Competition Kills Creativity: Embracing Collaboration in Business and Life

As I scrolled through Instagram the other day, I came across Rihanna's latest venture - her new Fenty hairline. The advertising was stunning, the branding on point, and Rihanna herself looked fabulous as always. But what caught my attention wasn't the products themselves, but rather the comments section.

Almost immediately, people began comparing Rihanna's line to Beyoncé’s recently launched hair product line, Cécred. The comments section quickly devolved into a debate about which superstar's products were better, who would come out on top, and which line would ultimately "win" in the marketplace.

This got me thinking about competition - how deeply ingrained it is in our culture, especially in business, and how harmful it can actually be to our creativity and growth. As someone who has spent years in the business world and now works as a mentor and advisor, I've seen firsthand how competition can stifle innovation and hold us back from reaching our full potential.

The Problem with Competition

Many of us were raised in highly competitive environments. From a young age, we're taught that winning is everything and that success means beating out others. I certainly experienced this growing up - I was a competitive swimmer, dancer, and runner. I participated in academic competitions. My entire upbringing revolved around competition and ranking.

This mindset teaches us that there can only be one winner, and by extension, that resources and success are scarce. It's a mentality rooted in lack and scarcity. When we operate from this place, we're constantly looking over our shoulders, trying to one-up our "competitors" instead of focusing on our own unique gifts and vision.

In business, this often manifests as an obsession with competitor analysis and trying to beat out other companies in our industry. We fixate on what others are doing instead of tapping into our own creativity and innovation. We try to incrementally improve on existing ideas rather than coming up with truly novel solutions.

This competitive mindset kills creativity in several key ways:

1. It narrows our focus. When we're laser-focused on beating the competition, we limit our perspective and miss out on new opportunities and ideas.
2. It breeds fear and scarcity thinking. Competition makes us operate from a place of lack, which inhibits risk-taking and "out of the box" thinking.
3. It leads to copycatting rather than true innovation. We end up trying to one-up competitors incrementally instead of pursuing bold new directions.
4. It creates stress and pressure that stifle the creative process. Creativity flourishes in relaxed, open states of mind - not when we're anxiously trying to "win."
5. It discourages collaboration, which is often where the most innovative ideas emerge.

The Alternative: Collaboration and Co-Creation

So if competition kills creativity, what's the alternative? I believe the path forward lies in embracing collaboration, co-creation, and abundance thinking.

When we shift from a competitive mindset to a collaborative one, we open ourselves up to limitless possibilities. We recognize that there's enough success to go around and that we can all win together. This abundance mentality allows creativity to flourish.

I've experienced this shift in my own work and life. As I've let go of the need to compete and "be the best," I've found so much more fulfillment in collaborating with others and celebrating our collective successes.

For example, I recently had a discovery call with a woman who was interested in doing work similar to mine. In the past, I might have seen her as competition and been hesitant to share too much. But instead, I approached our conversation with openness and generosity. I shared resources, made introductions, and offered my support.

This approach felt so much more aligned with my values and purpose. By lifting her up, I felt lifted up myself. Our conversation sparked new ideas for both of us. It was energizing rather than draining.

This collaborative mindset allows us to:

1. Draw inspiration from others while maintaining our unique vision
2. Pool resources and knowledge to create better solutions
3. Support and celebrate each other's successes
4. Focus on our individual strengths and how they complement others
5. Create win-win scenarios where everyone benefits

Shifting to a Collaborative Mindset

Of course, shifting from competition to collaboration isn't always easy. It requires us to examine our deeply held beliefs and change ingrained habits. Here are some ways I've found to nurture a more collaborative approach:

1. Recognize abundance. There's enough success, money, recognition, etc. to go around. When we truly internalize this, we no longer see others as threats.
2. Focus on your unique gifts. Get clear on your individual strengths and what only you can offer. This helps you stop comparing yourself to others.
3. Reframe "competitors" as potential collaborators or sources of inspiration. How can you learn from or partner with others in your industry?
4. Celebrate others' successes. When you see someone doing well, genuinely celebrate for them instead of feeling threatened.
5. Look for win-win opportunities. How can you create scenarios where everyone benefits?
6. Be generous with your knowledge and resources. Trust that what you give will come back to you multiplied.
7. Set healthy boundaries. Collaboration doesn't mean overextending yourself. Learn to share generously while still protecting your energy.

