1. Have you clearly defined your most important goals and made sure that your prospective partner shares those same goals? 2. Have you assessed what specific gaps - in skills, in relationships, or in any other assets - that this partner needs to fill in order to help you succeed? 3. Have you determined how you will help him or her succeed based on the skills or assets you bring to the relationship? 4. Is it clear that both parties stand to benefit more from being partners in this arrangement than working separately? Is this a win-win arrangement where 1+1 clearly equals more than 2? 5. Have you spent the time working with this prospective partner to be sure that the fit is right before structuring the specifics of your partnership deal?