Navigating Successful Collaborations with Vivienne Joy | EP269

Hello , lovely Donna , we are going to be talking about collaboration today , which is a really good look here . We are living , breathing the actual thing right here , because here is me and Viv collaborating on this podcast episode . So collaborations are something that I think is so important in business .

I think they can really help you to grow as a business owner , to grow as a person and just to elevate things that you do . I think it's a really , really fantastic part of business and it's one of the things that I love about being a business owner .

But I do think that sometimes we go into collaborations with certain expectations and thoughts and feelings and we can get ourselves in a muddle and sometimes collaborations don't work out . So , viv , what can we do to make sure that our mindsets are in the right place when we are looking to collaborate and talk to us about collaborations ?

So , even on the surface , if it feels like it should be something you want to do , there's even a tiny little niggle . If it feels like it should be something you want to do , there's even a tiny little niggle . If , in doubt , leave it out . Honestly , I cannot stress this enough . This is not just with collaboration . This isn't hiring people .

This is speaking at events , you know , which are all kind of collaboration , because you're collaborating at different levels . The gut feel is the most powerful thing , especially for women , but men as well . We need to make sure we're listening to that , because it's not there for no reason at all . Check it's not fear , because it could be .

You know , someone's asked you to speak at a big event . It could be that you're just terrified of speaking publicly . We're going back to the episode on visibility here . But if it isn't fear . You'll know if it's fear because it will be really loud in the forget . What if you trip over ? What if you took your dress into your pants , I don't know , whatever .

So it'll be really loud , whereas that kind of um gut feel , the intuition , is quite oh yeah , but are you sure it's really quiet ? Unfortunately it's much more quiet than the screaming head . So that gut feel really really important . The brain , the gut has a brain , so they call it m-braining . So all parts of you have a brain .

So we need to make sure we do that . So once we've checked in without that is , without doubt , the key thing once we've checked in with that , we need to make sure some of the other things . So it's not just about our right mindset as the value set that goes with both parties in a collaboration .

I've watched and I've watched some of my clients do this agreed to collaborate with somebody and I thought what on earth are you doing that for ? It's brilliant for them , but what's in it for you ? You're going to take all your clients over there , they're going to make a load of money , but actually they're not right for your reputation .

So this is about a value set . So , for example , if you're someone who delivers at all times , don't collaborate with somebody who's a bit sketchy , kind of turns up , kind of is kind of refunds , kind of answers questions , because all it does is diminish your level of authority and give them great level of authority .

So people think , ah , if they're collaborating with her , they must be really , really reliable . When they're not , they're like unreliable . Um , if you're somebody who um a massive audience , someone wants to collaborate with you . Because they haven't , it's really clear why .

So we need to understand what the value is , what the value set of them is , what your value set of you is , what the value is in for you and what the value is in for them , what's in it for them , what's in it for me . Also , then we have skills , like , are they going to bring the level of skills that are needed for this collaboration ?

So I've watched . Years ago I watched a couple of my clients collaborate , a lot of my clients collaborate because they make really good business buddies . Um , I'll always say the same . I think I've got a module on this in my academy . Actually , um , collaboration ability , in fact , I definitely have .

If you want it , just let me know and I'll send it to you for free , but they , um , they had different skill sets . So one was really calm and soothing , very hypnotherapy and retreats , and one was sales , marketing links . Admin and I said I remember saying to them both so are you going to do what you're both really good at ?

Are you going to fill the event and are you going to host it ? Oh no , we're both going to fill it . We're both going to host it . Oh no , we're both going to fill it , we're both going to host it .

And I just remember looking at them both on the zoom , thinking this is going to be a shit show because that's not what's going to happen , because the one who doesn't like tech is not doing tech and the one that doesn't like to deliver in the event is not going to deliver in the event .

So make sure that the skill set for whatever you're collaborating on sits with whoever is collaborating . Otherwise you will feel resentment . You'll feel resentment because you're doing all the work and they're not doing any work , or they're getting all the whatever and you're not . Also , think about payment . I mean , this is a massive subject , donna .

Think about payment for it , assuming it's a collaboration that's being paid . Are they paying you ? Are you paying them ? Are you creating a joint venture where somebody pays into that ?

Because if and I've had this one , because if you're taking the payment for something and you're not at the VAT level , as soon as you start taking payment for the joint collaboration , your income is going to go up above that level . You haven't charged any VAT and that person gets half of it .

Say , you've got a 50-50 share , you're actually out of pocket by 20% and I've been there and done that . So please know this is very close to my heart . Even if you're holding events and you've got people there , please learn from me .

Contracts are absolutely essential because while we're in the negotiations , it's all beautiful , it's all motivated , it's exciting , but just think about your own business safety , and most people don't . They really don't Think about what happens if someone buys something from somebody you're collaborating from . I've had this happen and then they didn't deliver it .

It comes down on you . I collaborated with a woman who seemed and she'd done some work for me and it'd been fine , because she was quite clever and she seemed on the surface , to be really , really good at what she did .

And we did a collaboration and loads of people bought her high ticket thing and she took the money , did the first session and never delivered the rest of it . So I had a load of people check I know , right , I can see your face on it .

I had a load of people chasing me saying , well , she hasn't delivered , I'm like well , that your contract's with her , not me . Did that tarnish my reputation ? Absolutely , it really did , and there was nothing I could do about it . But she wasn't answering me either , I hasten to add , because because she knew she was gonna have to give back like 50 grand .

So you know it wasn't a small amount of money either . So just really be careful . You know , collaborations , they don't work that often . Business partnerships don't work that often because they're exactly the same . They are a collaboration . So really think about the trust levels you've got with this person . Contracts , contracts , the audience .

Make sure they're the right audience for you , you're the right audience for them . Make sure that all lines up , the skill sets are there for the collaboration and also the value sets , the value sets for both and what's in it for both of you . And the gut feel is always right . It's my final word .

You know this is a free exchange . Nobody's being paid for anything , because I don't get paid for my podcast , so it's like there's no money exchange .

But what we're doing here is we're collaborating in the fact that I'm bringing somebody I know will be of value to my audience , to my audience , and Viv shares it when I post it , so I get access to her audience .

So it's a little bit of an audience builder for both of us and sharing of the knowledge and to you know , I know that Viv is very , very open at sharing and she wants people to succeed . So it's a beautiful way to collaborate . But those monetary ones the ones where you really do need a contract that was such valuable information to pass , pass on .

So thank you for that , viv .

Yeah , I'm not saying piss them off , but actually you don't have to collaborate to build your business . If it feels right , it's right .