The biggest obstacle in wealth creation is wanting total control
Many founders want everything: control, the largest share, the primary decision-making power, and the greatest wealth. But in startups, these rarely come together easily.
Wealth is not built by holding onto everything, but rather by building something great with powerful partners.
The Real Question
The important thing is not how much you own today, but how valuable what you own can become if you build it with powerful partners.
A Concept Many Overlook
Some believe that retaining the largest percentage is the safest path to wealth. However, owning a smaller percentage in a company capable of global growth can far exceed owning 100% of a company with a limited impact.
Control is Not an Asset
Holding onto absolute decision-making power may look like strength, but it usually means fewer opportunities and smaller wealth.
And its price is often high:
- Slow growth
- Absence of strong partners
- Limitation of smart capital
- Loss of access to networks
- A low ceiling for value
Why Do Powerful Partners Create Wealth?
- Smart Capital: They do not just provide money, but also experience and strategy.
- Accelerating Growth: Their networks open doors that you cannot open alone.
- Raising Market Value: Their presence enhances trust and attracts more investors.
- Risk Reduction: Risks are diversified, and decisions are more mature.
- Founder's Focus: Freeing yourself up to build, rather than being preoccupied with everything.
- Broader and Faster Markets: Wider access to customers, markets, and partners.
100% VS 20%
- 100% that you might own of a small project with limited impact.
- 20% that you might own of a high-growth global company.
The number alone does not create wealth; wealth is not about how much you own, but how much you create.
If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go with the powerful. Some founders are not losing shares, they are losing fortunes that were never built in the first place.
Mohammed bin Saleh
Interested in Management and Finance