TBH, I used to believe --
"Business is business. Friends are friends."
“It's not personal, it's just business.”
But running two companies so far, I changed my mind:
RUNNING A BUSINESS IS PERSONAL.
Your values shape your company’s culture. Your life intertwines with the business, influenced by its challenges, routines, and rewards. There is no separating it and pretending it’s NOT personal.
You will NEED allies you can trust.
Sometimes, that means friends and family.
But you need to be careful:
1. Vet them thoroughly.
2. Set clear boundaries.
3. Diversify the team (too much nepotism is toxic).
4. Expect challenges.
There’s nothing more personal than running a business. And if you want to make it more personal, keep it in the family.
If the Samoans can do it in WWE, you can do it for your startup.
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