Great advice. A few years back a couple of friends and I decided to start a new company. Both were (and continue to be) really good friends to me, but just before we formally created the company, I decided to back down. The reason -- and I told both of them that -- was that I was afraid that the company would eventually destroy the friendship.

We all decided to go our own ways and thus the friendship survived. I often wonder if we could have pulled it out, but I really don't regret the decision.