<p>I have long believed that working together with others has an amazing effect on growth.&nbsp; My experiences this week have reaffirmed it.&nbsp; </p> <p><a href="http://tinyurl.com/lc6b88" target="_blank"><img style="border-width:0;" height="244" alt="j0433027[1]" src="http://new.corepurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/j04330271.jpg" width="244" align="right" border="0"></a>The <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collaboration" target="_blank">Merriam-Webster</a> dictionary defines "collaborate" like this:</p> <ol> <li><strong>:</strong> to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor  <li><strong>:</strong> to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an occupying force&nbsp; <em>(OK this one probably does not apply to our discussion here.)</em>  <li><strong>:</strong> to cooperate with an agency or instrumentality with which one is not immediately connected</li></ol> <p>To me the definition is simpler.</p> <blockquote> <p>Collaboration is people helping people to reach new heights.</p></blockquote> <p>Six months ago, I started actively using Twitter, and as my understanding of the power of this collaborative tool grew, I used it more.&nbsp; Today I have <a href="http://jkw.typepad.com/corepurpose_joan_koerberw/my-profiles-on-twitter.html" target="_blank">five different profiles</a> in Twitter, each one for a specific collaborative purpose.</p> <p>Through Twitter I developed online friendships with Marty Zwilling <a href="http://twitter.com/startuppro" target="_blank">(@StartUpPro)</a> and Zane Safrit <a href="http://twitter.com/zanesafrit" target="_blank">(@ZaneSafrit)</a>.&nbsp; This gave me an opportunity to collaborate with them in sharing ideas on entrepreneurship and growth, two of my personal passions.&nbsp;&nbsp; Each offered the opportunity to work with them in different ways and as it turned out they both wanted to do so on Wednesday June 10th.</p> <p>Marty offered the opportunity to work with him on his popular <a href="http://new.corepurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/image.png"><img style="border-width:0;margin:5px;" height="145" alt="image" src="http://new.corepurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/image_thumb.png" width="121" align="left" border="0"></a>blog - <a href="http://blog.startupprofessionals.com/" target="_blank">Startup Professionals Musings</a> as a guest author.&nbsp; The goal was to add a little of the woman's perspective on entrepreneurship and to have a little fun.&nbsp; Together we published <a href="http://blog.startupprofessionals.com/2009/06/running-race-in-high-heels.html" target="_blank">"Women Entrepreneurs - Running the Race in High Heels"</a>.&nbsp; Since all entrepreneurs are different and all women are definitely not the same, I added a little extra collaborative energy and asked two friends (<a href="http://www.stealthmode.com" target="_blank">Francine Hardaway</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/hardaway" target="_blank">(@hardaway)</a> and <a href="http://www.amilya.com/" target="_blank">Amilya Antonetti</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/amilya" target="_blank">(@Amilya</a>) if I could use them as as examples in the post. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Zane has a popular show on Blog Talk <a href="http://new.corepurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/image1.png"><img style="border-width:0;margin:5px;" height="132" alt="image" src="http://new.corepurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/image_thumb1.png" width="126" align="left" border="0"></a>Radio.&nbsp; As we got to know each other, we thought it would be fun to do a broadcast together.&nbsp; We put our heads together to see what the audience might enjoy and scheduled the show for Wednesday June 10th.&nbsp; This link will take you to the 1 hour <a href="http://ow.ly/dqCD" target="_blank">replay of the show</a>.&nbsp; We had a blast exploring ideas about entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and strategies for building solutions.&nbsp; And we're planning to do it again in the future.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So does collaboration bring results?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The more I collaborate, the more people I can connect with, converse with, and hopefully engage with so that together we can reach new heights.&nbsp; It seems to be working all around.&nbsp; Each of my Twitter profiles has different audiences and different messages - but they are all growing and making their way up <a href="http://twitterholic.com/top100/followers/bylocation/Phoenix%2C+AZ/" target="_blank">the lists</a>.&nbsp; (At least in my little corner of the world.) </p> <p>There are so many opportunities to collaborate happening all around us.&nbsp; I am lucky enough to get to touch a wide variety of them.</p> <blockquote> <p>Working with an incredible network of talented executives at <a href="http://www.corepurpose.com" target="_blank">CorePurpose</a>. </p> <p>Working with <a href="http://www.ribomed.com" target="_blank">RiboMed Biotechnologies</a> to help <a href="http://jkw.typepad.com/corepurpose_joan_koerberw/2009/02/honoring-a-great-president.html" target="_blank">Dr. Hanna</a> and the team develop the resources they will you to launch new diagnostic technologies and products for early cancer detection. </p> <p>Working with inspiring entrepreneurs like Francine Hardaway and the team at <a href="http://www.otef.org" target="_blank">OTEF</a> to produce the <a href="http://www.azentrepreneurship.com" target="_blank">4th Annual Arizona Entrepreneurship</a> Conference on November 12, 2009 in Phoenix. (We need sponsors -if your market is entrepreneurs - give me a shout!&nbsp; All of the proceeds help at risk populations develop their own business ideas.) </p> <p>Engaging in new discussions every day with companies that are launching innovative new products and services.&nbsp; (Those are still secrets but they are really cool deals and you will hear more about them soon. ) </p> <p>Watching my friends <a href="http://twitter.com/lonsafko" target="_blank">@LonSafko,</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/stevengroves" target="_blank">@StevenGroves</a>, and <a href="http://twitter.com/AmandaVega" target="_blank">@AmandaVega</a> work together as <a href="http://www.thesocialmediabible.com/" target="_blank">The Social Media Bible</a> is gaining popularity nationwide. </p> <p>And learning the ins and outs from my friends at <a href="http://www.metro-studios.com" target="_blank">Metro Studios</a> on&nbsp; how to navigate, promote and collaborate in the new online marketing world.&nbsp; It's always productive when I collaborate with Clay <a href="http://twitter.com/csmetro" target="_blank">(@CSMetro</a>), Lisa <a href="http://twitter.com/lisajmetro" target="_blank">(@LisaJMetro</a>) and all the <a href="http://twitter.com/MetroStudios/" target="_blank">@MetroStudios</a> folks.&nbsp; (They've been my partner for years!) </p></blockquote> <p>I'm looking for that next great opportunity to help a company grow.&nbsp; I know it's out there.&nbsp; That is why I keep collaboration as a key strategy on the top of my to-do list every day.&nbsp; Put COLLABORATION on the top of YOUR to-do list and watch the magic happen.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by...Stay tuned.</p> <blockquote> <p>-Joan Koerber-Walker</p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:3e1ead42-18ae-45d0-ba2d-794bf5513f34" style="display:inline;margin:0;padding:0;">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Joan%20Koerber-Walker" rel="tag">Joan Koerber-Walker</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CorePurpose" rel="tag">CorePurpose</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Collaboration" rel="tag">Collaboration</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Business%20Tips" rel="tag">Business Tips</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/innovation" rel="tag">innovation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/leadership" rel="tag">leadership</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/growth" rel="tag">growth</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/twitter" rel="tag">twitter</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/social%20media" rel="tag">social media</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Francine%20Hardaway" rel="tag">Francine Hardaway</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amilya%20Antonetti" rel="tag">Amilya Antonetti</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Zane%20Safrit" rel="tag">Zane Safrit</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Marty%20Zwilling" rel="tag">Marty Zwilling</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/RiboMed" rel="tag">RiboMed</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/OTEF" rel="tag">OTEF</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/AZ%20Entrepreneruship%20Conference" rel="tag">AZ Entrepreneruship Conference</a></div></blockquote>