Collaboration over Competition: Why Being Generous is Your Secret Weapon
I’m tired of business feeling like a dog-eat-dog world. It doesn’t feel good to step over others to be successful. That doesn’t vibe with my idea of success at all.
It grinds my gears even more when I see spiritual entrepreneurs or people who say they are conscious business owners acting like it’s a race to see who can get to the top.
What if there was another way?
What if we could see business as a beautiful energy exchange — one that had mutual benefit?
Wait a minute…why am I writing “What if”?! We CAN see business this way. We can put collaboration over competition in our minds and strive to build a network and community rather than see ourselves as competitors.
In my experience so far as a spiritual entrepreneur, copywriter, and marketing strategist, I’ve learned a few things. The biggest thing that has stood out to me is that ✨GENEROSITY✨is the secret ingredient that makes a business grow and stand the test of time. People respond to those who are generous. People trust others who give more than they take.
Why should I be generous in my business?
Because generosity fosters connection. When you are generous, you build a sense of community with the people you are working with, the ones you are serving with your offerings, and you give people something to talk about when they refer you to the next person.
Positive relationships are like gold in business.
False promises and marketing tricks are a fool’s gold.
You might get someone to purchase from you once but you know the saying, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…”
You’re not going to have a customer or client base that sticks around for the next thing if you don’t leave a good impression. Positive relationships take time to build and they are built on a foundation of generosity and genuine trust.
What does generosity look like in business?
I hear you over-givers screaming in my ear, “But my boundaries!!!” I’m not asking you to forego your well-being to please other people. I’m asking you to give from that heart-centered place that says, “This feels good.” Generosity feels expansive for both parties. It’s an energy exchange that feeds both.
This could look like:
Giving a coaching client your book you usually charge for because it relates directly to what they are going through
Offering a discount to someone who wouldn’t normally be able to afford your offering but needs it
Calling each person on the Zoom training by their name and welcoming them
Following up individually with someone who bought one of your offerings
Giving free value during a discovery call without expecting them to book
Adding an option to pay what you can for one of your offerings
These are just a few ideas to get you started but you can see what I’m driving at. Find a way to offer your particular kind of magic in a generous way that feels good to you. People will keep coming back for more because you are taking care of them.
Is scarcity mindset holding your business back?
There is room for everyone. Truly. The more you celebrate your wins and the wins of others, the more that energy of winning multiplies.
If you look at the person next to you and think that they are crushing it, you should be asking them for tips not trying to bring them down.
You never know what can come from simply reaching out to like-minded people and having a chat. When you invite others into the sanctum that is your business, they bring their diverse perspectives with them. You can solve problems in new and innovative ways!
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When you collaborate with others on ideas for your business, they bring their community with them — people you never would have had access to before. You just got handed the keys to a whole new pool of potential customers or clients simply by being a kind person.
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It’s no secret that two minds are better than one. When you collaborate instead of compete, you open up a world of creative ideas you wouldn’t have had otherwise.
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You learn about new tools to make your business more efficient or effective.
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You expand in ways you never would have thought possible until you spoke with that other person.
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The only thing keeping you from this type of expansion is the idea that you have to do it on your own. Who says? In a world of abundance, there is room for everyone to succeed and be prosperous in the way that feels best to them. How does this mindset shift change the way you think about entrepreneurship?
The Spiritual Law of Reciprocity in Business
The Law of Reciprocity is also known as the Law of Sowing and Reaping. We’ve often heard, “You reap what you sow,” in a negative context. Really, reaping what you sow is a wonderful thing when you’re sowing wonderful seeds.
Reciprocity says that we receive back what we give — often tenfold. By that logic, we want to make sure our customers and clients are receiving TONS of value from us. In return, we will get an equal return. This is the idea that the giver and the receiver both benefit from the energy exchange that is happening.
Generosity and this mindset of giving help us feel more personal fulfillment in what we do. It reduces stress when we are genuinely connecting with others. Our business aligns with our values when we act this way and that is so yummy!
What I’m saying is that when you are focused on giving, you end up receiving more than you ever thought possible.
In terms of collaboration, this might feel at first like you’re offering the other person much more than what you are getting out of the relationship. The truth is that is just what it looks like on the surface. As collaborators grow together, when it is an aligned collaboration, the Law of Reciprocity provides for both people in abundance.
Sounds pretty great, right? And it feels even better!
Get out there and collaborate!
Collaboration is the key that opens the door to opportunities you never would have thought possible. We grow together. We serve together. We build a better world together.
Tell me more about your collaborations in the comments below! How are you using generosity in your business plan?
If you’re looking to collaborate with me, you can book a chat with me here.