Partnership is one of my BIGGEST business goals, in this video I talk about what partnership is and means to me:
Several years ago I partnered Adryenn Ashley to make a CD series about Social Media. We created a workbook, 6 CD’s and a bonus DVD with tools we love. Each of us were able to sell it separately in our business, to use it as a gift, a prize at events, or to package with other offers. Individually, we incurred the profits and costs associated with doing so. Here is why this created such win/win: every time I sold one my customers also learned about Adryenn. And the same was true for me, every time she sold one they learned about me. To this day, it still generates business for me.
I desire more BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) partnership thinking like this, I believe there are tons of creative ways to do this as entrepreneurs! Do you partner with others? Have you had success? Have you also struggled with partnership?
In 2012, The SNCC Way grew up and gained two business partners to help it thrive with new energy and ideas.
I have definitely learned some lessons over the years about partnerships, some the hard way! I have also learned that it’s easy to think partnership won’t work with”what you do” which is why BHAG thinking and masterminds really work!
Interested in Joining a Mastermind to learn more about partnerships in your Business? Participating in this mastermind in NO WAY requires you to partner with anyone in the group, including Ann. This is a place to learn and improve the partner experience for entrepreneurs! We are ALWAYS taking applications to join us!
***Please note that the investment you are willing to make will not be the ONLY determination for selection into the mastermind, so share honestly and openly! [/box]
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I agree that this is a great way to work, Ann, and can be beneficial for all. I participate in a partnership with other professionals involved in education and parenting. We consider ourselves a “one stop shop” for NYC parents looking for tutoring, parenting advice, school advice, etc. We all promote and support each other. The biggest challenges, I think, are twofold. One is coordinating schedules (There are seven of us.) to meet, discuss, plan the future etc. The second challenge is figuring out how to share the workload. It always seems to be a work in progress, but a positive one, for sure.
This idea certainly has some verve to it. Don’t know how that might play out in my businesses which are preventative health care and holistic skin services. Perhaps that will develop in time as I become more “connected.”
Maureena
Bivins, PhD
Acupuncture
& Somatic Therapy
http://maureenabivinsphd.com
Curious,
committed, and compassionate.
What
do you look for in a health care provider?
Thank you for recommending “partnerships”. I LOVE this idea, too, and it’s not entirely new.
For years I’ve effectively cross-promoted my musical services with other professionals serving weddings, parties, and special celebrations. Each of us is independent and proactive. Through shared events and recommendations we always strive to work together.
I agree with you, that such a shared “partnership” can be more powerful than a coordinator’s “affiliate” model. But is it really the NEXT level? Each model requires a ton of work, as you say, and each can be successful. The work is different, so we choose the kind we want.
I like how you have made a distinction between a partnership/mastermind model and the affiliate model. To Robbie’s point, it does strike me as the next level because it involves a different type of commitment to your business and to the mastermind group – not just as a different way to develop or market a product. That can be scary in its own way, but definitely a growth step worth taking.
It is a awesome idea,Partnerships are important because they enable action on the
determinants of our business, which is vital in order to address any
inequalities in our day to day. Learning from research on building better partnerships to
develop more effective and sustainable partnerships is the key of this action
I have done partnership work before in the academic setting, where I worked with a treasured colleague on a grant. When funded, we each got sources of revenue (through the university) and had different roles to play based on our goals and professional strengths. I absolutely loved this! I haven’t thought about translating this to the business/entrepreneurial world, but it’s a fabulous idea that I am going to think more about. Does seem very different than affiliate model, and much more attractive to me because of the energy that comes from two people (who are well suited) working together.
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
http://www.thereflectivewriter.com
Personal-Professional Balance Through Writing
Sounds like a fantastic idea. I know at one point I was trying to partner with another coach I trained with, but she decided to go another route. I know I always have ideas, but they never seem to take off.
