Collaboration > Competition
Collaboration creates lasting success - when you focus on building together, everyone wins.
Some thoughts on collaboration. Over the years, I’ve had both good and bad experiences with collaboration and competition. For instance, while working on mobile apps, I developed a great working relationship with a provider, someone I still keep in touch with 10 years later. But on the flip side, I’ve also had personal projects that left me completely frustrated.
I’ve experienced competition, too - both as a goalkeeper and when starting out as a photographer. I remember running into established photographers who saw me as a threat. It felt like a shallow rivalry, and it made me realise that my energy is better spent on collaboration, not competition.
Why This Matters
There will be times when collaboration or competition feels unavoidable.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, long-term partnerships lead to greater success than quick competitive wins.
I believe collaboration is the better path, allowing everyone involved to grow together.
In this email, I’ll share my tiny thoughts on why I firmly believe collaboration > competition.
Collaboration is competition, in a different form
Even when working together, partners are still competitors.
It’s like two dancers moving in sync but eyeing each other's next step.
This tension drives growth.
It keeps both sides alert. In every partnership, something is gained and something is risked.
Learning from partners is paramount.
Collaboration is an open door to new skills and insights. Think of it as planting seeds in your garden from another’s harvest.
When you collaborate, you’re not just sharing the fruit, but learning how to grow your own.
In time, this learning strengthens you.
Harmony isn’t the measure of success.
Conflict is not a sign of failure.
It’s a sign that something new is being forged. Steel sharpens steel.
If managed well, disagreements can lead to breakthroughs. Growth comes from navigating through the friction, not avoiding it.
Long-term goals outweigh short-term gains.
Chasing a quick win is tempting. But short-term gains are often like a house of cards—they collapse easily.
Long-term learning, on the other hand, builds a foundation.
Partnerships grounded in learning create lasting value. They provide insight and knowledge that becomes the cornerstone of future success.
Guard your core skills.
Not everything should be shared.
Some knowledge is sacred. Collaboration doesn’t mean giving away the keys to your kingdom.
Like a magician, you can reveal a few tricks—but never all.
From jealousy to envy, to growth.
It’s natural to feel envy when others succeed. But when you shift from jealousy to admiration, collaboration becomes possible.
Instead of seeing others as threats, you see them as partners in growth. Together, you create a supportive environment that fosters success on both sides.
Collaboration brings connection.
Competition isolates. It draws lines in the sand.
Collaboration, on the other hand, builds bridges.
It fosters a sense of belonging. It shows that success doesn’t have to come at someone else’s expense. The best successes come when everyone rises together.
A competition, born out of multiple collaborations
This time last year, we launched a new photography competition: Focus Positiu. My past experiences in photography competitions shaped the vision for what we wanted to create. But more than that, collaboration played a key role in every part of its development.
Images that capture emotion, not just technical mastery.
A modern judging panel, focusing on relevance and connection, not old-school metrics.
Prizes that promote wellbeing, experiences that enrich, not just money in hand.
Free participation, open to anyone, regardless of gear or background.
Partner with companies to enhance their brand through collaboration, not mere sponsorships.
Focus on building a community that spreads the message organically, rather than chase press coverage.
Here's the short version of the above:
Escape competition through authenticity.
Competing happens when you try to mimic others. But when you focus on what makes you unique, you become irreplaceable. Authenticity is your shield against shallow rivalry.Play long-term games with long-term people.
Relationships, wealth, and knowledge compound over time. By choosing to collaborate with trustworthy and intelligent partners, you create mutual growth. Collaboration isn’t about giving up your edge—it’s about making something bigger, together.Positive-sum games.
In long-term partnerships, everyone becomes wealthier. Naval notes this contrasts with zero-sum competition, where people fight over the same resources, and only one side wins.
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See you in two weeks.
Peace,
Has
