The Wrong Partners Can Sink the Right Idea. Steven Jensen | Charlotte
Let’s be honest: partnerships can make or break you in this business. Everyone says “find good partners,” but nobody tells you what that actually means. It’s not just about experience, or money, or who buys the next round. It’s about alignment. And character.
I’ve had both kinds at BAR ONE lounge & 800° restaurant in Charlotte. The partners who believe in the vision, are all in and contribute — and the ones who just believe in the appearance of partnership. Some talked inclusion and acted exclusion. Some used prejudice as a strategy, muscling for advantage instead of building for collaboration. When that happens, you learn fast who’s in it for the mission and who’s just in it for the mirror — and what they’ll do when the proverbial sh*t hits the fan.
When the going gets rough, hurdles appear, stress mounts, spotlight shifts & the mask drops. And, when that happens, you’d better be standing next to people whose values match yours, not just their wallets. People show you who they are once stress shows up.
Some of what I’ve learned (the hard way):
· Watch how they treat people when no one is watching (especially staff and family members). That’s where the truth lives.
· Diversity isn’t decoration, and if they’re faking it, say something sooner than later. It’s perspective, it’s creativity, it’s better business.
· Collaboration is a major ingredient, not pointing fingers.
· Don’t do everything yourself, or think you can. Partners should fill gaps in your abilities, not be place holders to ridicule when there’s a hill to climb or a problem to resolve.
And one more: avoid the noise. There are always two sides to every story, especially when egos and money mix. Don’t waste time chasing the version someone else is spinning to protect their image. Just do the work. Let your results speak. Don’t get pushed out, it hurts, trust me.
If a partnership does go south, don’t try to “burn the house down” to be heard. Do the work first — document the problems, try to resolve them directly, then move on, the best you can with the tools at your disposal. Reputation survives those who handle fallout with clarity and restraint. Vengeance is not a virtue, and those who think so are the ones to avoid.
Hospitality is supposed to be about belonging — everyone in the room, every walk of life. That starts long before the doors open. It starts with who you let into the partnership.
So if you’re new to the game, take it from someone who’s been burned and trying to rebuild life: choose people who lift you & your idea, not themselves. The right partners expand the vision, collaborate and add personal value. The wrong ones shrink everything until there’s nothing left worth saving.