I absolutely love working collaboratively and this partnership structure you are envisioning sounds absolutely marvelous and reciprocal. I have no idea how it might apply in my own biz at the moment, but I am totally jazzed by the energy behind it and te heart of what you are envisioning
I never really thought much about business partnering in this way but I love the idea. I need to do some more creative thinking on how to go about that. Oh, I’ve just thought of something that would be fun to do. I guess I’d love to hear ideas from others too on how we could partner and allow myself to be open to new suggestions too.
Julieanne Case
Always from the heart!
Reconnecting you to your Original Blueprint, Your Essence, Your Joy| Healing you from the Inside Out |Reconnective Healing | The Reconnection| AgeLoc Skin Care | Pharmanex Supplements
http://thereconnectivehighway.com
You are indeed talking about the next level! I ‘just’ reached a level with 2 other local providers that I know their services well enough to sell them as part of my contract. I am the web developer, one of them is an SEO writer and one of them is a graphic designer. The client is happy because they only have to deal with one person , I am happy because these ladies do what they do way better than I can do it and it mean I can offer a fuller suite of services. My ‘partners’ are happy because I bring them a closed deal. We joke that we are in a dating relationship but not quite going the full way to engagement and marriage.
Similar to Wendee. I have had several ideas of ways to partner with others in both similar and somewhat unrelated fields, but haven’t 1) found the right people, or 2) found the best way to present the idea. I know part of it has been my belief in my own value coming to the table, but this is the year that changes.
Love partnering! I did this with several products last year and look forward to doing more in the next year – LOVE that you are blogging about this and putting it out there in a big way (or BHAG way – LOL!). Hmmm….
Brandy 🙂
This makes total sense and I can see where it is a win-win for all partners. If you do the work you reap the benefits. That’s the way it should be!
Susan Berland
A Picture’s Worth
http://susan-berland.com
BHAG!!! Love it. That’s how I’m feeling about all I have going on right now.
Love the idea, and glad we dived into it more during the call today. I can see the power behind a “smart” partnership that is a win-win for both parties for business and momentum for the year.
It’s an interesting differentiation…partnership vs affiliate. I never even comtemplated any kind of connection. I currently have a partnership for events, but I don’t think it is on the level you are talking about…
I like the idea of partnership, and I think it could definitely work with my field – Alexander Technique – as that can be applied to any activity. I’m currently exploring partnering with a nutrition/health coach on a couple of projects, so it will be interesting to see where that leads. This has sort of been on hold recently, so thanks for helping put this back in the forefront of my mind!
All about collaboration rather than competition. I remember a very powerful example when I was at a seminar once (could have been Loral Langemeier?). She chose a person with a business at random and then asked about partnerships. No one raised their hands thinking they could partner with this person. But then Loral started thinking outside the box and asking questions and pretty soon there were probably 25 different people who could have formed partnerships with that person who they previously thought was unpartnerable and they were all valuable connections. Great business lesson to teach the value of partnerships and how collaboration really works! And BHAG partnerships would be great!!
Candace Davenport
http://www.ourlittlebooks.com ~ Little Books with a Big Message
love tat! Actually this happened last week on my monthly calls- someone had read the post and said, “no one will partner with me” and in 10 minutes I had her brain buzzing with ideas!
This post and the comments from folks here got me thinking: Entrepreneurs are sometimes control freaks, speaking from personal experience, LOL!
It’s our singular vision, so we’ve gotta do it all.
And then we grow.
As we learn how to attract our ideal clients and customers and stop trying to attract EVERY client and customer, we may find that we’re also attracting ideal potential partners. Feels like the difference between a fear of lack and confidently embracing opportunity.
Just because I understand something and can do it just fine doesn’t mean I have to be the only one to do it. I may have a potential partner who absolutely excels at that thing, elevating her singular vision in that particular area to an art form. She’s someone with a complimentary skillset and passionate dedication to craft similar to my own. Natural fit, and a growth opportunity on so many levels. Thanks for this, Ann. And thanks to the wonderful commentors here, too.