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
Presume you have equity in B, but did you invest capital? If you don't see eye to eye the other partners will be just as happy to have you take a back seat role. Keep your equity or lessen it and take a cut of deals you bring to the table but let them run the day to day.