Entrepreneur BP Battles carefully developed the business that he genuinely wanted. He spent years learning about cigar lounges and then overcame a significant challenge when his vision and that of his partners did not align. Specifically, note what challenges resulted in it taking BP much longer than expected to get to breakeven.

1- BP visited cigar lounges for years before he decided to develop his own, and then it took years more for him to start the actual cigar lounge business.

If this were your business, would you have had the stamina to pursue this idea for so many years?

What characteristics are important for an entrepreneurial leader like BP?

2- BP estimates he is 18 months behind his initial predictions for the business. In order to create enough runway, he even cashed out his retirement savings.

What does it mean to "run out of runway" in entrepreneurial terms?

When you hear this breakeven timeline and financing strategy, what is your major concern for the business?

The disappearing partner wasted BP's time, efforts, and even money. How could such problems be avoided?

What would you specifically look for in a partnership beyond the formal paperwork?