read time: 4 minutes
 

In 2011, with the U.S. Olympic marathon trials fast approaching, Kara Goucher faced a dilemma.

She needed a coach to help her secure a spot on the Olympic team, but the best coach in the business, Jerry Schumacher, was already training Shalane Flanagan, one of her fiercest competitors.

Goucher could have walked away, but instead, she did something unexpected.

She approached Flanagan, asking for her blessing to join the team.

Instead of seeing Goucher as a threat, Flanagan welcomed her, saying, 'Let’s make each other better."

[image cred: tarheelblog.com]

This decision not only helped both athletes secure their spots on the Olympic team, but it also sparked the "Shalane Effect," where Flanagan’s collaborative spirit lifted everyone around her.

And as you could guess, this story isn’t just about running -- it’s about how embracing your rivals can lead to mutual growth and extraordinary success.

In today’s newsletter, we’ll explore three key lessons from this story that you can apply in your professional life.

Let’s dig in.
 

Collaboration Over Competition

"Let's make each other better."

When you start viewing your competition as a catalyst for your own growth, everything changes.

Goucher and Flanagan didn’t just maintain their competitive edge, they got better because they learned from each other. Flanagan helped Goucher build mental toughness, while Goucher’s strength in finishing fast pushed Flanagan to refine her race strategy. 

Even in Business:

Ford and Toyota are fierce competitors in the automotive industry, but they collaborated on the development of hybrid truck technology in the early 2010s.

Recognizing that they could benefit from shared research and reduce development costs, the two companies worked together on advancing fuel-efficient technologies while maintaining their competitive positions in the market. This collaboration allowed both automakers to improve their hybrid offerings, strengthen their leadership in the industry, and advance the automotive community as a whole.

 
(Image credit: REUTERS/Rebecca Cook)

Takeaway:

Can you embrace a mindset of viewing your competitors as partners in growth? By understanding and leveraging their strengths, you can differentiate your own approach, making your unique value stand out even more.

“Competition is not only the basis of protection to the consumer, but is the incentive to progress.” - Herbert Hoover. 

Expanding Your Network

"Grow your circle without shrinking your value."

Expanding your network to include competitors doesn’t dilute your value, in fact, it amplifies it.

“Blue Ocean Strategy” by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne highlights how creating a market space free of competition (a “blue ocean”) is often achieved not by isolating oneself, but by thinking differently about how to engage with competitors and innovate in ways that set you apart.

By connecting with others in your field, like Goucher and Flanagan did, you gain access to new perspectives, resources, and opportunities. This openness doesn’t just build goodwill, it positions you as a leader who understands that there’s more than enough success to go around.

Some of the most successful business leaders I know network regularly and build deep relationships with what anyone would consider their competitors. 

I love networking with other marketing leaders and consultants and have frequently passed leads on when it made sense.

Takeaway:

Don’t shy away from networking with your competitors. Instead, use these connections to broaden your influence and uncover opportunities for collaboration that benefit everyone.

Lift Each Other Up

"Instead of tear each other down."

When Goucher and Flanagan decided to lift each other up, they created a dynamic that benefited them both. In business, this approach can be equally powerful.

By refusing to view your competition as "the enemy," you create a culture of shared success that can elevate an entire industry.

This doesn’t mean you should hand over your trade secrets, but rather, find ways to support each other’s growth. This could be through sharing resources, offering helpful feedback, or even collaborating on projects that benefit both parties.

Even in Business:

Apple and Microsoft have long been seen as rivals. However, did you know in the late 1990s, Microsoft invested $150 million in Apple when it was struggling financially. It allowed Apple to stabilize and innovate, eventually leading to the success of new products. Microsoft also continued to develop software like Microsoft Office for Mac (I use this on my Mac!), which benefited both companies.

Takeaway:

Success is not a zero-sum game. By lifting each other up, you not only contribute to your competitors’ growth but also pave the way for your own. In the long run, this approach builds a stronger, more resilient industry where everyone benefits.

“The Go-Giver” by Bob Burg and John David Mann explores the power of giving in business and how creating value for others, even competitors, can lead to unexpected returns. 

My Conclusion

You don't have to keep seeing your competition in black and white just because you've grown up in that way of business thinking.

You have the choice to see your competition as a collaborator in your purposeful business growth.

Up for the challenge?

What's one thing you could do this week to embrace your rival?

You might just be surprised how one small action can create a ripple effect. 

See you next week!
 

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