I enjoy what I do partly because I like working with entrepreneurs. They tend to be inspirational, energetic individuals, fizzing with ideas and optimism. But like most of us, they have their flaws. If you want to succeed in backing them, it pays to look out for the drawbacks and come up with solutions to compensate.

Entrepreneurs often have  low boredom thresholds and are weak at the day-to-day micromanagement that every business needs. Mostly these visionaries focus on the big picture – they find administration dull. The wise founder hires a detail person, someone who enjoys process and paperwork, to clear up after them and keep the systems ticking over – be it finance, legal or technical matters. Frequently, business owners have extraordinary passion about their enterprise, and can carry a team to hell and back with their persistence. But that charisma and audacity may well be accompanied by an ability to overlook tedious but vital subjects such as bank covenants, contractual obligations and cash generation. That is where the reliable partner comes in, taking care of the housekeeping, and preventing the chaos that can overwhelm so many creative personalities.