Finding the right partner professionally and in your personal life

By Swapnil Shinde, triple entrepreneur, angel investor and CEO and co-founder of Zeni, the AI-powered financial concierge for startups.

It's so important for founders to select the right partner, whether it's the person you plan to go into business with, your investors, or the leaders you bring onto your team over time. as you grow.

This person, or these people, will be with you through the ups and downs of running a business, and you want to make sure you can trust and rely on them.

How do you find the right person?

Consider taking a page from the romance book. Here's what I mean:

• Personal life: don't choose the most beautiful partner. Select the one that makes your life beautiful.

• Work Life: Don't choose a partner who gives you the best rating. Select the one that can help you build the most valuable business.

Combine the two and apply that logic to build your team. Hire people who excite you, complement you, and can add the most value and beauty to everything you build together!

Let's explore this in more depth, with some tips for finding the right business partner.

1. Assess compatibility.

At the end of the day, most relationships come down to old-fashioned chemistry. But in business, people tend to underestimate chemistry.

Chemistry is especially crucial when sourcing venture capital funds and selecting investors to partner with you and your business. Prioritize chemistry with your investing partner, not just venture capitalist prominence or fundraising goals. Similarly, investors are looking for a fit with their founders that goes beyond the product.

Whatever type of partnership relationship you're considering, if you can't see yourself hanging out with this person outside of a business relationship, they're not the right fit. Similar to any personal relationship, the person you can be open to and get the breeze with is likely to be there for you even when the going gets tough.

2. Admit your weaknesses.

This is a difficult question in both personal and professional relationships. But we shouldn't view weaknesses as a bad thing.

The key is to find a partner who excels at something you don't, so that your weaknesses are their strengths. A good business partner has skills and knowledge that complement your own.

For example, if you are creative and passionate but lack business acumen, you will want to choose a partner who is good with numbers and has business acumen. If you're detail-oriented and organized, you'll want a creative partner who can think outside the box.

Of course, finding a business partner with the perfect combination of qualities is not always easy. But if you take the time to seek out someone with the complementary skills and qualities you lack, you can set your business up for success from the start.

3. Stay true to your values.

Would you be willing to marry someone without discussing core values ​​such as religious or political beliefs, money, or views on children and parenthood? Probably not.

Similarly, having shared values ​​with your business partner is important to maintaining a healthy working relationship. Knowing each other's values ​​and ideally sharing most of those values ​​fosters deeper trust. Having congruent values ​​allows you to trust your partner to handle important tasks and to have your best interests at heart.

While there are many factors to consider when choosing a business partner, here are some of the most important ones that can guide you no matter what stage your business is at. Use these tips to find a business partner, investor, and even employees with whom you can build successful, long-lasting relationships and, therefore, successful, long-lasting businesses.

Bonus points if you can make this premise work in both your personal and professional life!