PARTNERSHIP
“No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team.” Reid Hoffman
PARTNERSHIP
For the Reluctant Entrepreneur, the concept of partnership may be comforting from a support, balance, and diversified skills perspective. On the flip side, the idea of committing to a person in addition to the business, especially if mixing professional and financial expectations into the relationship can be appropriately daunting. Before entering into a partnership, consider outsourcing and strategic partnerships that support you and your business. As you establish, maintain, and grow your business, a CPA, lawyer, web, graphic designer, social media and/or admin assistant are likely contenders to ensure that you are outsourcing and making better use of your time and money to support the essential aspects of your business. Ideally, partnership is a positive and well-maintained relationship with other people doing things you don’t want to do that they are better at than you. However, be discerning about your commitments to ensure they are an anticipated and actual net benefit, especially when mixing personal and professional, love and work, or spending money that you may not have as you invest in your business.
Lovers
The Lovers signify union with divine oversight. While this card may be referencing a personal relationship, consider how you can outsource and partner with others to support your and the business’ success. The Lovers can also reference the need for communication, clear expectations, trust, and follow through between you and your business. As your business develops and grows, it will have its own priorities, cycles, preferences, and needs that may be different from yours. If you are not partnering with your business to support your mutual success, then your success may be limited. Even machines need care and maintenance. Given what happens in your life and business may not match your desired goals, agenda, and timeline, consider how you can be supportive, understanding, and maintain commitment even in times where you may not be in alignment.
Questions to consider:
- How can you outsource or partner to support your success?
- How are your relationships serving and not serving your business?
- How are you growing in your relationships? How does that relate to your business?
- What are your partnerships or lack thereof teaching you about yourself?