5 Parts of a "Yoked" Partnership

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14

Although God does not specifically say in His Word whether we should have a non-Christian partner in business, He does provide us many things to consider.

An important question to ask: is a business partnership a yoke, or is it not? As I researched and read commentaries, it was obvious there were some who believed a yoke refers to predominantly marriage and some who believed it referred to relationships outside of marriage (like a partnership). Two different interpretations and two different opinions.

So, what is the next step for you? Specifically defining what a yoke is to you may give you further insight into how to apply it to the question of considering a business partnership with a non-Christian. Take time to review the list below.

5 PARTS OF A YOKED PARTNERSHIP

1. A yoke is a specific relationship that is not easily broken due to its permanent characteristics. As two oxen may be yoked together physically, you will be yoked to another person via a legal contract. Do you have a concern?

2. A yoke means you are dependent on someone else. As two oxen are depending on each other to work together, you also need to depend on the other person to “pull their own weight”. If they do not, you will be doing their work as well as your own. Do you have a concern?

3. A yoke means your work will be defined by the work you are publicly demonstrating together. If you are in a partnership, you cannot help but be defined, or judged, by the partner you have chosen. Decisions made will affect your reputation as you are part of the partnership. Do you have a concern?

4. A yoke means you may sometimes be constrained in what you want to do. Two oxen need to agree to go in the same direction. What if you want to do something in business and your partner does not? What if they want to go in a certain direction and you do not? What will likely happen? You are not able to act independently in this situation if you have a partner. Do you have a concern?

5. A yoke means considering another person’s wants, needs and motivation for doing things (and not doing things). What if a business partner wants to do something that is contrary to your beliefs? This will be a source of conflict and stress. And this situation may eventually result in a “parting of the partnership” and all difficulties inherent in that situation. Do you have a concern?

Overall, a partnership is a relationship. Joint decisions need to be made, wise conversations need to be had, expenses and income need to be shared fairly, work responsibilities need to be planned and shared equally and much time needs to be spent together that should be enjoyable and productive.

As I look back on my partnership and the initial days of establishing it, I never imagined it would not last. We thankfully had an exit strategy, but it was stressful.

This week take time to wisely consider the above five questions. Meditate on each one and ask God for insight and understanding. I pray this will help you reflect on truly what partnership may mean. If you have answered “yes” to any of the above, then ask God for wisdom and speak to trusted friends for more direction on what the right thing is to do. If your answer to having a partner is “yes” then be sure to read next week’s memo on what to be looking for (and not) in a potential partner.

May God richly bless you as you consider your business idea and whether you should go into partnership with a non-Christian.

Please feel free to contact me via email if you have any questions:

bonny@christianwomenatwork.com Bonny, Christian Women at Work

To Partner of Not to Partner: That is the Question

As you consider starting your own business, the question about whether to have a partner has likely come to mind.

It is a particularly important decision and not to be taken lightly. As a business owner, I started with a partner which worked well for many years. However, there came a time when it was necessary to dissolve the partnership and for me to become the sole owner.

Here are some things to think about, and pray about, as you contemplate partnership.

First, do you really need a partner? If you feel you can do it on your own, it is likely a good idea to at least start that way. If you feel you need someone to share the load so you can balance other things in your life and/or if you feel someone else will bring things to the business you cannot, then you may want to consider partnership.

What are the pros and cons of business partnerships? What are the things you should be seriously thinking about?

Pros about Partnership

1. Another perspective and way of looking at things that arise in business

2. Sharing the burden (financial, work, planning, stress)

3. Sharing the fun and successes

4. Accountability: there is someone else to report to regarding what you are doing, how you are doing it and are you following through.

5. If you have a family, or planning a family, there is an invested person to be in the business if you cannot be for a time or for a specific reason.

Cons about Partnership

1. How likely is it my witness for Christ will be compromised in this partnership?

2. Another perspective may always be like yours, so you are not receiving the benefit of other ideas

3. Sharing the profits

4. Potential conflict with difference of opinion

Other Alternatives

1. Can you outsource what you need to do?

2. Can you start without a partner and then reconsider later?

Practical Next Steps:

1. Pray and ask God for wisdom and direction

2. Consider all the pros and cons

3. If more pros than cons:

4. Pray that God will bring to mind a person. If you have a person in mind: pray for guidance.

A. Write down your criteria for choosing a person. Consider things such as

• Do they share the same faith?

