For me this kind of micro optimization never worked but in the most advanced skill areas I have (e.g. vim hotkeys).
For everything people related for me the very simple approach worked best:
- find a topic where you can see the other person getting a profit for their problems/career as well
- start discussing that topic with them
- if you hit it off, stay in contact
- if you don't hit it off, try to reduce contact as much as possible
And then work hard and try not to be a dick, but be a dick to people who want to exploit you. If someone worthy gets a bad impression because you self-defence he will come around when he sees you in action more.
Great question, imho. But indirectly it is also answered. It seemed like he spent the majority of the power into the project and the others would have joined when it was starting. It's like you have the chess club but other people only come if you are there and maybe even only if you have something special to offer.
To me it looks like you haven't seen that he understands all that what you say but figured despite all that there was an exceptional situation that required him to do something unorthodox. And that's also a good thing for an entrepreneur, right? Making a decisions others wouldn't have because one believes one has better insight into the situation.
For everything people related for me the very simple approach worked best: - find a topic where you can see the other person getting a profit for their problems/career as well - start discussing that topic with them - if you hit it off, stay in contact - if you don't hit it off, try to reduce contact as much as possible
And then work hard and try not to be a dick, but be a dick to people who want to exploit you. If someone worthy gets a bad impression because you self-defence he will come around when he sees you in action more.