Give first
You wouldn’t start a friendship by giving somebody a one-pager. Why start your partnerships that way?
Start by asking questions and trying to understand your partner's needs.
Show you are interested in your partner by giving them something that they actually want.
Then follow up with relevant content that meets their needs.
If you start by giving your partner a generic one-pager, you’re starting off on the wrong foot.
Be interested. Create real value. This is the way to partner.
Unlikely book recs
This week's book rec is from Shawnie Hamer.
I recommend Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living by Glennon Doyle,
Here's one of my favorite quotes from the book:
Here's the rub: Destruction is essential to construction. If we want to build the new, we must be willing to let the old burn. We must be committed to holding on to nothing but the truth. (page 110)
I love this book for its tenderness and honesty, and for the deep self-knowing it allows the reader to walk away with.
The truth of the matter is that many of us often do things that we know aren't right in some way—either because it should be improved, because it excludes others, or it just simply doesn't work anymore—because it has always been done in that way.
The partnerships industry is a small and poignant example of that. Time and time again, we've seen companies follow traditional strategies, only to fail.
Our willingness to trust what the talking heads are telling us vs. trusting our guts is, for lack of a better word, incredible.
What would happen if we trusted and respected ourselves in the same regard?
What if we were willing to take the same risks on ourselves?
And what if, by developing empathy and encouragement in ourselves, we were able to develop our empathy and encouragement in others? I think this book gives great insight into how to do that.
Happenings
- Today at 11:30 AM ET - Predictions 2023: Channel vs Ecosystem - Justin Zimmerman, Scott Brinker, and Jay McBain will meet up to discuss their partner predictions for 2023. Join them!
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