• Do they share the same values? (trustworthiness, integrity, servant heart, social conscience).

• Do you like them?

• Do you feel you can trust them?

• Do they seem emotionally stable?

• Do you have confidence they will deal with others with respect and dignity?

• Is there mutual respect?

• Are they financially stable?

• Can they offer something to the business that you cannot, or can they do something (at that time) better?

• Have you known them for long enough and/or have spent enough time with them to know their work ethic?

• Do you feel you are “compatible but different” (compatible in your values but bringing different business strengths)?

• Are there potentially other influencers in your business partner’s life that may cause difficulty?

B. Get advice from others who know you about this decision and who you are thinking of as a potential partner.

C. Have a meeting to see if the person is interested. If so, make a list of the different aspects of business ownership and have a serious conversation about them. i.e., division of duties (i.e., marketing, human resources, program development), hours per week to commit to the business (be extremely specific regarding what the responsibility is and for how much time), how to handle disagreements, how to dissolve the partnership if necessary, etc.). Talk to them about what their definition of success is. Come up with different scenarios and discuss how they would handle it. Ask them what they are concerned about if they enter into the partnership with you.

D. Pray! Having a partner in business has often been compared to a marriage. Therefore, this is a crucial decision that requires knowing the benefits and drawbacks and applying them. Then, make your decision. Do not be hard on yourself. You can only make the best decision you can with the information you have at the time. Make a deadline for decision making.

Next week, we are going to discuss whether Christians should only go into business with other Christians. We would love you to share your thoughts on this!

May God richly bless you this week!

Bonny, Christian Women at Work

Things I Wish I Knew When I Started My Business

Are you thinking about starting a business? How exciting! You have likely discovered there is a lot to think about as you set out on this next chapter of your career.

Although it has been many years since I started my own business, I certainly remember those days of intense planning and research, feet on the ground investigation and work (lots and lots of it). The work never bothered me, although at times it did consume me. I was following a dream, doing what I felt I was meant to do, and learning exponentially on the way.

As I look back now, I see many things that I would do differently. If you are like me, you likely have a service or product you want to provide because you feel there is a need for this, you want to develop the reputation for being the expert in the area and/or it is something you will love to work on. If you are also like me, you do not have a degree in business. As I look back now, I can appreciate that having certain things in place at the beginning would have saved time, frustration and stress down the road. You have likely heard the expression “we do not know what we do not know.”

I can now clearly many things I would ha

ve liked to have been aware of before starting my business, which would certainly have been helpful to know and apply. As a result of my experience, these are the things I would like to share with you over the next few months.

First on your checklist will certainly be a very clear definition of what you want to do.

This may sound easy and obvious. However, often the general intent is obvious but there may be more details that you need to unpack. And why do you want to start this business? As a Physiotherapist, I determined I wanted to open a Physiotherapy practice. The two main reasons were professional and personal. Having worked in different organizations, I could see there was significant “red tape” in starting new initiatives (or having them accepted). I believed that some ideas I had would be extremely beneficial to patients. I was frustrated, and since I love developing new ideas and creatively putting them into place, I felt I could provide these programs in private practice. Also, as I was starting a family, I felt having my own business would possibly afford me some flexibility not found in a regular 9 to 5 job.

Do you feel you have an entrepreneurial spirit and have the desire to start your own business? This week, take some time to determine what you want to do and why. Take time to pray about this everyday and ask God to give you wisdom and discernment as you specifically analyze the “what” and the “why.”

Consider the following questions:

1. What is the service you want to provide or the product you want to make available? (Be specific)

2. What is the need for this service or product? (Do some research)

3. Why do you want to do this? (Be honest and specific. Write down as many things as you can)

This week you will essentially be “working on the business” which is something that business owners continually do. The three questions above can be a key part of your prayer time this week.

As you trust God with your ideas… As you trust God to give you wisdom… As you trust God for direction… Trust Him with all your heart.

Although you may, or may not, decide to have a business partner, God will always be your primary advisor. His Word and Holy Spirit will provide direction, so you do no need to lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in business decisions and He will lead you in what to do and not to do.

May God richly bless you this week as you prayerfully consider whether to take steps to open your own business. Have a wonderful week.

Bonny, Christian Women at Work