Was it instilled in us during middle school that girls always had to be in competition? Perhaps this began before middle school, but please raise your hand and tell me I’m not alone on this one.

I remember the days of competing around who had the cuter hair, the hotter boyfriend, the trendiest outfit or the “cool” parents (read: they might pretend they don’t know we’re sneaking wine coolers in the basement)?

Who got a car first?

Who got their belly button pierced first?

Or even who got laid first?

Was it just me that felt like everything was a huge competition? I can’t be! I still see the effects of women being in competition as an adult, an entrepreneur, a coach and even as a mom. The amount of shame, blame and who’s better than who has not gone away everywhere, but hopefully if it’s present somewhere in your life, you’ll be inspired to move away from it ASAP.

Operating from competition is exhausting, so what has us women creating divide rather than unity? Is it even possible to work in collaboration with other women…NOT just in theory, but in practice?

If you asked me a few years ago, I would have said “no”. Ask me today though, and I have been absolutely proven wrong. Collaboration over competition has changed the game for me as woman, entrepreneur and mom (Well, I’m still practicing the mom part-just being honest!)

There actually is something magical that happens when women come together. We’ve seen it a lot this year on a global scale and it’s also something experienced daily within the IGC Mastermind. I know it’s hard to believe, trust me–I’m a Leo and some good competition is second nature, but it genuinely is possible and it’s a major game-changer.

I hardly ever make guarantees, but this is something I’m SO passionate about so here it goes. When you truly enter into collaboration with women who are equally enrolled in the collaborative effort, I can guarantee you that:

  1. You will see progress. Whether you’re working on a business or yourself, when you are truly in collaboration with women who believe that the success of the individual becomes the success of the group–you literally create an unstoppable energy. One’s success is everyone’s success moves the whole ship.
  2. Long-lasting connection. Being in true collaboration means learning and leaning into trust. If you’ve ever been the girl who “is only friends with the guys”, chances are that not trusting other women was part of the reason. Although it may take some practicing and getting used to, when you surround yourself with women who consciously desire collaboration and are invested in the collective good, you establish trust which is the foundation of long-term connections.
  3. You won’t have to face your failures alone. This one is huge. When you’re creating something amazing in the world, there will be challenges! Sometimes, you will fail at things. When you’re working at them alone, this can feel like the end of the world and may be reason to just give it all up. When you’re in true collaboration, you trust that when you cannot hold yourself up, your sisters will support you. When you can’t see your own light, they will give you some of theirs until you find your way again.

Collaboration means no woman left behind. Collaboration means unity, connection, trust and working together. I’ll take that over competition any day.

Besides, working by yourself quite simply isn’t as fun.

What do you choose?

Xoxo

Liv

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