What I’ve learned from my first 6 months in co-founding a business: (OR how to harness storytelling so you don’t kill your business partner)

I’ve spent the last 10 years working solo. In reality my version of ‘working solo’ has involved being part of and leading numerous teams, partnering on projects, collaborating on creative endeavours, but to all intents and purposes I’ve made the final call on all big decisions.?

At the start of 2023, this all changed. I approached my now co-founder in LookUP, Matthew Hook, about an idea I’d had (which coincidentally he had also had), and before we knew it, a test project became a living, breathing business.?

We had met twice in two years of working with each other (weirdly a normal occurrence in a post Covid world). The second of these was a week in New York working with a client, flung into day to day working and in between ‘hanging out’ as well as finalising our LookUP plans. I realised in very quick order that we actually didn’t know each other that well out of our commercial partnership. Thankfully, it turned out we are aligned on many things outside the work field, as well as in.?

It’s been a steep learning curve partnering with someone. One that takes communication, collaboration, and where the art of storytelling is actually crucial. Here are my top 5 learnings from our first 6 months of partnership, but ones I believe carry through to collaboration in all areas of business:?

1. Understanding your partner's point of jeopardy is everything: what are they driven by and what problem are they trying to solve??

In our case we came to the launch of LookUP with very similar drivers: doing more in the social good space, working with clients and people we believed in, delivering creatively in a field where we felt it was lacking. We have our own end goals for the business that are ambitious but also allow for balance. If you don’t align on your goals, and how you want to make change, you’ll quickly diverge in your actions.?

2. As with all areas of storytelling, your character has a role in someone else’s story as well as your own?

Transitioning from managing your own time, outputs and approach to considering yours and someone else’s priorities can be a challenge. Suddenly your actions influence someone else. It’s an essential exercise in empathy - how do they like to do things? What is their workstyle like? Talking and overall transparency of when someone is working differently to how you like to is the only way through.?

3. You need to define your story arcs, and keep coming back to them?

As with any new business, ideas of how it might evolve can (and should) be endless. But prioritising them, phasing them, and continually reassessing what is crucial vs. nice to have is essential. The to-do list for entrepreneurs is endless, and you’ll drive yourself mad if you don’t both keep yourself to what has to be done vs. the minefield of what could be.?

4. Cut, cut, cut some more?

My biggest learning from partnering with someone is how effective you can be in reviewing each other’s thinking. Just like the edit process with a book, getting someone to come to your work with fresh eyes is invaluable. You can always improve. Even the most talented, senior members of teams can forget this.?

5. Have fun and find your own style?

Everyone has their own method of writing, presenting, engaging, and doing things. The beauty is in our individuality. Respecting that in others is an essential part of partnership and collaboration. This also applies to finding your individual areas of expertise - lean to what you’re good at and everyone enjoys the ride.?

Look out for our LookUP list on Substack this week on the latest on collaboration and communication - thanks for reading!?

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