| So many partnerships die because you believe the other person is capable of being responsible and disciplined. If he is having problems completing the task, this will be an ongoing issue guaranteed. Also this seems very one sided and it usually never is. You must allow for a balance but at the same time hold people accountable. As throwaway420 said, become methodical. In the case I am wrong and you have been a good partner, you need to cut the dead weight and find people who are as serious as you are. Whether it's this project or a new one, don't get stuck in these situations - its poison. Also, you have to know when to walk away, for the sake of the friendship and your sanity. Get serious and stop being a friend, because he is slowing you down and this will NOT end well. 1. Have a meeting and let him know that you guys need to set a deadline for hitting that first finish line. This must be a hard deadline, meaning either he walks away from the project and you find someone else to take it up or you scrap the project all together. This seems very harsh and I recommend you try to word it positively, always hoping for it to be in the best interest of both of you. Don't be too nice though, because you should be upset, he's wasting your time. 2. Stick to your deadline and do what you say you will do. This is a life lesson. The only instance you should consider extending this deadline is if you see serious traction and even then, you set a hard deadline again. Traction is not an opportunity for you to go back to the way things were, stick to what works. 3. Start working on your backup plan. NOW. What will you do if this fails? If you need to find another developer, who will it be? How will you wind this down if it doesn't work out and still keep him as a friend? If you still believe in the idea and he doesn't want to hand it over, is it worth losing a friend over? It's OK to be nice, but it's not OK to be taken advantage of. I was too nice when I first started doing business and I would always take pride in that even when I got screwed. Have no doubt, it may not be intentional, but this guy is taking advantage of your niceness. Put your foot down because your dreams and goals in life should never be in the hand of anyone other than your own. He may be driven and ambitious, but not as much as you are. With the right co founder, they will push you as much as you push them. There is a momentum that a business needs in order to be successful, it is not an on/off switch. Talent is no excuse for stagnation and I hope this all works out for you. |