Partnerships in Business

Partnerships in Business

“In partnership business, there are two types of partners: those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is virtually no competition there.”– adaptation from Smt. Indira Gandhi’s speech

Why would you break a business partnership just because it showed no profits?  Partnership business is a lot more fun than profit.

Partnerships in business have existed since trading began. Two or more people have pooled in money and efforts to rake in more money, and have ended up at each other’s throats. Partnerships in business has spelt doom to many long lasting friendships and bosom friends have ended up drawing daggers against one another. Even wars have been fought by partnering countries at the end of their business sojourn.

If you were to look for a partner in business, what qualities would you ideally look for in your partner? Unlike a life partnership, where you give all, in a business partnership you take all. At least you try to. Rest assured, your partner would try just the same.  So your best bet would be someone with a physique smaller than yours. Not that size always wins, but then just in case you turn out second best in the inevitable fisticuff, you have a better chance of legging your way to safety.

Partnership business meetings are best held at venues where there is a good supply of liquid refreshments. This venue ensures the advantage that whatever is being discussed, can always be denied, later. Further this venue provides the opportunity to drown the discussions in a pitcher of choice wines or something a wee bit stronger, in case you are reaching nowhere. Works best for all talk no work type of business meetings. However the bar stool is a fantastic place to make earthshaking decisions too. In fact some of the greatest trade decisions were made over the bar table, like the decision to start the Chicken Wars or plot the murder of the Chinese Opium lords.

By the way, some of the partners in business end up with a lot more than they bargained for. Luis and Lisa met over a drink and decided to start The Liquor Store. They created one of the largest retail liquor store network in the USA but more importantly decided that one bed was better than two, for both of them. What can make can break too. Happily married couple have set out together on business together and ended up in the divorce courts. One really can’t say which is more, but common sense says that the latter is more likely.

Business can be fun, if your partner in trade is not too good in Math. Ideally you should be able to add two and two and get three, and your partner should be suitably impressed by your skill with numbers. However it may be better bet to ensure that the calculators in the vicinity be removed or calibrated to your theories of mathematic. It is a long shot though, because when it comes to money, some of the best known idiots seem to sprout extraordinary intelligence. So, next time you try the stunt, keep a backup scheme in place.

Let us wish the partners good luck in their business endeavors and whatever come after it……