How To Find Your Business Soulmate

By Laurel Donnellan (Originally published at Forbes.com) 

Since it is February, we are seeing many stories about how people find their romantic partner —but how do you find your perfect business partner—the person who will share your risks, your dreams, and your calendar for years? In a recent conversation with Floor-Fix Pro partners Paul Lanzarotti and Gabriel Sauma, we explored what it really takes to find your “business soulmate” and why it often starts closer to home than you think.

From Squeaky Floors to a Global Brand

Seven years ago, Paul wasn’t thinking about partners, brands, or global expansion. He was pacing the floors of his London home, trying not to wake his baby daughter, Sienna. The family had just installed new floors, and within months, they began to squeak so loudly that every late-night step became a gamble. After 45 minutes of getting Sienna to sleep, one creak could undo it all. That personal frustration—combined with a sky-high quote to fix the problem—pushed him to experiment, learn what he needed to know, and create a solution when none existed.

That solution became Floor-Fix Pro, a line of sustainable DIY products that make floor repair simple, affordable, and permanent. What started with one silent room has grown into a global consumer brand that helps people all over the world repair loose tiles, gaps, cracked grout, and squeaky floors without ripping everything up or paying thousands. As demand grew, so did the complexity: more products, more shipments, more countries, and more customers to serve.

Knowing When You Need a Partner

About a year ago, Paul realized that passion and creativity were no longer enough on their own. The business needed more structure—someone who could bring financial discipline, operational focus, and a fresh perspective. He knew he didn’t need a copy of himself; he needed someone who loved the parts of the business that drained him. Ironically, his daughter helped solve this problem, too.

Sienna’s best friend at school is Olivia. The girls had grown up together from daycare to primary school, and over the years, their families crossed paths in the everyday rituals of modern parenting: drop-offs, pick-ups, parties, and school events. Olivia’s father, Gabriel, had built a career in banking and asset management after a chapter owning a chain of restaurants. On the surface, he was a world away from chemical formulations and floor repairs. Yet when the two dads ended up together at a children’s TV convention and then at an Italian restaurant afterward, something clicked.

Spotting Complementary Strengths

Bonding initially over the world’s worst Carbonora ever served in an “Italian Restaurant”, Paul and Gabriel talked about the business in more depth for the first time—about work, fulfillment, and what they each wanted next. Paul saw a sharp, grounded financial mind with entrepreneurial experience and a strong people orientation. Gabriel saw a founder with relentless energy, a real product solving real problems, and a business that was starting to outgrow what one person could manage. By the end of the evening, Paul went home and told his wife he was going to try to convince Gabriel to join the business. It took a year of conversations, reflection, and negotiation, but eventually Gabriel left his stable banking job and stepped into the uncertainty—and potential—of a growing consumer brand.

Their story offers practical guidance for anyone searching for a business soulmate. Paul didn’t build Floor-Fix Pro to attract a partner; he built it to fix a problem in his own home and then listened carefully as more customers showed up with similar issues. When he finally went looking for a partner, he wasn’t selling a vague idea; he was inviting someone into a living, breathing enterprise with proof that it mattered. Doing your own soul work—understanding your strengths, your limits, and the kind of impact you want to have—gives you a clear foundation from which to choose.

Test Chemistry in Everyday Life

Paul and Gabriel didn’t start with a term sheet; they started with school treasure hunts, kids’ parties, and casual meals. That gave them a window into each other’s character long before money or contracts were on the table. If you want to find your business soulmate, notice who you enjoy spending unstructured time with, who treats people kindly when nothing is at stake, and who’s curious enough to keep asking good questions. Partnerships are built over years; you need someone you can laugh with on the hard days.

It also took Gabriel time to leave a secure role as the main breadwinner in his family, and it took both of them time to talk with spouses, advisors, and trusted friends. That season let them clarify roles, expectations, and what success would look like together. You can’t eliminate all risk, but you can make sure you’re saying yes with open eyes and aligned intentions.

Choosing Work That Feels Like Life

Today, Gabriel describes his days as full and demanding, but says he now sleeps “like a baby” and feels his wings have grown back. Paul, who left corporate life years ago, would rather ride out financial ups and downs than return to a role that drains his energy. Their partnership is not easier than their old jobs—but it is more alive.

We hear plenty of stories about meeting “the one” in love. The truth is, your business soulmate might be standing beside you at daycare pick-up, sitting three desks away, or joining you for a casual dinner that unexpectedly turns into a visioning session. To find them, do your own soul work first, build something real, and then stay open to the people whose skills, values, and energy help you become braver than you would be on your own. In that space between a squeaky floor and a shared future, a different kind of love story begins.

You can hear Paul and Gabriel talk about their unique business and partnership in this podcast episode.