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Today we’re diving into something that honestly has the power to totally change how you get things done, how you grow, and how you actually feel about the process.

Collaboration.

I know, I know – sometimes that word sounds like “group project” energy from high school. Insert trauma flashbacks of doing all of the damn work and having to people here. But I promise this isn’t about letting the overachiever do all the work while someone else barely shows up and still gets an A.

This is about how working with someone, in a way that feels good and aligned with who you are, can completely transform your goals, your mindset, and your capacity to follow through.

Whether it’s a shared goal or just sharing your goal with someone else, collaboration can be that one key thing that flips the switch between “stuck in the vicious circle” and “making real, freaking progress.”

Let me give you a peak into my own chaos corner.

I have this one friend – my seeker sister – and we are full-on goal partners.

Not just “hey, how are your goals going” text buddies, though we do a fair share of that too. No, we intentionally get together twice a year for big ol’ goal-setting sessions. And then, once a month, we sit down, catch up, and talk through it all – what’s going great, what’s meh, and what’s making us want to hide under a blanket fort and scream into the void.

It’s honest. It’s vulnerable. And it’s so freaking helpful.

We each get a chance to say, “Hey, here’s where I’m killing it.” And also, “Here’s where I am absolutely flailing like a Muppet with no direction.” And then we help each other get our brains back on track.

It’s not therapy. It’s not coaching. It’s just two people with shared values and a whole lot of honesty, holding space for each other.

And let me tell you – that is what makes it work.

I also find this kind of collaborative magic during our Monday coworking sessions. It’s not like we’re all working on the same project. Hell no. I might be writing podcast episodes, someone else might be budgeting or crocheting or organizing their digital files like a badass. But we’re together. We show up. And that shared energy? It’s potent. It helps keep me on task – at least more than when I’m on my own spiraling into yet another Doctor Who rewatch or reorganizing my pen drawer for the sixth time that week.

Here’s the deal:

Collaboration doesn’t mean giving up control. It means building support. Building belonging. Building a soft place to land when your brain wants to bail.

Let’s break this down.

Why the hell does collaboration matter so much?

Because we are human. And humans, believe it or not, are social creatures. Even the introverts like us.

There’s something deeply powerful about feeling like you belong. About knowing there’s someone who sees what you’re working toward and is rooting for you – not because it benefits them, but because they believe in you.

Collaboration brings accountability.

When you tell someone what you’re working on, there’s a tiny magical force field that activates. Now you’re not just accountable to yourself, floating in your own mental spaghetti – now you’ve got someone gently checking in, holding space, reminding you that you do care about this thing. And when your own motivation ghosts you, their encouragement can bring it back.

And then there’s the support.

Even if your collaborator doesn’t totally get the ins and outs of what you’re working on – maybe they have no idea what it means to “build a Notion dashboard” or “write a chapter of a nerdy time-traveling romance novel” – they can still listen. They can still cheer you on. They can still say, “Hey, that sounds hard. You’re doing great.”

And that, my friend? That is pure gold.

Because it gives you something so many of us are craving: a sense of belonging.

Someone in your corner. Someone who knows your goals and celebrates your wins and holds your hand through the hard shit. And when you feel seen like that? You start to believe in yourself more, too.

But you know what makes that all possible? You’ve got to know your own goals. And your values.

Seriously. If you’re not sure what you’re working toward or what actually matters to you, it’s hard to find the right people to collaborate with. You might end up sharing your dreams with someone who side-eyes them and makes you second-guess everything. And no one needs that energy.

Start by getting clear on what you actually care about.

Not what Instagram says you should care about. Not what your boss or your mom or your former mentor said you “should” be working on.

What are your goals? What are your values?

What lights your brain up? What makes you excited to get out of bed – even if it’s with messy hair and yesterday’s leggings?

When you have that clarity, take a look around at your current circles.

Ask yourself:

• Do I feel good sharing my goals with this group?
• Do I feel seen?
• Do we align in how we see the world, even if we’re on different paths?

If the answer is a hesitant “meh,” it might be time to widen your circle.

Which brings us to this next big piece: finding like-minded people.

And listen, I know how hard that can feel – especially if you’re a massive introvert or you’ve been burned by community before or you’re terrified of finding a closet MAGA fascist that will use your goals and your values against you. (raises hand in solidarity)

But finding your people doesn’t have to mean going to networking events in stiff clothes, pretending you know what small talk is, and masking your values and identity so you’re not shamed or harmed.

Try dipping your toes into:

• Online communities (I see you, Reddit lurkers)
• Discord servers based on your favorite hobbies or professional goals
• Bookstore meetups, local library events, or cozy little groups hosted by cafes

Start small. You don’t have to show up full-volume and reveal your life story. You just have to start the conversation. Ask a question. Reply to a post. Say, “Hey, me too.”

Be open to folks who don’t look or think exactly like you – diverse perspectives bring growth and depth to our journeys.

But also…stay anchored in your values.

You’re allowed to say “no thanks” to communities that feel off. You’re allowed to step back from energy that drains you. And you’re absolutely allowed to seek out people who leave you feeling more you after every conversation.

Once you find those people? Nurture the hell out of those relationships.

Support their dreams. Listen to their rants. Celebrate their wins like they’re yours. Because this isn’t just about you – it’s about mutual encouragement and growth.

So, what’s the big takeaway here?

You don’t have to do this alone.

Whatever “this” is for you – starting a side business, managing your ADHD, writing a book, decluttering your house, surviving the back-to-school chaos – there is someone out there who gets it, who wants to cheer you on, and who’s probably just as weird and wonderful and tired and passionate as you are.

Start simple.

Reach out to someone you vibe with. Share one goal. Ask how they’re doing. Offer to hold space for each other. Maybe it’s a recurring coffee date. Maybe it’s a once-a-month Zoom check-in. Maybe it’s a weekly coworking session.

Start the collaboration. Build the belonging. Watch your goals come to life.

And if you need a place to find that kind of community? You know where to find me.

Join us for coworking on Mondays. Hop into my inbox. Come be part of a space that’s made for folks just like us – messy, passionate, curious, and trying like hell to get our shit together without burning out or giving up.

We can do this – together.

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Read all of my blog posts about organizing.