Some Very Expensive Advice

I don’t know Derek Powazek personally, I just know of him. Reading his post today really makes me hope that some day I have the chance to meet him in person. Derek is a very talented designer and most recently co-founded 8020 Publishing which produced community-driven media such as JPG.

On his blog today, he tells the back story to his recent departure from the baby he helped get off the ground. While the story of JPG is compelling and worth the read, I think the points he takes away from the experience are the most important:

If it’s any help to other entrepreneurs, here’s what I’ve learned.

Make no assumptions when it comes to roles and responsibilities. Like my dad says: “Someone’s gotta call quittin’ time.” Communication between partners is mandatory. And you cannot communicate with someone who is not communicating with you. Decisions aren’t decisions if you have to keep making them. Set on the course and stick to it. If you keep talking about things that have already been decided, nothing will ever get done. When someone says one thing, but acts in a contradictory way, you have a choice between believing their words or believing their deeds. Believe their deeds. Never let anyone tell you what you want. When someone says, “You don’t want that,” what they really mean is, “I don’t want you to have that.” Don’t stay where you’re not wanted, respected, or happy. Even if it’s your company.

Source: powazek.com, “The Real Story of JPG Magazine”

As a fellow entrepreneur, I certainly can relate to the ups and downs of inter-company relationships. Some start out rocky and get progressively worst while others start out peachy and, well, go sour even quicker. I’ve been in all of those situations and it’s never easy, compounded even further if you work with friends.

Ironically enough, it’s this sort of salty advice that is really the most compelling you can find. There’s a quote I once heard: “Reporter: So how’s it feel to be an overnight success? Entrepreneur: It’s great, I just don’t know which night it was.” Success is one of the hardest things to replicate in life but failures are easier to avoid (not that we don’t continuously find new ways to fail either).

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