Greed and Partnerships

The funny thing about greed is it essentially destroys what it seeks to gain: money.

So often in a successful partnership, one of the partners looks at the other and thinks, I know how I can double my profit - by eliminating my partner.

Most often this attitude leads to the demise of the partnership, friendship, and the profits. In the end the greedy partner often has less than what he/she started with.

The old adage is always true - don't fix it if it isn't broke - and don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg. If people could keep their greed in check, believe it or not, in the long run they will make more money. Greedy people often don't have strong partnerships because they lack trust; they don't even trust themselves. At the end of the day, trust leads to money if it is not misplaced.

The good thing about legal contracts is they can help establish trust and reduce suspicion by actively engaging partners in a discussion about entitlement. With terms clearly defined, greed can be reduced, trust can be increased, and partnerships can last forever.