When co-founders pull in different directions, it's like taking your foot of the accelerator. You don't screech to halt, but you don't go anywhere either.

From the outset, and on a regular basis, it's worth getting together to share all the possible outcomes and reasons for working together that each person has. The company has many possible goals and future scenarios.

What do you want to get out of the company? How big do you want it? How big is too big, how big is not big enough? What lifestyle do you want, what role do you want? What about control and ownership? What do you see as the key goals in the next 6 months? What range of possiblities would you be happy with in 3-5 years?

You'll spot commonalities and differences. The important thing here isn't to chose, but to simply be aware of what doesn't work for your partners. Think of these as guardrails and take responsibility to steer the company away from them.