The Ending Of A Bad Partnership

We had a few connections in the legal market, but had no idea where we would find clients. There was no budget for a huge marketing plan, so we both joined an organization that had different networking groups throughout the area.

Out of the two groups, the one I joined gave us our first trial exhibit job. It was the kind of job that every new company dreams of, great billables with a great profit. We were feeling good with the decisions we had made so far. I also received a referral to a non-profit group for design work. Again, we were able to bill in a range that made our company seem possible.

Between the two groups we joined, this was the only real work we got. Jody dropped her group after the first year, but I continued with mine since we had received a few good referrals and several smaller referrals. This was the beginning and end of our marketing plan.

By the fall of 1998, Jody still wasn't happy or sure that this was what she wanted to do, so she took a personality test. The test showed that she should be a horticulturalist. The next thing I knew she was enrolled in plant and bug classes at our local community college for the upcoming semester. Jody had finally found her calling. She loved her classes, the field trips and everything else about it. Not happy with the time she was putting into her new venture, I wasn't overly surprised, after all her degree was in biology.

For several years Jody had been developing an impressive orchid collection. She loved working with the soil and plants and wanted to put to use some of the things she was learning in school. So she began volunteering at a local orchid farm. Before I knew it we were talking about adding a landscape design division to our company. Suddenly, I was taking a landscape design course that neither the teacher nor I thought I should be in. Since I can kill silk plants, I was truly a duck out of water and wanted to do nothing more than get back in my own pond. Landscape design became history after my first session.

For the next several months we plodded along with a couple of large projects that kept us going. We were no longer working as a team, but rather as individuals, but both wanting to take an equal share of whatever came in. By this time Jody was doing no marketing for the company but I was still attending my weekly networking meetings and getting little jobs here and there.

One of the problems for us from the beginning was where to have client meetings. I lived in a very small house with my partner who wasn't particularly crazy about having strangers in his space. Besides, we had a large black lab, Max; who thought everyone was there to see him. For most people it was okay, but it was not the image I wanted. Jody's house was not conveniently located for client meetings.

One of my computer students was also a graphic designer and had the most incredible office in Fort Lauderdale. When I first went to meet Jean I felt as thought I was in a fairy tale, for what Jean had was what I always dreamed of.

Jean and I became friends and began talking about me subleasing some of the space. I wanted to pinch myself; I couldn't believe that I was getting the opportunity to have space like this. Hardwood floors, high ceilings, windows that looked out on to the main street, true artist space. I was on cloud nine and jumped at the offer. My dream was starting to fall into place. Further, I was going to have the opportunity to work along side someone who had been in the business for many years and was probably one of the most known graphic designers in town.

My biggest problem was what to do with Jody. Our relationship had deteriorated to the point of barely speaking to each other. Neither of us wanted to be in business together anymore, but neither of us wanted to confront the issue. I was off planning the move and Jody was busy planning an orchid show.

I was good friends with Jody's husband George and confided in him that I had taken the space. I wanted him to tell her so I could confront her later. Jody could be difficult at times and I wasn't sure how she would take this. By this time, I was doing most of the work and consequently taking most of the money. Jody wasn't happy about this and I knew she was going to want something.

We were in the middle of doing another project for one of our largest clients and I was waiting for Jody's portion. This was one of the rare occasions that Jody was making a contribution. Jody promised to have it finished by the end of the week and figured I could get it from her from at the upcoming orchid show. It would have been nice to have it before then, but to make things easier for Jody I agreed to wait. Besides this gave me time to prepare for Jody's assumed attack.

On Friday at Jody's appointed time, I pulled into the parking lot where the orchid show was taking place. I see Jody, pull up to her and put the window down and get the following:

Jody: George told me you have taken office space on Las Olas. Where you planning on telling me? Where to you think you are going to get the money for this? I'm not going to pay for it.

Me: Yes. I'm paying for it myself. It's my office space.

Jody: You know you owe me money.

Me: I know.

Every fiber in my body wanted scream, No I don't! You have not done a damn thing but worry about your bloody orchids. Oh, excuse me you scanned in 25 pictures, and truth be told, probably did it wrong. But hey it's you so that means I definitely owe you $800.00.

Jody: We will discuss it on Monday, after my orchid show.

Me: Fine. I put my window up and drove away screaming give me by business back and get the hell out of my life.

On Monday Jody called and told me that she decided they would go our separate ways, but that I owed her $1,500.

Jody: I want to be fair about it so I've decided that you will pay my health insurance for the next five months.

It's amazing Jody couldn't hear the scream inside of my head. What! $1,500? You haven't done a damn thing for months. You can't be bothered to go to any network meetings because they might interfere with your orchid business. Further you automatically know they won't bring us any work, but rather are just a waste of your precious time and money. You'll be nice and let me pay your health insurance for the next 5 months? What the hell does that mean?

Me: Okay. Repeating to myself over and over again. I don't owe her a damn thing, but if this gets her out of my life then fine.

Jody: Fine, I'll box up the corporate files and drop them off. Good luck.

Me: Fine, good luck to you. After I hung up the phone I said to myself, great now I've got find an extra $280 every month to pay her health insurance.

I take a deep breath and make a statement that soon will be repeated more times than I can remember. This too shall pass.