Have you earned your seat at the table or have you been gifted it?
“Earning it” means not giving up when the pressure is on, staying the course when people are telling you to change direction and in most cases building something from scratch without connections, a golden parachute or a “name”.
People who’ve been gifted their seats are hard to predict because you can’t tell how they’ll react when it really matters.
Ask yourself this question when evaluating a business partner or for that matter any partner. It may be enlightening.
Remember the toughest steel is forged in the hottest fire.
markbartels.org 
Additionally, when you earn your seat it is where you want to be. When you are gifted it you always wonder if you are there because you wanted it or because it was just the easier option.
Tx Mark! Fabulous fuel to kick of the year.
All the best to you!
Dh