Proactive Cooperation: "When YOU Is Not Enough"

By Randy Gilbert (c)2002

Some people call me a "do-it-yourselfer." I home-schooled my kids, designed and built my own home, wrote and published my own book, produced and hosted my own radio show, and so on. My "do-it-yourself" attitude comes from my strong desire to learn as much as I can. I love life and want to experience it to the fullest.

Yet I've learned the hard way, that if I want to achieve great success, I can't do everything myself. In fact, the more I learn about Proactive Success, the more I'm convinced that I shouldn't do anything without the support and cooperation of others.

The word sin means lack. Without sounding too religious, I admit that I am a sinner (I'm not perfect) and I'm much happier when I honestly accept my limitations and weaknesses. (Unhappiness comes to people who think they need to be perfect, because they tend to be ungrateful; but that's a topic for another day.)

We all need the help and support of others, if we are to do more than a mediocre job. We are supposed to be connected to each other. Our ability to achieve our goals and to be all that we can be suffers when we don't connect with others and the universe.

However, there is a right way of connecting that is very good and a wrong way that is very bad. The bad way causes dependency and irresponsibility. It deflates the ego and robs people of their creativity and ultimately their personality. You can see it in schools and dictatorial businesses.

The good way of connecting is a true "give and take," that makes everyone feel better and more empowered. It stems from the belief that everyone is his or her own person and has a purpose in life. Everyone has their own measure of talents, skills, and knowledge that makes them unique.

You have strengths where your friend has weaknesses and vice versa. By cooperating together you will accomplish far more than either of you could separately. Here are three tips to help you learn and practice proactive cooperation.

Connecting with people is about accepting them for who they are, faults and all. If they were perfect, you would be unnecessary. But, they aren't and neither are you. I've come to believe that 100 percent of being in a relationship is forgiveness.

My wife and I have had a wonderful relationship for over 27 years and it's because of our good relationship that we have been able to accomplish so much together. However, we both came from broken homes and experienced first-hand how cooperation disintegrated as the relationship dissolved.

Relationships in business are just as important. When trust disappears, you can be certain that profits will go with it. If the relationship cannot be restored, then take it as a flashing neon sign saying, "Get Out Now!"

The Law of "Sowing and Reaping" applies to cooperation. In this case, everyone who is cooperating together needs to first sow the attitude of giving.

For example, if you want to enjoy respect, then you need to give respect to others first. If you want to be trusted, then you need to trust first. If you want to be a leader, you must first give your loyalty.

You will always - yes, always - be able to give before you receive. There is no lack in the universe. It is not finite as some may suppose. For instance, you will never run out of smiles. There is no end to your creativity.

The two keywords to success on the internet today are "joint venture."

There is no need to view people in your field as competitors; they are all potential joint venture partners. Cooperating together is far more profitable for everyone. Proactive cooperation becomes a "win-win-win" for all involved, including your customers.

There is no shame in admitting you need the help and cooperation of others in order to fulfill your major purpose in life. In fact, it is the major purpose of others to help you fulfill your destiny and you are stealing from them if you deny them the opportunity.

Proactive cooperation is the right way of connecting together. You will always be a better person and create a better world around you by developing good relationships, giving before receiving, and welcoming even competitors as partners. Success and abundance is always the reward given to people connected together for the common good.

Randy Gilbert is the best-selling author of "Success Bound:Breaking Free of Mediocrity" http://www.Success-Bound.com Co-host of "The Inside Success Show" the fastest growing success talk show. http://www.TheInsideSucessShow.com Creator of "Proactive Success: The Amazing NEW Science Of Personal Achievement" http://DrProactive.com Get his free newsletter: ProactiveSucess@postmaster-email.com

Copyright 2002 Randy Gilbert. All rights reserved. Feel free to pass the above in its entirety to anyone you wish.

To read previous articles from Proactive Success Ezine, or to see a listing of recommended proactive books, audios, etc. go to:http://DrProactive.com