[stonecraftwolf]

You are assuming he will go to the trouble of reading these texts because somehow being given textbooks about how to work with other people is less patronizing? As gently as I can, I want to suggest that this might not be a realistic expectation.

You don’t go into a lot of detail except to say that you hit a stone. The first thing that comes to mind is that he is literally stonewalling you — this is a term that describes a dysfunctional emotional tactic in relationships.

I don’t think you have a knowledge problem. You have an emotional and relationship problem, which is far more complex, and requires different tools and skills. For some people, for example, they shut down (and stonewall) when the task at hand or the area under discussion overwhelms them, or makes them feel inadequate, or mirrors something from their childhood, or or or — the possibilities are literally endless.

I’m going to assume you didn’t sign up to be this guy’s therapist. But if he’s not meeting you halfway in trying to engage with these issues, even by just acknowledging that these are issues, you have to find some way to speak to that.

I’m hoping other people have more specific advice for this situation, because my advice would be not to go into business with someone who doesn’t have the emotional regulation skills to handle failure with growth. (And stonewalling is absolute a sign of a lack of regulatory and relationship skills.) but correctly identifying the problem is probably the first step.

[tseoeo]

The stone that I hit is mostly based on different backgrounds - for example for him the concept of divorcing time from money comes in the beginning of the business, as business and life are not two separate things in his life. Having said this - he is willing to learn, but I am not the best teach that can lay so much foundations.

[yowlingcat]

> I am not the best teach that can lay so much foundations.

To echo a point from my other comment, if there is so much in terms of foundations that is missing, do you think maybe you should be reconsidering whether this person is the right cofounder for you?

[tseoeo]

I think of it the same as with love - every morning you have to ask yourself if you still want to be with this person. In the business case - I always have it in my mind to evaluate such an option and for now I think - yes.