It’s a great question—one that many entrepreneurs face at some point in their journey. Should you choose a business partner with excellent character or someone with exceptional skills to help drive success?
Often, we are forced to make a choice because a person with great character may lack the necessary skills, and someone with extraordinary skills might have a toxic personality. Finding a partner with both good character and strong abilities can feel like searching for a rare gem. So, what should you prioritize when choosing a business partner? Let me share some personal experiences to provide insight into this challenging decision.
When I was younger, I believed that different people brought different strengths to the table, and that’s what made a business grow. When I was in high school, my friends and I started a small business selling coffee because the demand was there. Each of us contributed in our own way: one friend excelled at making coffee, another invested money, and others took care of management, marketing, and strategy. As the leader, I focused on being a high-EQ person, trying to ignore potential character issues among my team. In the beginning, everything went smoothly. The barista made excellent coffee, and everyone handled their responsibilities well, which helped the business grow.
However, as time went on, character issues began to surface. One partner harassed a female employee, which created a lot of tension. Another partner became arrogant after the business started making money and began demanding a bigger share of the profits, even though he contributed less. These conflicts caused major disruptions. Fortunately, it was a short-term project, and we managed to complete it before things got worse. This experience taught me an important lesson: ignoring character flaws for the sake of skills can lead to disastrous outcomes.
Years later, I ran into similar challenges while partnering with a friend for a flower business after graduation. My friend was highly skilled at creating beautiful floral arrangements, and I wanted to help him through some financial difficulties. Unfortunately, the partnership didn’t go as planned. Despite his talent, he failed to meet deadlines, didn’t honor agreements, and refused to take responsibility for his mistakes. As a result, the business suffered significant losses, and I also lost a close friend.
In another venture, I partnered with a group to run a dropshipping business. One of the partners, despite being very skilled, caused turmoil by engaging in inappropriate relationships with staff members, despite being married. This created trust issues and conflicts within the team, severely impacting morale and progress. Once again, I realized that great skills cannot compensate for poor character.
From these experiences, I learned that while skills can solve immediate problems, a lack of good character creates a ticking time bomb. It’s only a matter of time before things fall apart. On the other hand, choosing someone with good character but insufficient skills can also present challenges. A low-skilled partner might require constant training and support, which can slow down progress and add unnecessary pressure.
In my opinion, choosing a business partner is not about picking one over the other—it’s about finding someone who has a balance of both. The ideal business partner possesses good character and strong abilities. This combination is rare, but when you find such a person, they become a cornerstone of your business and a valuable asset for long-term success.
Think of it like marriage: you wouldn’t marry someone based solely on their skills or just their personality. You need to consider both who they are as a person and what they bring to the relationship. A good business partner should align with your values, complement your strengths, and share your vision for the future.
Finding the right business partner is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make as an entrepreneur. Take the time to evaluate both their character and their abilities before committing. After all, a great partnership isn’t built on compromise but on synergy—where each person’s strengths complement the other’s, and their values align to create long-term success.
What do you think? Would you prioritize character, ability, or both when choosing a business partner?
