ASk HN: second thoughts about joining startup - what to do?
eplanit: You can have a friend, or you can have a business partner.  It's extraordinarily rare to achieve both (at least not in the sincere meaning of the words 'friend' and 'partner').Generally, when you become a business partner with a friend, one relationship or the other will prevail -- that's really okay, and you should accept that as a natural consequence.  To not recognize or accept it is folly.Your case sounds like a very common scenario from the late 90s the dot-com era (except that then Greed excelled to greater dominance than now) -- an MBA-type has an idea that is wholly unrealizable on his/her own, yet he/she belittles the very technical skills it takes to truly succeed.  There were (are) many examples of folks with very strong technical skills, but no marketable ideas or business sense and no appreciation for those who have them.It only works when both partners recognize and respect the complementary abilities they bring, and recognize that the business will fail without _both_ of them.Your so-called friend doesn't seem to see the equilibrium you see.  Maybe he/she is delusional, or naive, or just dumb.  The question in your mind maybe should be just how savvy that person would be when confronted with other 'executive challenges'....just as egoistic as now?Reconsider your friends...and when you have one you cherish -- don't blow it by becoming business partners!