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The Truth: Most Founders Don’t Have ‘The Talk’ Early Enough

THE LEAN LESSON

I get it. When you’re excited about building something, the last thing you want to do is sit down and have a serious discussion about:

Why are we doing this? (For money? Fame? Impact?)
What happens if one of us wants to quit?
How do we make big decisions when we disagree?
Who owns what?

It feels awkward. But avoiding hard conversations now means bigger problems later.

The Startup Graveyard is Filled with Co-Founder Breakups

Snapchat’s co-founders fought over equity. One left and later sued for billions.
Facebook had a messy legal battle with its early team.
Countless startups implode because founders weren’t aligned from the start.

Takeaway: If you’re starting a company with someone, treat it like a serious business from day one. Don’t wait for problems to appear—prevent them.

How to Have ‘The Talk’ With Your Co-Founder

Here’s what I tell every founder: Have this conversation NOW, not later.

1. Discuss your long-term goals – Are you in this for 5 years? 10 years? Do you want to sell or go public?
2. Define roles early – Who’s responsible for what? Be crystal clear.
3. Talk about equity & ownership – Don’t just split it 50/50 without a real discussion.
4. Set up a decision-making process – What happens when you disagree? Who has the final say?

YOUTUBE TREASURE

👉My Pick: Business Building Masterclass