Reading a relationship before signing

Situation

An overseas founder had a local partner and a contract ready to sign, built on genuine goodwill.

Thinking

A closer reading of how the partnership would actually operate — decision rights, incentives, exit — surfaced misalignments neither side had voiced.

Decision

They changed the structure of the deal, not the ambition behind it.

Outcome

The partnership held through its first hard year, because the difficult questions were answered before, not after.