Ending a partnership that is not profitable is a Herculean task. The reason is not far-fetched. Whether the relationship lasted a few months or many years, the fact that certain investment has been made by all the parties involved makes parting ways extremely difficult.
Top on each of the partner?s mind is a question that, just thinking about it, causes so much anxiety: How are we going to share the assets or liabilities proportionately so that no one is put at a disadvantage?
Finding an answer to that question can keep the partners awake for many nights because there are no easy answers to it.
Even if you have an agreement signed detailing the procedures for exiting the partnership in case you ever arrive at that gate, you will still find it emotionally draining going through the process. And it will be the worst nightmare for everyone concerned if there is no such agreement.
I?ve been involved in a couple of partnership parting of ways. And I?ll be the first to admit that I have never found any business separation easy. I?ve always had to depend on GOD?s Word and His grace to guide me through the difficult process of disengagement to prevent it from becoming a messy affair.
Here, then, are some of the strategies that have worked well for me in finding my way out of the entangling maze that a soured partnership usually turns out to be:
1. Be prepared to give up more than you are entitled to
Depending on the circumstances that lead you to conclude that ending a partnership is the best option available to you, one of the sacrifices you will have to make is to be willing to give up more of what you?re entitled to in the partnership.
You see, at every point of break up in a relationship, it?s natural for each partner to assume they made more contribution to the union than the others. As a matter of fact, this dangerous assumption could be the reason why the break-up is inevitable.
So, if you want to be out of the relationship, you must set your mind at getting what, in your own eyes, is less than what you believe is your entitlement. Failure to do that, there will be a stalemate. And you could go on for months holding series of meetings to resolve the deadlock.
Now, that would be okay for someone who has nothing better to do with his future. But if you want to put that bad relationship behind you so that you can focus on working your way to regaining whatever you may have lost, as a result of the partnership, then the earlier you settle every issue pertaining to the disengagement the better for you.
2. Be prepared to convert members of your supporters? club to your point of view
When you decide to do everything within your power to end a partnership that has gone sour, you must also be willing to persuade members of your supporters? club to your point of view.
Your supporters? club members are the people who are close to you ?? close family members, business associates, friends and even mere acquaintances who only got to know about the break-up and are now your sympathizers.
This group of people will never understand why you decided to give some things up in order to prevent the winding up of the partnership from dragging on.
And until you win them over, your desire to move away from that relationship quickly will not be achieved.
?You don?t mean you want him to go away with all that lot??
That is the sort of question that will be fired at you. If you answer in the affirmative, another one will follow immediately: ?After all the damage he had done to you, are you crazy to want him to still walk away with that??
Deep down, you know you are doing the right thing. Any attempt by you to contest those things members of your supporters? club want you to fight for will further drain you emotionally and stop you from having your peace of mind.
So you must resolutely resist the temptation. Instead, take your time to explain to them how putting the incident behind you quickly will help you to concentrate on working towards recovering what you may have lost.
If you are able to do that, members of your supporters? club will be happy. The hope you?ve given them will reassure them that you are not losing it all and that you will soon bounce back.
3. Do your best to resist the temptation to be bitter towards your ex-partners
I know, that is easier said than done. The ruins of the shared dream that is now completely shattered will always return to haunt you from time to time.
Some people are even so consumed by the thought of what could have been that is no longer possible, because of the break-up, that they are de-motivated from moving forward.
But don?t ever let that happen to you. It?s like crying over split milk. The more you think about it, the angrier you?ll become. And over time, if you don?t let it go, resentment and bitterness will set in.
Bitterness tends to colour your view negatively. It is an expressway to depression too. And once you?re depressed, you cannot see a bright future ahead of you.
This is why it?s important for you to purge yourself of bitterness against your partners. Instead of being bitter, focus on engaging yourself in something more productive.
4. What to do when gathering the pieces becomes difficult
Sometimes moving ahead after a break-up is difficult. One of the reasons you went into the partnership in the first place was because you realized you couldn?t handle the project alone. Now, you are back at square one. What do you do?
If you don?t have a relationship with GOD, this is the point where you should start to cultivate Him. And if you have an on-going relationship with Him, then this is where you need to immerse yourself in His Word and act on whatever He tells you from the holy book.
Relationship with GOD is important for being able to move forward when a relationship packs up. Every other alternative to that will hurt you even more in the long run.
When we talk about having a relationship with GOD, we are referring to a situation where what GOD?s Word says dictates all your actions.
For example, GOD?s Word says in Joel 2:25-27:
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel [He lives in me. Halleluyah!] , and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
In this passage, GOD assures all His children that He will restore all that they have lost and that they will not be put to shame.
With that assurance, and the confidence that I have in GOD?s Word, that it is His integrity ?? that God will always bring to pass whatever He has said in His Word ?? I?m able to walk away from a relationship that is not working without any regrets or bitterness. Glory be to GOD!
Next Week: A peep into another area of My Life As An Entrepreneur. Don?t miss it!
