4 ms·

Ask HN: Should I fix something that is still profitable?

• pedoh 15y ago
  Have you brought this concern up to him? I realize this is not an easy conversation to have, but given what you claim about your relationship ("we're practically like brothers"), you should be able to discuss it, weather the storm, and come out stronger in the end. If you can't, then your relationship with him isn't what you thought it was. Explain to him how you feel. Don't accuse him; you're not trying to hurt him or screw him over. You're trying to work out what is right and fair. Also, figure out for yourself what you think is right and fair. What struck me is this: "I’ve tried working alone before and it is terribly boring and unproductive. So even though he doesn't do much for business I still like to have another person, let alone my best friend, hang out with me all day." Based on that, you may realize that him getting 50% (at least in the past) has been perfectly justified; if it weren't for him, what would you have done? However, the past doesn't have to dictate the future. Maybe you're at a point where having a co-founder who can actually do 50% of the "work" (beyond moral support that your current friend is doing) is important to you or to your business. Be honest about this with him, explain your struggles, desires, and motivations, and I'm confident you'll both be in a better place at the end.
  • superasn 15y ago
    Hi, First of all thank you so much for your kind thoughtful response. I appreciate you taking the time to read about problem and offering helpful advice. > Have you brought this concern up to him? Yes, I have. I did tell him that if he doesn't add something measurable to our business by 8th Feb 2012 (this is four months from when I talked to him about this) I will have to go solo or find other people to work with. He didn't get upset, rather after this I did see him trying harder. Unfortunately, there have been no measurable results so far. Sometimes, I think it is because he lacks confidence to pull the trigger (like he is currently working on the API for our site, but will he ever complete it, announce it to our list or recruit companies to make this profitable? I don't think so at least until I step in and do it for him - judging from past). And I just don't know anymore if any amount of carrot or stick can fix this. >Based on that, you may realize that him getting 50% (at >least in the past) has been perfectly justified; if it > weren't for him, what would you have done? Yes, the fact is he's probably getting 50% of the cut not because he is earning it, but rather because I need someone to work with. Currently his presence in our business is more of moral support than actual business development. But you are right, it is probable, that had he not been working with me I may just have quit out of frustration and boredom (specifically during the first two years of our business when we didn't make any money). So I don’t regret giving him the 50% partnership. My struggle lies in the fact that we could have done so much more had he actually had a little interest or passion for furthering our business. And my dilemma lies in the fact that at the end of the day what if I wreck an invaluable friendship trying to make a few extra dollars. >Be honest about this with him, explain your struggles, desires, and >motivations, and I'm confident you'll both be in a better place at the end. Yes, thankfully we're able to communicate freely with each other. I just hope if the time comes and I have to do what I have to do, he understands it's just a business decision and nothing personal against him.
• mbijon 15y ago
  How do you think he would react if you hired an operations manager or director, who was responsible for tasking him with work? This would free your time up to grow profits, help keep him productive, and also protect the friendship by having someone else evaluate him.
  • mbijon 15y ago
    ...this isn't ideal. But with $500k/year, you can possibly consider a money-at-problem solution. (Hiring a good ops manager is its own problem, however)
  • superasn 15y ago
    > How do you think he would react if you hired an operations manager or director, who was responsible for tasking him with work? Actually your suggestion is good and he may react positively to that because I think he is happier when is he exactly told what to do and someone makes sure he finishes what he starts (which has been my work exactly). But the thing about that is right now we're just two people working in an office that we've designed more as a recreation center. All our site stuff is fully outsourced and working great, so I don't know if I can find an operations manager just to babysit him. But maybe if I can find or invent an operations manager that can work via telecommuting (why not?) just to check his progress then this suggestion maybe the best thing to happen to our business.
• olegious 15y ago
  I can't provide any advice other than what's already been given- it sounds to me like you know what you must do, he's not pulling his weight and is basically freeloading. Maybe keep him on as a salaried employee? Out of curiosity, what type of sites are these?
  • superasn 15y ago
    If it comes to it, I'd rather just let him keep his 50% share as we've already agreed upon (for as long as the sites make money) and just go solo on the new sites. So while I know what I need to do, having my best friend at stake and his trust and loyalty in our business from start (even when it wasn't even making money) is what has made matters so complicated for me. > Out of curiosity, what type of sites are these? These are three B2B sites mainly targeting small website owners and designers.
• pawn 15y ago
  I think it would be a good idea to figure out exactly which part bothers you the most. Do you think you should get more money? Are you feeling like you have too much work to do and wish you could relax more? Is it more about being jealous that your friend isn't working as much? Those are three separate motivations with different answers. Personally, I think I'd be pretty darned satisfied with the situation that you're in. But we live in different worlds and that's besides the point. $250k seems like a lot of money to me. I make less than half of that and it's not my own projects working with my best friend. Realistically, I don't imagine you're going to feel the difference of the extra money you'd make from future projects between if you kept the money yourself and if you split it. If you're feeling too busy, I would guess that giving him direction probably takes less energy than doing the work yourself. So you have to keep telling him what to do. Make it part of your routine and you'll be fine. If it's the same stuff every month, set up a script to automatically email him once a month. If you're just jealous that he isn't working without being told what to do, you're going to have to decide whether that's a deal-breaker for your friendship. Some people don't innately have a built-in drive to do things on their own. He may grow out of that trait with time, but until then you can either put up with it or don't. For a best friend, I'd put up with it. So, I'd say figure out which part is the root of your dissatisfaction and see if you can come to terms with that one thing.
  • superasn 15y ago
    Initially I was a little afraid to share my problem like this here, but now I'm so glad I did. Your replies have really made it easier for me to think this through because just talking about it to someone has helped me a lot. > Some people don't innately have a built-in drive to do things on their own. > He may grow out of that trait with time, but until then you can either put up with it or don't. > For a best friend, I'd put up with it. This statement really resonated with me a lot. I don't think I'm going to do anything right now and just hope that he does something measurable for our business by the deadline I gave him. I do see him trying harder this time too. He himself has admitted that he doesn't have that built-in drive to do things on his own, but maybe like you said, he will grow out of it one day, especially if when I just leave him be for sometime. Your reply was very insightful and I may have some more thinking to do after all. Thanks.
• mapster 15y ago
  The money sounds great for two guys out of school. So why not be pro-active and enroll both of you, a team, in some business courses or motivation coaching, say as a gift. You are a very good friend to him, so keep working with him. You could also get him a virtual assistant to keep him on-task.
• hyuuu 15y ago
  I might be hijacking this thread but if things dont work out with him, perhaps we can chat? I would love to get guidance or maybe to be bold, work together, im not sure if you are local, im in and around san jose, ca contact me if you are interested: wahyu@mumuja.com