#39: Powerful Partners, Massive Results

Welcome to another exciting episode of "The Founder Podcast" with your host, Chris Lee. In this installment, Chris reflects on the incredible journey of the podcast, approaching a million downloads since June. He shares the importance of leaving reviews on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, emphasizing the value of good feedback. Chris believes that everyone should treat their life like a business, whether you're an entrepreneur or an employee. You are the founder of your own corporation, and this podcast is here to provide invaluable business knowledge to help you succeed. In this episode, Chris dives into a critical aspect of entrepreneurship: partnerships. Drawing from his own experiences, he discusses the significance of cultivating a positive company culture and structuring partnerships to incentivize growth effectively. Chris distinguishes between good and bad partnerships, highlighting the role of culture and equity sharing. He explains the importance of a vesting schedule, ensuring that all partners, including founders, are committed for the long term. The honeymoon period, Chris notes, lasts at least six months, during which you'll discover if a partner is truly invested in your venture. Chris offers a 6-18-36-month vesting program as a structure to consider, explaining how it works to align interests and commitment. He underscores the power of equity in attracting partners who are willing to forego salary for a piece of the business's future success. Throughout the episode, Chris explores various equity-sharing methods, including cliffs, daily vesting, phantom equity, and profit shares. He emphasizes the role of equity in scaling a business and shares his own success story with private equity. Additionally, Chris introduces the concept of profits interest, a strategy for incentivizing employees with a strike price that has unique tax implications. Join Chris as he imparts his expertise on partnerships and equity-sharing, providing valuable insights to help you navigate the complex world of entrepreneurship. Whether you're an aspiring founder or an established business owner, this episode is packed with knowledge to guide your journey. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from a seasoned entrepreneur and take your business to the next level. Tune in now! HIGHLIGHTS “Everyone has to treat their own life like a business and be the founder of it." "Good culture is imperative, people will bleed for it." "Properly structured equity can bring in top talent even if you can't afford high salaries." TIMESTAMPS 00:00: Podcast Growth & Monetization 01:13: Culture Importance  03:05: Equity Structure  07:15: Growing Businesses  With Partnerships 09:27: Incentivizing Employees 🚀 Join my community - Founder Acceleration https://www.founderacceleration.com 🤯 Apply for our next Mastermind https://www.thefoundermastermind.com ⛳️ Golf with Chris https://www.golfwithchris.com 🎤 Watch my latest Podcast Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=dc252f8540ee4b05 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thefounderspodcast