Partnerships

Inspiration shot October 2020

“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
~African proverb.

You maybe know me to be a loner, so this topic may surprise you. Collaborations and partnerships – if chosen properly – can offer enormous added value. Preferably to ALL parties involved. The best partnerships are win-win-win situations. How do you recognize such opportunities and how do you create such a collaboration?

Unfortunately, too many people approach a potential partnership by asking for a favor, instead of valuing their own contribution. “You’re probably not interested in …?” has never convinced anyone… However, if you can describe a win-win-win situation, where there is value for the person or organization that you would like to form a partnership with, value for you (you can be open and honest about that), and value for both your audiences or customers, then it is almost impossible to say ‘no’.

 MyBestseller

A good example is my new collaboration with the self-publishing platforms mijnbestseller.nl and bravenewbooks.nl. They offer an audience of new authors the opportunity to self-publish and print their book. So far they have focused on the publication rather than on the writing process. I have the content and tips on the writing process, but I don’t have direct access to a wide audience of authors. Writers, the third party, want as much guidance as possible to create a good book without having to re-invent the wheel. Better books and more book sales are desirable for all parties. The perfect win-win-win situation!
My new Dutch book will be offered to all authors on the Dutch platforms and ‘This is how you write a book!’ will be available to their international partner-platforms end of the year. Good for the writers, because that way they have guidance in writing. Good for the platform, because the result is more and better books and good for me because more authors will be buying and reading my book. Hopefully, some of them will also join a writing retreat or register for my new online program.

Mijnbestseller.nl offered me to work with one of their designers and printed the first sample of my Dutch book, which I unpack here.

 Writing retreat Mallorca?

Are you disappointed with trips and events getting canceled? Good news: my writing retreat from October 17-24th will take place, no matter what. Preferably in Mallorca, as originally planned, but if necessary we will divert last-minute to Puglia, Italy. I really hope I can help the locals in Mallorca by holding the event there. And of course, we’ll do this as safely as possible. Instead of eating in restaurants, we’ll have meals cooked for us at home. Instead of shared rooms, each participant will have their own room in the spacious villa. We’ll do workshops outside in the lovely sunny garden. Furthermore, everyone can find their own writing place and we’ll simply do 1-on-1 guidance with a face mask. So: have you always wanted to write your book? Are you a last-minute decision-maker? Has your holiday been canceled and do you still want to travel in a fun and safe way? This is your chance! The special last-minute deal is a win-win-win situation for you, for the island, and for me! 🙂

 My Octopus teacher

You’ve probably already seen it or heard about this new Netflix documentary. It is about a very unusual partnership, almost a love story, between a nature filmmaker and an octopus.
Everyone has a story, sometimes unlikely, sometimes very recognizable. It depends on how you tell it; you can really touch people with it. This ‘feel-good movie’ is a wonderful example; it takes you into another world.

And after you’ve watched ‘My Octopus teacher’, you should definitely check out this short, super funny ‘sequel’… ????????