What a world we could create if everyone knew how to collaborate in a healed, heart centered manner for the good of us all.
I grew up in a very sports oriented home. We ate, slept, breathed, lived in competition. Participation trophies weren’t okay. Either you were the winner or you were the loser. Nothing was just for fun and both life and games were always taken very seriously.
I never subscribed to this way of life. I didn’t want to always be in competition with everyone around me. It was stressful and lonely and always seemed to end with someone upset.
Instead, I’ve always revealed in the beauty of what each individual person has to offer. I assure you, EVERYONE on this planet has something to offer. It’s just a matter of both them and you recognizing it.
The History of Competition
Healthy, fun and games competition can be great. It can give us motivation to better ourselves and our lives and has the potential to create meaningful relationships. Competition with ego is harmful to everyone involved.
Throughout the sands of time, people have been competing. In both games and life. This was to create entertainment to fill in spare time and to gain access to limited resources. Being competitive is written into our DNA.
The Myth of Competition
Luckily, we no longer live in a dog eat dog world. There is enough to go around and plenty of resources for everyone (not a political post). In the world of business and influence, competition is a false illusion that none of us should be subscribing to.
Another person in your field is not competition but rather another brother/sister in arms for the same cause. It doesn’t matter if that cause is feeding the hungry or spreading a message. It can be teachings or entertainment. The world needs it all.
And that’s the ultimate goal, right? To make life better. And when we’re making life better for one of us, we’re making it better for all of us. Through the ripples of change and positivity. Everything we touch is affected in one way or another.
A new person in your field doesn’t mean one less (or 1000 less) clients and costumers for you. It means one more person to partner with and build an audience with. One more person to create content with. One more person to share the work with.
Collaborate (tion) Over Competition
If you want to grow your business or audience, the number one thing you should be doing is collaborating with people in your platoon. Talk with them, understand them, learn about them and then propose something you can create with them.
A Few Tips on Successful Collaboration
Many people don’t realize how successful collaboration works. They want to rush in and take what they can get for quick wins and progress. True and stable growth isn’t quick, though. When you plant a seed in your garden, it doesn’t instantly pop up. You can’t even sit and noticeably watch it grow. It takes time, watering, sunlight, fertilizing and even pruning and weeding.
It’s a process that should be taken on with compassion and patience for the good of the plant. Only when it blooms beautifully does it produce the fruit to nourish the grower. Collaborations are the same way. Note that it also takes lots of seeds because not all of them will germinate.
- Be deliberate in HELPING.
- Look for ways YOU CAN SERVE the individual in question. Don’t look for what you can get. Look for what you can GIVE.
- Reach out and be personable.
- No one likes robot-y, emotionless promo type messages in their inbox with no personality or depth. You’re a person. They’re a person. Strike up a REAL conversation.
- Engage in their content.
- Like, share, comment, etc. That’s what you want people to do with your content, right? Give and you shall receive.
- Propose specific collaborations.
- If you ask them to collaborate and then go “Okay great! So what are we doing?” You’re giving them more work instead of more growth. Be specific. Come up with solid ideas to pitch them where you BOTH BENEFIT.
- Follow up with them.
- Life gets busy and people forget things. It’s ok to follow up with someone 2-3 times. After that, though, I would put my energy else where if they aren’t holding up their end of responsibility.
- Bring VALUE to all involved.
- Tag games are great every now and then. But you need to be focusing on giving everyone’s audience a reason to care. They don’t give a hoot what your favorite seasonal drink is unless you’re providing tremendous value to their lives. Teach them something or help them transform their lives in a positive way.
It takes time. Be in it for the long game. This is the quickest route in growth. If you leave competition to the fables of old and make every interaction count, you’ll be where you want to be in no time!
I have free online business sessions I’m doing right now to help those in the online battlegrounds find clarity and direction so you’re not running around constantly throwing spaghetti at the wall trying to figure out what works. Let’s sit down over email and google spreadsheets and figure out what direction you need to go to focus your energy and manifest your goals sooner rather than later.
Also, sign up here for more manifesting power by harnessing the energy of the moon!
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- How to Manifest More by Doing Less Despite Hustle Culture & Business Overwhelm
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Author
S.S.Blake; Spiritual Life Coach, Yoga + Meditation Teacher and Founder of Earth and Water
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This is a beautifully written post. You are so right, having people to collaborate with helps us shift away from competition!! Thank you for mentioning me and the blog! 💖
Thank you for your wise words. Competition can be so draining because the ultimate success is not shared by all participants. Collaboration celebrates everyone’s efforts!
I found you through the BloggersCollab and have followed you on FB and Twitter!