Question
Company A is my main company, built around my personal brand, and I'm the sole owner. Its the one I'm most passionate about. I'm currently (trying) to focus on growing this company, building out the team, etc.
Company B is a startup that I joined as co-founder earlier this year (I'm 1 of 3 equal partners). I thought I could manage it as a side-venture, but now, 8 months into it, I'm finding myself more and more stressed about it. Partly because my co-founders and I don't see eye-to-eye on many things. But mostly I'm finding Company B to be a distraction as I'm trying to focus on growing my Company A.
My dilemma:
Company B is *not* a failure. If it was, I'd just quit and move on. But it's actually doing quite well, adding paying customers each week and growing quickly. I also get tons of great feedback about it. From the outside, it looks like a winner, but behind closed doors, I'm stressed because of the reasons stated above.
I don't foresee a future where Company B would ever merge with my Company A. They are separate entities.
Company A is where I see my longterm vision. My only vision for Company B is my exit, just a question of exit now (no return) or exit later (some kind of return, but with a cost)
Would you quit Company B, despite it's early success?
Can you share a similar experience? Lessons learned?
Answer
Quite a predicament. I have actually experienced a similar situation. To fully answer your questions I would need to know more about each business, such as the revenue each entity is generating, and what your role is in each.
If you're profitable, and can afford to hire a replacement for yourself, and act as a consultant and/or split your time for company A, you may be able to spend more time with B. The other trouble you are describing is non alignment of partners. This is potentially a bigger problem in the long run, especially once you generate some success. If fundamentally you disagree with both, and can't align with one to vote your position, then you should probably leave B, no matter what. The stress level will only increase as time goes on, especially once real money is involved.
I have been fortunate enough to have alignment with my two partners. Not to say there aren't any grey hairs from the epic battles, or that no one got hurt in the late night bun fights.
