Sunday, January 16, 2011

Collaboration

The best thing in the world is to find like minded spirits to collaborate with; work, volunteer, or social. You know it's right when everyone involved is lifted up. The power of two... The power of more pulling in the same direction. Energy grows and some brand new energy evolves that none would have ever discovered on their own.
At work it's great to be surrounded by people whom you feel are more talented but act like you are the more talented one. In Volunteering we seek those opportunities that are leading us all in a shared direction of better community. Socially, we want to be surrounded by people who just make us feel happy and worthwhile.
As I think about the collaborations developing in my life today, I am feeling so blessed to have found all those listed above. I'm saddened as I think about the bad collaborations. The individuals I think of drain the life out of others. In bad collaborations, one party is drained - financially, emotionally, socially - and there really is no lift. One plus One should actually equal more than two. In a good collaboration, it does. In a bad collaboration, one is trying to lift the other toward equaling two. But what actually happens is that the one trying to fill the void becomes less than they would be if they were acting alone. One plus one equals less than one. Very bad. One is a vampire - taking life and energy away.
As I write this I see someone I once considered a friend. I watch as she is drained - financially, emotionally and socially. I have been there - collaborating with one who drains the life out of you.
We make choices. Choose carefully those around you. Be a lifter. Realize that those who are not, will likely never be, no matter how much you invest in them.
I am so happy to have learned that my the dearest of my collaborators today! 2011 is going to be a VERY good year.

1 comment:

  1. I totally understand and am glad to be a part of a group whose primary concern is for each other. That is rare and hard to find. Let us all work together to lift up our fellow man and not live to tear them down. What a world that would be!!

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