Launched in 2005, WellesleyWeston Magazine is a quarterly publication tailored to Wellesley and Weston residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in two of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.
Issue link: https://wellesleywestonmagazine.epubxp.com/i/256387
their tight bond for their job satisfaction and success. And while Dee Dee and Jill's official rela- tionship changed from employer-employee to co-owners, their friendship remains constant. "We never had the traditional boss-subordinate relationship. We bonded over mutual respect for each other as professionals and we maintain that bond today," comments Dee Dee. Aware that financial issues account for the number one reason partnerships disintegrate, Sue and Angie consulted attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors to organize their busi- ness from the outset to prevent friction. Yet, the two women credit their personal bond more than legal structures for the lack of conflict in their relationship, "We know we have a lot at stake, we need to protect not only our business, but also our friendship," comments Sue. "We've supported each other through the ups and downs of our professional and our personal lives," explains Ben of the strength of his partnership with Maria. Maria also acknowledges the trust and caring that the two have developed from going through major life events together, including health issues and deaths in the family. In a playful moment Maria jokes, "We've worked together so long that we're like an old married couple who finishes each others' sentences." Kidding aside, they credit their relationship with boosting AGC's operating efficiency. "Ben and I did our 10,000 hours," explains Maria referring to Malcolm Gladwell's theory of the time it takes to achieve mastery. "We don't need long drawn-out strategy debates to reach consensus," she points out, referring to their ability to manage effectively as a cohe- sive team. Perhaps Maria best sums up the com- pelling reason these four pairs of friends and business partners prove John D. Rockefeller wrong. "We've got each other's backs not only because the business demands it, but also because of genuine concern for a friend you care about deeply." 134 W e l l e s l e y W e s t o n M a g a z i n e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 business "a cohesive team" 128-134_WWMa14_Business_partners_v2_business 2/2/14 12:32 PM Page 134