Would you go into business...
Would you go into business...
Author
Discussion

Hates_

Original Poster:

778 posts

276 months

Friday 1st July 2005
quotequote all
... with someone you totally despised but had a really good idea?

A work mate has told me of his new idea for a business and is going three days a week to persue it. TBH I can't really stand working with him as he pisses me and everyone else off (You'd be surprised how many people are very happy to have a two day a week break from him) but his business idea is actually quite a good one.

On one hand I want to turn it down because of him, but I'm worried that the business will take off and I will have missed a great opportunity :S

Plotloss

67,280 posts

293 months

Friday 1st July 2005
quotequote all
The idea starts a business but the people ultimately make it.

If you cant stand him its probably not going to last...

If you know the details, whats stopping you...

Hates_

Original Poster:

778 posts

276 months

Friday 1st July 2005
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
If you know the details, whats stopping you...
From stealing the idea? I dunno if I could ever do that

dilated

139 posts

275 months

Friday 1st July 2005
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Would you go into business with someone because you liked them?

Even if they were a complete numptey?

steviebee

14,801 posts

278 months

Friday 1st July 2005
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It comes down to strength of characters.

I've worked in plenty of companies where the top men despised each other yet the businesses were (and I assume still are) a success. They somehow manged to focus on business not personalities.

Depends on the people.

UpTheIron

4,057 posts

291 months

Friday 1st July 2005
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Depends on you (and him), but in many respects it is easier to work with your enemies than your friends.

davidd

6,663 posts

307 months

Monday 4th July 2005
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It depends how your relationship is. If it is a case of you just don't like him then you will be fine.

If you have no respect for him then it is probably pointless.

For this to work there will have to be give and take from both parties, if there is a lack of repspect then it will be very hard to make it work.

I've been on the boards of companies where we all hated each other, however we all understood everyones worth and respected each others opinion, advice, point of view etc.

D

dick dastardly

8,325 posts

286 months

Monday 4th July 2005
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Most of us have to work with people we can't stand anyway, so if this is a sure-fire money maker then you haven't really got much to lose.

Atleast if you hate him you won't have to worry about losing a friend if it all goes t1ts up.

Hates_

Original Poster:

778 posts

276 months

Monday 4th July 2005
quotequote all
Interesting views and thanks for the advice.

I've made the decision that I'm not going to join him. I hate him too much and have very little if not no respect for him anymore. Seeing his complete in-ablity to get on with other people becuase of *his* complete lack of respect for anyone else leads me to think that he just wont be able to inspire the loyalty in his people that I think would be important going forward. That added to the fact I can't see the business being as big a success as I once thought it to be, its not worth making myself miserable by joining him and making myself spend more time with him.

>> Edited by Hates_ on Monday 4th July 12:08

Rich25

282 posts

265 months

Monday 4th July 2005
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if you hate him so much then get on and do it yourself with someone you do get on with. It must be a very tempting opp for you to even consider it with someone who sounds like such a tw@t!

jconsta6

935 posts

278 months

Monday 4th July 2005
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I'd echo the advice of others, I work with people who are tw@ts all the time, however some of them are very VERY good at their job - I can work with these people no problem.
However I've also worked closely with people who are just as much tw@ts but arn;t so good - it doesn't last long that way at all.

As for taking his idea, ethically obviously it's not right, but it's a free world. However the thing to consider is this - I generally find that the person who's idea it is who is really passionate about it, will be the one who makes it work. There will be lots of pitfalls in the future and it's only usually people who's "baby" it is that go the real extra mile to make something work, especially with a new company.

I'd never want to take someone elses idea as I'd never have the same passion for one of my own.

Cheers,

JC

srebbe64

13,021 posts

260 months

Monday 4th July 2005
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Personally, I could never work with someone I despised. Especially, if they're my boss or partner. Ultimately, work's got to be 'fun' as much as anything else.

ed22

190 posts

254 months

Thursday 7th July 2005
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srebbe64 said:
Personally, I could never work with someone I despised. Especially, if they're my boss or partner. Ultimately, work's got to be 'fun' as much as anything else.


Couldn't agree more. Have just started up a business with a very good friend of mine; (can also have pitfalls as you don't want to risk losing a good mate........)

If its just the two of you, it'd personally do my nut in to have to work (and it is hard work!) with someone I didn't get on with.

If this blokes not going to be customer facing then it may work. Otherwise, theres every chance that they'll get as pissed off with him as you/your colleagues. And at the final reckoning, its people that do business.

simpo two

91,108 posts

288 months

Friday 8th July 2005
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Claim you're not interested. Then, if you're really up for it and don't need his skills, copy the idea, improve it and launch it before he does.

Hates_

Original Poster:

778 posts

276 months

Sunday 10th July 2005
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LoL, thanks for the feedback... So steal his idea you say