Thoughts on Collaboration

As the year began and my new realities formed, one of my highest intents was that I would collaborate. That I would vigorously mix business and pleasure and money and love and flow and creativity. I got engaged in Facebook and to a smaller extent Twitter. I try hard to create actual relationships with people, equals, mutually beneficial. I genuinely try to know those that would be known. I ask questions and encourage and support and try to understand their passions and mindsets. It’s not always easy but when it works, when there is real connection, it’s deeply rewarding and richly satisfying.

The wonderful group, Whispering Energy, has helped immensely as well. The leadership, the environment, and the amazing people have taught, led, helped, encouraged, assisted, and loved me. It’s a truly awesome place to be.

I’ve given a little thought to the nature of collaboration and why it’s so wonderfully successful and productive. Part of it is, I believe, the “Power of the Master Mind“.  I was introduced to this at a young age as my father was very excited by this and other facets of the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. I’ve only recently though, began to truly embrace and live this mindset. In essence, it says that when two minds come together a third entity is created which is larger and more energetic than the sum of the two minds. 1+1 = more than 2.

So collaboration sets in motion this ability to conjure and invent and discover thoughts that neither of the collaborators would attain individually and, further, more than both combined working as individuals.

Another reason that collaborations work well is a sort of loving competition that can result. It’s a bit like a game of leap frog where one person leaps over the other and vice versa. Or like a ladder where each person alternates climbing the next rung. It’s natural for me to want to reach and grow to the point where my peers are. So if I want to grow, I should surround myself with collaborators and teachers who have achieved more than I have. And as I surpass them, some of them will be motivated to surpass me, and vice versa. Loving and cooperative competition.

Collaboration is not without its pitfalls. There are personality differences, scheduling difficulties, egos, and the overhead required in communicating about action rather than simply taking the action. But the benefits far outweigh these challenges. At least that’s been my experience these past few weeks.

I’d love to hear your comments.

Much love,
Stevie Ray
Collaborator

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