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Getting a business off the ground is difficult enough without challenging personalities making your task all that much harder, but recognizing these toxic personalities can be a challenge when your focus is on a lengthy to-do list and keeping all the balls in the air.

Jeff Haden at Inc. has a list of nine types of people to keep out of your inner circle during this critical time, and while you don’t want to burn any bridges, it’s wise to know who your real friends are.

Devilish Advocates

Devilish advocates are rarely advocates for anything other than their own egos and points of view. “Perspective” is often just bragging in disguise. “Voice of reason” is often just the voice of ego or the voice of a person who tried and failed and therefore thinks no one can–or more likely should–ever succeed.

Keep the people who ask smart questions, share lessons learned and ways to do things differently, and offer to help you if a problem does pop up…

Raving Fans

On the other end of the spectrum is the person who thinks your every thought and deed is astounding, amazing, incredible. You’re Michael Scott and he’s Dwight Schrute (well, most of the time)…

…It’s easy to tell someone he or she is great. It’s much, much harder–it takes a real friend–to tell someone he or she can do better…

Full story at Inc..

Frenemies of the entrepreneur.

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