Choosing the Right Network Marketing Business Partner-Epilogue
By Nina Kaufman, Esq.Such a saga! Here’s how it ended:
- Grace finally confided that had changed her mind and she didn’t want to be involved with the network marketing organization. But, if I still wanted to go forward with it, she’d do so, because she promised me that she would.
- I told Grace that if she really wasn’t enthusiastic about the opportunity, I wouldn’t hold her to her promise — that I didn’t want a business partner who didn’t really want to be part of a business save for an “obligation.” I would rather we parted as “business partners” at this very early stage and stay close colleagues and friends, than “force” her to stick with it, and have us both become angry and resentful in the long run.
- Ultimately, I myself backed out of the network marketing opportunity. Without a business partner, and without a compelling tie-in to my current businesses, I just felt that this was spreading myself too thin.
- I got a credit for everything except $40. Grace is buying me lunch. 🙂
All things considered, I got lucky. I invested a minimum of time (about 45 days) and money ($600) before I realized it was the wrong venture (and the wrong partner). I was able to get myself out of it easily, without messy complications, as we hadn’t even set up the business entity yet (looking back, thank God we couldn’t agree on a business name!). I learned more than a handful of valuable lessons, namely:
- Know the business you’re entering
- Have a passion for the business–outside of what you’ll earn from it
- Make sure the partners share the benefits and the burdens proportionately
- Partners needn’t agree on everything, but if you can’t agree on anything, that’s a problem
- Sometimes, if it’s too complicated, proceeding may not be worth it
- Listen to your gut
And best of all, I have a new “war story” to use as a cautionary tale!
You deserve to be paid, protected, and prosperous. Kaufman Business Law can help get you there. Watch this short video to find out how.
