4x founder with 2 exits. The only time conflict arose or I felt like giving up was when we weren't growing. Growth and sales can heal just about all wounds (not all, but just about all). These types of articles always seem to point out the symptoms, and not the cause.

The symptom of wanting to give up is because you aren't growing fast enough

The symptom of founder turmoil is because whatever strategy you're currently using isn't growing the company fast enough

The symptom of running out of money is because you're not hitting your sales targets

Congrats on your good fortune, and agree with your diagnosis.

Does it work the other way? If the company isn't growing, do you close it? When/how do you decide this? What if the growth is just around the corner if you just solve this just one more thing?

I agree on your statement that growth and sales heals a lot of wounds or covers them actually. In co-founder relationship the absence of those also does open wounds and shows problems.

>Growth and sales can heal just about all wounds ...

A similar thing seems to apply to marriages: If the money and sex are good, any other BS in life is easier to tolerate.

I agree. Growth solves all. It give you money to throw at problems, raises to keep people happy, and motivation. When there is no growth, that is when things fall apart.