Many men will claim they are ready to build an empire with you. Most will not last. Few will stand beside you when the storms come. Only the elite—those with the warrior’s heart—can be trusted to fight alongside you.
This is why co-founders fail and what to do about it:
- The Mismatched Vision: The Man Who Sees a Different Future
Some men will claim to share your vision, but when tested, they reveal a different agenda.
They want a shortcut to wealth, a safety net, or an easy ride. You want to build something that lasts.
What to Do:
Test them with hardship. Give them a role without comfort or certainty.
A true believer stays; a pretender flees.
Ask them to write their version of the company’s future.
If it doesn’t align with yours, discard them.
Never choose a co-founder who just wants to “see where it goes.”
Demand clarity from the beginning.
- The Skill Gap: The Man Who Brings Nothing to the Table
A co-founder must be a weapon, not dead weight.
If you are the visionary, they must be the executor.
If you build, they must sell.
If you strategize, they must command operations.
Two men doing the same thing is not a partnership; it’s redundancy.
What to Do:
Define your weaknesses and find someone who fills them.
Test their skills before giving them equity.
A trial by fire is better than a promise in words.
If they can’t operate without constant guidance, they are an employee, not a co-founder.
- The Weak Work Ethic: The Man Who Loves the Idea but Hates the Work
Many dream of building an empire, but few will sacrifice their comfort to make it happen.
They will talk about grinding but disappear when the real work begins.
What to Do:
Set an impossible deadline and watch how they react.
If they complain, they’re weak. If they execute, they’re strong.
Give them responsibility without supervision.
A warrior does not wait for orders; he takes initiative.
Look at their past—have they built anything on their own? If not, they won’t start now.
- The Commitment Problem: The Man Who Keeps His Options Open
A co-founder who keeps other opportunities alive is a liability.
He does not burn his ships.
He is still looking for an escape route while you are preparing for war.
What to Do:
Demand full commitment. No side hustles, no “backup plans.”
Make them put skin in the game—financially, emotionally, or physically.
If they refuse, they don’t believe in the mission.
If they hesitate to commit 100%, cut them out before they become a traitor.
- The Ego Clash: The Man Who Can’t Follow or Lead
Two kings cannot rule the same kingdom.
Power struggles between co-founders destroy empires before they even rise.
What to Do:
Establish hierarchy early. One of you must have final say.
Test for humility. A man who cannot take orders is a man who cannot lead.
Observe how they handle disagreements.
If every minor issue turns into war, you are dealing with a fool, not a warrior.
- The Risk-Averse: The Man Who Flees When the Battle Begins
A man who loves stability will never build something great.
When money runs low, when investors reject you, when the first product fails—does he fight, or does he run?
What to Do:
Put them in a high-pressure situation before making them a co-founder.
See if they fold or fight.
Observe how they react to personal financial struggles.
If a little hardship makes them panic, they won’t survive the startup war.
Trust only those who embrace uncertainty, not those who fear it.
- The Disloyal: The Man Who Will Betray You for Greed or Fear
Some men will swear loyalty today and stab you tomorrow.
They will leave when a better offer comes or when the road gets too rough.
What to Do:
Watch how they treat others—loyalty is a pattern, not a promise.
Never trust a man who speaks poorly of his past allies; he will do the same to you.
Make betrayal costly—ensure legal agreements, equity vesting, and power structures prevent a co-founder from walking away with your kingdom.
Let’s be realistic, here.
Most men will fail these tests.
That is expected.
The right co-founder is not easy to find because true warriors are rare.
Do not rush. Do not settle.
Choose wrong, and you will spend years fighting internal battles instead of conquering the market.
Choose right, and you will build an empire that lasts.
