- Original Poster
- #1
Hi,
About a year ago, me and a colleague started working on a business venture.
The idea needed (and still needs) a lot of work doing, and I wanted to do it all myself, but it was simply proving too much to do...Hence I invited him to join me.
He accepted, and to be fair, in work he is good at his full- time day job and hard working.
The financial commitment from both of us is in the hundreds of pounds at the moment, so nothing messy with money, etc.
However, as part of this venture, I expected the same kind of attitude and have been very sorely let down.
Through what seems to be an endless stream of personal circumstances and other priorities, his rate of progression through tasks is virtually nonexistant. He makes promises about completing work, having meetings with me, and so on... and a lot of the time they just don't happen.
I understand he is busy and has a job involving long hours (we both do the same thing), but the thing is I put in the effort almost every single day (7PM- 1AM most days and most of the weekend) to try and get things done, and he seems to put in about 5 hours per week judging by his output.
I repeatedly tell him that he needs to stick to deadlines, get things done, and progress, or this business will never be ready to start trading... He then makes more promises he cannot keep. He also fails to display much in the way of creative thinking, taking the initiative, and so on that he displays at work, so I just think his heart is not in this/ he is hoping to ride on my coattails for a quick buck.
SO far we have not formed a company or made any formal arrangements, so I think I can just cut him out and basically get on with it myself.... but for me the problem is taking on the extra 5% of the workload he does manage, and ever getting things done.
I think if I continue to drag him along, I will end up regretting having to give away half my profits if we ever get going properly.
I don't want to start looking for a new partner as I am worried about the same thing happening (or worse with someone I don't know) and the business consists of a lot of custom software I have spent hundreds of hours writing.
He agreed to meet with me later today and I am going to lay it out for him- but how do you actually convince someone to knuckle down? (If he does not turn up, I am going to ring him and tell him he's off this project).
The more I think about it, the more I think he won't change and is not motivated enough, so has to go, but I am worried about continuing alone. I know this business can be profitable (and I am surprised this has not spurned him on as we both agree the figures work) if I can get the help I need to get it started, but I don't know where to go now really. I need someone with certain skills to help me out with it, and I don't know anyone else who can help me really.
What would you do in my situation?
Thanks
About a year ago, me and a colleague started working on a business venture.
The idea needed (and still needs) a lot of work doing, and I wanted to do it all myself, but it was simply proving too much to do...Hence I invited him to join me.
He accepted, and to be fair, in work he is good at his full- time day job and hard working.
The financial commitment from both of us is in the hundreds of pounds at the moment, so nothing messy with money, etc.
However, as part of this venture, I expected the same kind of attitude and have been very sorely let down.
Through what seems to be an endless stream of personal circumstances and other priorities, his rate of progression through tasks is virtually nonexistant. He makes promises about completing work, having meetings with me, and so on... and a lot of the time they just don't happen.
I understand he is busy and has a job involving long hours (we both do the same thing), but the thing is I put in the effort almost every single day (7PM- 1AM most days and most of the weekend) to try and get things done, and he seems to put in about 5 hours per week judging by his output.
I repeatedly tell him that he needs to stick to deadlines, get things done, and progress, or this business will never be ready to start trading... He then makes more promises he cannot keep. He also fails to display much in the way of creative thinking, taking the initiative, and so on that he displays at work, so I just think his heart is not in this/ he is hoping to ride on my coattails for a quick buck.
SO far we have not formed a company or made any formal arrangements, so I think I can just cut him out and basically get on with it myself.... but for me the problem is taking on the extra 5% of the workload he does manage, and ever getting things done.
I think if I continue to drag him along, I will end up regretting having to give away half my profits if we ever get going properly.
I don't want to start looking for a new partner as I am worried about the same thing happening (or worse with someone I don't know) and the business consists of a lot of custom software I have spent hundreds of hours writing.
He agreed to meet with me later today and I am going to lay it out for him- but how do you actually convince someone to knuckle down? (If he does not turn up, I am going to ring him and tell him he's off this project).
The more I think about it, the more I think he won't change and is not motivated enough, so has to go, but I am worried about continuing alone. I know this business can be profitable (and I am surprised this has not spurned him on as we both agree the figures work) if I can get the help I need to get it started, but I don't know where to go now really. I need someone with certain skills to help me out with it, and I don't know anyone else who can help me really.
What would you do in my situation?
Thanks
