day 1054: Co-opetition

"A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking."

Tom Friedman wrote in yesterday's New York Times about the need to collaborate to solves big problems.  He contrasts how Silicon Valley works so well with companies, innovators and entrepreneurs working together to advance the agenda of technology and innovation, to the lack of collaboration of our government representatives. He posits that without collaboration that the big issues we face will not be overcome.  He is right about Silicon Valley.  Even though there is a great deal of competition here, there is still an overarching shared sense of optimism and willingness to assist each other to move bigger things forward.  Friedman quotes LinkedIn Founder and Chairman, Reid Hoffman when he calls this "co-opetition". It is true that we all need each other and even competitors need to work together to solve bigger industry problems.  This is why it always best to be on the best terms with those we compete and always be open to the idea of "co-opeting".

As believers we will many times think that our cooperating and collaborating should be in times of need and help.  If that is the only time we are fellowshipping or spending time with other believers then we are missing blessing and opportunities to grow from these positive and encouraging interactions. Yes, we have to be there for each other when the boat needs filling but let's also be sure that we are there for each other when we see the beginning of the opportunity, when the fish are about to start running.  In our workplaces, there is always someone who needs to know that we will welcome cooperation and not let our competitive nature overtake the giving of ourselves. This example could well be what opens the opportunity for us to share why we are who we are and what it means to bring glory to God in our work.

Reference: Luke 5:7 (New Living Translation)

day 815: Breaking Bread

"Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose."

There is always an underlying tension between working together with co-workers or working independently. In business, within companies, we need to work together, towards a common purpose or we will never succeed. The Economist magazine wrote, "Business is a remarkable exercise in cooperation. For all the talk of competition 'red in tooth and claw', companies in fact depend on persuading large numbers of people - workers and bosses, shareholders and suppliers - to work together to a common end. This involves getting lots of strangers to trust each other. It also increasingly involves stretching trust across border...the word company is derived from the Latin words cum and pane, meaning 'breaking bread together.'" Let's remember this the next time we are requested to go our to dinner with someone else in the company. We may not want to go, but that time breaking bread together is all part of finding the cooperation that makes business work.

I personally am not the biggest fan of lots and lots of time being spent with each outside of work (because I like to spend time at home too), but I get how important it is to spend time with our co-workers outside of the office. What can be powerful about this time is that we get to establish relationships that are deeper than we could ever reach in the office. It is in these times that we get the opportunity to reveal the areas of our life that are important to us, like our faith. How we think about this time, is important. As we break bread with others, then let's not forget that true cooperation comes from when we share a set of values and principles with someone else. And, let's not miss this unique opportunity we have to share what is most important to each of us.

Reference: Philippians 2:1-3 (New Living Testament)