Granddaughter's Snowmen
Did you know that collaboration might be the answer to a challenging task in your small business? In the corporate world you might be able to delegate part of the task. What’s the answer if you are a lone entrepreneur? One possibility is outsourcing. The other, more fun solution, is collaboration with another entrepreneur.
Collaborative Product Creation
Want to host a public information seminar? Perhaps you can join forces with one or two others in an allied field. Since the seminar is a product, I call that collaborative product creation. Collaboration makes the task easier.
Want to write a book (or e-book)? Perhaps other entrepreneurs could contribute chapters in areas of their own expertise. That’s an example of collaboration known as co-ownership joint venture.
Want to pay for advertising? Maybe several small businesses could collaborate on an ad for related services or products to a single target audience.
Collaboration Enables a Bigger Result ©BeverlyLR/stock.xchng
Given enough snow, anyone can build a decent snowman. Not everyone can build a full-sized snowman. Where heavy lifting is required, a little collaboration can go a long way.
Here’s a good definition of collaboration: “Many hands make light work.” -old adage.
And another: “Two heads are better than one.” – old adage.
“In this new wave of technology, you can’t do it all yourself, you have to form alliances.” – Carlos Slim Helu, in 2010, the world’s wealthiest person, 70 year old Mexican businessman, telecommunications industry.
The First Step in Collaboration: Networking
Who do you know? Is networking a top goal in your small business? Networking is the prequel to collaboration. By networking, I mean connecting with new people. What then?
Be asking questions of yourself while you are networking with someone new and asking them questions.
Questions of yourself:
What are their needs? What are their skills? Can I see myself working with this home business owner? How? Doing what?
Questions of them:
What brought you to this… conference (or, fill in the blank)? What is your business niche? What challenges do you face in your business? What resource could most help your business right now? What would be the ideal referral for you right now? (What kind of person should I send your way?)
Of course you are not looking for help in building a snowman. But you might benefit from help on some other creative endeavor; think collaborative product creation.
Collaboration can be a great way to create eBooks, webinars, live workshops, videos, membership sites, and many other types of products.
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