Smart Partners

Most people want partners in their personal lives, and many businesses start with some form of partnership structure. Yet so many personal and professional partnerships disintegrate, sometimes quickly. Thats one reason why our own partnership seems so amazing, even miraculous, to people who know us. How do you do it? they constantly ask. How have you spent so many years living and working together 24/7 without killing each other? A general business/how-we-did-it-book, Smart Partners outlines the methods and thinking weve used to achieve financial success while also keeping our personal partnership alive and interesting. Drawing on our unique experiences both personally and professionally, we present principles for building, sustaining, and growing not merely serviceable relationships in business and life, but true partnerships. Partnerships are a big dealnot just specific partnerships, but the very idea of partnership. Thats why, from the very inception of a relationship, partners should proceed slowly, cautiously, thoughtfully, going all in, and doing whatever they can to keep the relationship vibrant and healthy. They should honor their relationship at every turn, and with all their strength. No matter what business youre in you can transcend your sense of me to create a very powerful we. Its a matter of concentrating on partnership, committing to it, and embracing the right practicessuch as choosing your partner well, negotiating proper roles, planning for your mutual success, and adjusting so as to overcome challenges as they arise. Fundamentally, its about looking beyond yourself so as to share business and life with another person. None of this is easy, of course, but its so worth it. Read our stories, learn our partnership principles, and apply them to your life. We think youll discover what we have long known: We is better than me. And the truth is, anyone can be a smart partner.