had to do was negotiate in good faith, and he would have saved himself about $100K in settlement and legal bills.
If I didn't value friendships, I'd say "all's well that ends well". But really, it caused a TON of stress and pain. My relationship with my current business partner is exceptional, even though he's not a programmer-genius. He's a sharp guy, but above all else, he's highly ethical.
Bottom line, be highly ethical, even if it costs you. And extreme talent without ethics is not worth partnering with.