Collaboration Over Competition: What Happens When Women Stop Doing Business Alone
Collaboration Over Competition: What Happens When Women Stop Doing Business Alone
Collaboration Over Competition: What Happens When Women Stop Doing Business Alone
There’s something powerful that happens when women in business get in the same (Zoom) room and stop pretending they have to figure it all out alone.
That was the real magic of this month’s Positive Power Lunch inside Positive Passionate Business Women.
Our theme was Collaboration Over Competition, and what came through loud and clear was this:
Opportunities are already around us. Most of the time, we just haven’t started the conversation yet.
The goal was never to make collaboration feel big, complicated or formal. It was to remind women that some of the best partnerships start small: a conversation, a referral, a shared post, a review, a quick intro, a message that says, “I thought of you.”
The room was full of proof
One of the things I love most about these lunches is hearing what people are actually building.
Sue shared that she’s once again a finalist in the Small Business Champions Awards. Julie shared a glowing customer review that completely lifted her after a knock to confidence. Sandra had sales come through her website without even being active on socials. Ange published a book and saw tens of thousands of views. Mazzy picked up a new client through a recommendation and is now helping launch a brand-new health and wellness business from the ground up.
That’s not small stuff.
And none of it sits in isolation.
Because once one woman shares a win, it does something to the room. It reminds everyone else what’s possible. It sparks ideas. It gets people thinking. It creates momentum.
That’s collaboration, too.
Not just formal partnerships. Not just joint ventures. Sometimes collaboration starts with generosity, encouragement, visibility, and sharing what’s working.
The biggest lesson? Start smaller than you think
One of the strongest threads from the session was that collaboration doesn’t have to be massive to matter.
It can be:
sharing someone’s post
commenting meaningfully on their content
writing a review
referring someone to a client
doing a Reel or live together
bundling offers
hosting an event together
simply introducing two good-fit people
Keep it simple, keep it natural, and focus on ideas that feel like a win for both sides.
That matters because a lot of women hear the word “collaboration” and instantly imagine something huge, time-consuming, or awkward.
It doesn’t have to be.
One small action can open a very big door.
Kerry’s expo was the perfect example..
Our Member in the Spotlight this month was Kerry Tully, and her story ended up being one of the best examples of collaboration in action.
Kerry is launching her very first The Life’s Chapters Expo, an event designed to help people have the important conversations around end-of-life planning, grief, legacy, and practical next steps. It’s a beautiful, brave idea and a big undertaking.
But what stood out most wasn’t just the event itself. It was how many people had rallied around it.
Exhibitors. Friends. Volunteers. A media release written by someone else. Community radio attempts. Funeral and palliative connections. Flyers dropped into shops. Grants applied for. Support offered. Videos created. Shirts being made. Helpers coming from different towns.
At one point Kerry shared that she’d finally secured her 20th exhibitor, which happened because she kept putting the idea out into the world, asking for help, following leads, and inviting people in.
That’s collaboration.
Not waiting until everything is perfect. Not doing it all yourself. Letting other people bring their skills, connections and support to the table.
Collaboration also builds courage
There was another layer to the conversation that mattered just as much.
Collaboration doesn’t only help your business grow. It helps you feel less alone while you’re growing it.
That’s huge.
Because when you work for yourself, especially from home, it can be very easy to get stuck in your own head. You can spend far too long trying to solve things solo, second-guessing yourself, or sitting on ideas that would move much faster if you simply said them out loud to the right person.
That’s why these lunches matter.
They’re not just about the topic on the screen. They’re about being reminded that there are smart, generous, interesting women around you who might have the exact connection, perspective, idea, encouragement, or opening you need.
And sometimes, you might be that person for someone else.
Your reminder from this month’s Positive Power Lunch
You do not have to grow your business alone.
If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to reach out, collaborate, ask, share, or start a conversation, let this be your nudge.
Think about:
who serves a similar audience to you
whose work naturally pairs well with yours
who you already know, like and trust
what one simple thing you could do together
Because that was the real takeaway from the session:
Small collaborations can lead to big opportunities.
And if you missed this month’s Positive Power Lunch, you missed a room full of women doing exactly that: sharing wins, swapping ideas, opening doors, and reminding each other that business gets a whole lot better when we stop trying to do it all alone.
Come next time. You’ll wish you had sooner.
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**Our Positive Power Lunches are exclusive to Positive, Passionate Business Women members. Each lunch date gives 1 of our members 15 minutes in the spotlight (I'm loving these!) and also a topic for discussion and learning; supportive discussion, and real solutions for real business challenges.
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