“The only ship that doesn’t sail is a partnership.”
That’s what Steven believed after getting caught in the fallout of a failed one.
It’s not an uncommon view. Ask most entrepreneurs, and they’ll tell you horror stories of business breakups that left them bitter, burned, and broke.
But our experience building Superpowers together has been different. And in this post, we’re sharing what’s worked, where we’ve learned, and why this partnership is still one of the most valuable assets in the business.
The Story
We didn’t jump into this blind. We were friends first. We’d volunteered together. Been through pressure together. Knew each other’s values. We “dated” before we “got married.”
But even with that foundation, partnership isn’t automatic. It’s built day-by-day with intention.
Here’s what’s worked for us:
- We assume positive intent. Always. That doesn’t mean we always agree, but it means we never believe the other person is trying to win at the other’s expense.
- We keep short accounts. If something’s bothering one of us, we talk about it. Quickly. We don’t let it fester or weaponize it later. No silent campaigns.
- We invest in the relationship outside the business. That means phone calls with no agenda. Lunches with nodebates or decisions. Time spent as friends, not just co-founders.
- We admire each other’s strengths. We’re not clones, we’re complements (something we think is valuable in the Entrepreneur/EA relationship, too!). And we genuinely value the other’s superpowers. That mutual respect is rocket fuel.
- We’re both growing. Personally and professionally. That growth mindset keeps the partnership dynamic, energized, and evolving.
- We wrote in a coin toss clause. Seriously. If we ever reach a true deadlock, we flip a coin. That clause has never been used, but just knowing it exists reminds us to find common ground before leaving big decisions to chance.
The Insight
The best business partnerships share a lot with the best marriages: aligned values, mutual respect, shared vision, and intentional maintenance.
Too often, entrepreneurs default to “going solo” because it feels safer. But great partnerships – real, honest, thoughtful ones –can unlock growth, creativity, and sanity in ways solo leadership never will.
But it doesn’t happen by accident. It takes work.
The no-BS Takeaway
Partnerships don’t fail because people disagree.
They fail because people stop talking, stop listening, or stop growing.
