[chrisennis]

It's like starting a band. If you're not friends first, when friction begins, things usually get ugly. Having the mutual respect that friendship brings will give all parties better perspective on where everyone's interests lie.

[pan69]

I think there are two ways, or two types of band organisations that can be applied to startups. You're either a Bon Jovi or you're a U2.

In Bon Jovi, Jon Bon Jovi is the boss. He owns the company, the brand, everything. The other guys in the band are simply his employees.

U2 is the complete opposite. The band has 5 members, the 4 you see on stage and the manager (Paul McGuinness). These guys basically built their little empire based on mutual respect to each other. According to the band members it's not a democracy, it's just that the best idea is used regardless of who came up with it. In effect, their success is built around a lack of ego, or as Bono said it, the ego is the band not the individual members (ie. the result is greater than the sum of its parts).

I think both approaches will work fine, however, with the U2 approach being rare to find out in the real world but when it does occur magic happens.