AmiSight 2/19: When a Partnership Starts to Strain

Partnerships rarely fall apart all at once. More often, they fray slowly. Small disagreements linger a little longer. Conversations feel heavier. Trust erodes just enough that uncertainty begins to fill the space. In a 50/50 partnership, that uncertainty can be especially destabilizing. There’s no natural tie-breaker, and when alignment slips, even minor issues can start to feel existential.

I recently spoke with a business owner who finds himself in that exact place. The company is doing well. The operating agreement is detailed. There are clauses that outline how a buyout could happen, how valuation would be handled, and what events might force a decision. On paper, everything seems covered. But in practice, it feels deeply unsettled. Knowing the rules is not the same as knowing what it would feel like to live through them.

Head over to my 21Hats column to continue reading.

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