Match Made in Heaven How do you approach a potential partner without stepping on anybody's toes?
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Q: I have a friend who hastaken his business as far as he is willing to go without investingmore money into it. I believe the business has great prospects.What's a win-win way to propose the idea of our entering into aworking relationship to expand the business?
Name withheld
A: The next step depends onhow well you know your friend and how well he knows you. If youfeel your friend knows and trusts you, then asking whether he wouldwelcome a written proposal for how you might work together would bethe next step.
If you think there isn't enough rapport to feel confidentyou'll get a yes answer, then take time to get acquainted.Propose doing something you know he likes to do, then find a timewhen it's appropriate to share your interest in taking hisbusiness to the next level.
When you do this, notice whether your friend is picking up onwhat you're expressing and if he's returning your interest.If you're not sure, you might test his interest by asking a fewquestions like "What do you think?" and "How doesthis sound to you?"
Be sensitive to the way he makes decisions. Some people needtime to let an idea percolate; others need to hear something morethan once. Still others decide on the spot, in which case you risklosing a relationship if you press further. If you're not surehow your friend prefers to make decisions, one way to find out isto ask how he's decided something in the past.
Paul and Sarah Edwards' most recent book is The Entrepreneurial Parent. Send them yourstart-up questions at www.workingfromhome.com or e-mail entmag@entrepreneur.com.
