They say never to do business with friends or family. I do business with both. I'm not unaware of the risks. But, I believe the rewards outweigh them. It's rare to find individuals you can trust. Rarer still to find individuals who will stick around when the going gets tough. This doesn't mean working with friends and family is easy nor should ever be taken lightly. I've been fortunate to have healthy working relationships with my friends and family over the years. These are a few simple frameworks I try to keep in mind.

One, place the relationship before the business. You can always make more money. But, no amount of money can fix a severed relationship. Two, air your frustrations before they turn into resentments. When you're disappointed, say you're disappointed before it turns into hurt. Three, always assume good intent. Most conflicts arise from misunderstanding rather than malicious motives. Assume you are misunderstanding and seek to gain clarity rather than certainty. The stories you work up in your head are rarely anything more than fiction.