There are some things in life that are simply better together. When two ideas, objects or living beings complement one another, the benefits of having them together are exponentially better than those of having each one separately. Here are a few examples of things that are better together, for different reasons:
- Salt and pepper. When cooking, the flavors of salt and pepper work together to create a savory flavor. Adding only salt or only pepper to a dish often does not work well.
- Bees and flowers. Without bees, flowers would not be able to reproduce. Without flowers, bees would be unable to make honey. They need each other in order to continue the cycle of life that they have created together.
- Locks and keys. What good is a lock without a key, or a key without a lock?
- Clownfish and anemones. If you’ve watched Finding Nemo, then you know clownfish live among the sea anemones and are immune to the anemones’ sting. What you might not know is that in return, the clownfish chases away fish, such as the butterfly fish, that might otherwise eat the sea anemone, and that the clownfish also fertilize the anemone.
- Rhinoceros and tickbird. The rhino provides the bird with a place to live and food, and the bird eats insect larva before it can embed in the rhino’s touch skin, and also warns the large mammal of predators by chirping.
In the business world, your entrepreneurial venture might work better together with a complementary small business. Here are a few examples of how this could work:
- If you can write HTML, SQL and other types of computer scripts, then a graphic designer or web content writer might be a good partner. Together, you would be able to provide clients with complete websites.
- If you offer an alternative health service, such as chiropractic or acupuncture, teaming up with another holistic practitioner can provide your patients with more comprehensive care, while allowing each of you to consult with the other.
- An event planner could work well with a photographer, caterer or other service-provider in the same industry. Your customers will be thrilled to only have to make one call in order to book all of the professionals that they need for their special events.
As the
commonfig philosophy is one based on
the relationship of the fig tree to that of the wasp: none of us lives in a vacuum, and our businesses should not function as though they do, either. Take some time to think about the type of small business that might be complementary to your own company, and look for someone with whom you would work better together than you do on your own.
Collaborate on projects and with some of your clients’ work, and watch both of your businesses grow!
Have you found someone with whom you work better together? Tell us about it!
