Elle George on Founder Alignment, Partnerships, and Hard-Won Lessons
Episode Summary
Founder and author Elle George breaks down her new book “Before You Shake Hands”, a practical system for assessing alignment before partnerships, co-founder agreements, or investor deals. She shares hard lessons from a two-decade legal saga, the exact questions she now asks, and how to structure conflict protocols before momentum blinds everyone.
Who this episode is for
Founders, CEOs, operators, first-time investors, and anyone considering a co-founder or strategic partner who wants fewer surprises and fewer trips to court.
What you will learn
- How to run an alignment check before you sign anything
- The five domains to vet in every partnership
- How to document conflict protocols up front
- Investor questions that expose goals and timelines early
- Why spiritual discipline and daily routines support better decisions
Key Takeaways
- Alignment beats traction. Momentum masks risk. Stop and align goals, values, roles, legal, money, and exit plans before papering anything.
- Ask first-principle questions. Why invest. What is the five-year end state. How will conflicts resolve. Who decides at ties.
- Document the downside. Agree on “what if we hate each other,” capital calls, buy-sell terms, and tie-breaker rules before you commit.
- Battle scars matter. Do not avoid hard histories. Ask how a partner handled legal, credit, or operational failures and what changed.
- Culture shows in small signals. Hiring prompt she loves, “What work bores you.” It is a precision question for role fit.
- Discipline scales intuition. Routine, reflection, and written agreements turn gut feel into repeatable decisions.
Frameworks from the Episode
1) The Alignment Framework — Five Domains
- Values and trust
- Roles and responsibilities
- Legal and documentation
- Financials and capital calls
- Exit strategies and scenarios
2) Partnership Diligence Checklist
- Why do you want to work with me or invest in this business
- What are your goals for the company and the timeline to reach them
- What is your exit preference and under what conditions
- Describe your biggest business challenge and how you handled it
- Any prior legal or financial issues, what you learned, what changed
- Conflict plan, decision rights, tie-breaker mechanism
- Buy-sell mechanics, valuation method, funding obligations
3) Conflict Protocol Up Front
- Define disagreement thresholds that trigger a decision process
- Name who has final call on specific domains
- Establish a written tie-breaker and escalation ladder
- Pre-agree on mediation or arbitration path and venue
4) Investor Fit Questions
- End-state in five years and expected liquidity path
- Capital intensity expectations after initial check
- Governance, reporting, and operating cadence preferences
- Support offered beyond money and how success is measured
5) Founder Operating Rituals
- Morning affirmations and meditation for clear decision-making
- Weekly reflection on assumptions and alignment drift
- “No gossip” rule to protect culture and focus
Resources and Links