Applying Collaboration in Business

This collaborative approach isn't just feel-good philosophy - it has real, tangible benefits in the business world. Here are some ways I've seen collaboration drive success:

• Innovation: When we collaborate across disciplines and industries, we often stumble upon the most innovative solutions. Different perspectives spark new ideas.
• Customer focus: Collaboration allows us to focus more on serving our customers rather than beating competitors. This ultimately leads to better products and services.
• Resource optimization: By pooling resources and knowledge, we can achieve more with less and reduce redundancy.
• Risk mitigation: Partnerships and collaborations can help spread risk and create more stable business models.
• Market expansion: Collaborating with complementary businesses can help us reach new markets and customers.
• Employee satisfaction: A collaborative culture tends to be more positive and fulfilling for employees, leading to better retention and productivity.
• Sustainability: Collaboration often leads to more sustainable, long-term business models rather than short-term wins.

The MetaBusiness Methodology

This shift from competition to collaboration is at the heart of what I call the MetaBusiness Methodology. It's about recognizing that business can be a force for positive transformation - not just profit.

The MetaBusiness methodology focuses on activating the unique energy and gifts of leaders and organizations. Rather than trying to fit into predefined molds or beat out competitors, we tap into our authentic selves and highest potential.

This involves deep inner work to understand our individual strengths, values, and purpose. From there, we can create business strategies and cultures that are truly aligned with who we are and the impact we want to have.

When leaders and organizations operate from this place of alignment and authenticity, amazing things happen. Creativity flourishes. Innovation accelerates. We naturally attract the right opportunities and collaborators.

Most importantly, we create businesses that are deeply fulfilling and contribute positively to the world. It's no longer about winning at all costs, but about co-creating value for all stakeholders.

Embracing Your Unique Path

As I reflect on the Rihanna and Beyoncé example that sparked this train of thought, I see how we could reframe the entire situation through a collaborative lens. Instead of pitting these two incredibly talented women against each other, what if we celebrated that they're both using their platforms to create products for underserved markets? What if we recognized that there's plenty of room for both lines to succeed and serve different customer needs?

Moreover, what if Rihanna and Beyoncé themselves approached their ventures from a place of mutual support rather than competition? Imagine the possibilities if they pooled their massive influence and resources to uplift women and promote self-care on a global scale.

This example reminds me that we all have our own unique paths to walk. No one else can be you or fulfill your specific purpose. When we truly internalize this, competition becomes irrelevant. Your journey isn't about beating others or even keeping up with them. It's about becoming the fullest, most authentic expression of yourself and using your gifts to serve the world.

This is the mindset I strive to embody and share with my clients. When we let go of comparison and competition, we free up so much energy for creativity, growth, and meaningful impact.

Creating a Collaborative Future

As we look to the future, I believe this shift from competition to collaboration is essential - not just in business, but in all areas of life. The challenges we face as a global society are too complex to be solved through old paradigms of competition and scarcity thinking. Political instability, socioeconomic inequality, technological disruption - these issues require unprecedented cooperation and collective innovation.

By embracing collaboration, we open ourselves up to new possibilities. We create space for diverse voices and perspectives. We tap into our collective intelligence and creativity.

Imagine a world where:

- Businesses partner to solve global challenges rather than just competing for market share

- Nations cooperate to create abundance for all rather than fighting over scarce resources

- Individuals support and celebrate each other's growth rather than tearing each other down

This vision may sound utopian, but I believe it's not only possible - it's essential for our continued evolution as a species. And it starts with each of us choosing collaboration over competition in our daily lives and work.

Your Invitation to Collaborate

As we wrap up, I want to extend an invitation to you, dear reader. How can you embrace more collaboration in your life and work? Where might you be operating from a competitive mindset without even realizing it?

I encourage you to examine your beliefs around competition and success. Notice where you might be holding yourself back out of fear or scarcity thinking. Look for opportunities to support and celebrate others, even those you might have previously seen as competitors.

Most importantly, remember that you have unique gifts that only you can offer the world. Focus on developing and sharing those gifts rather than comparing yourself to others. Trust that as you step into your authentic power, the right opportunities and collaborators will naturally emerge.

If you'd like support on this journey, I'm here to help. Through my coaching and MetaBusiness methodology, I guide leaders and organizations in activating their unique energy and creating collaborative, purpose-driven businesses.

Together, we can create a world where competition gives way to co-creation, where abundance replaces scarcity, and where we all have the opportunity to thrive.

The future is collaborative - and it starts with us.

Erin Patten is a metaphysical master in a millennial age. She is a highly sought-after master advisor to corporate executives, startup founders and their respective organizations. She founded the MetaBusiness World to guide magnetic leaders in extinguishing organizational dis-ease by working through emotional and spiritual roots of conflict to find balance.