Community over competition! Sometimes, the most rewarding thing in business is watching another woman succeed, especially when you’ve walked beside her and seen what it took to get there.
It’s not about recognition. It’s about knowing that when she shines, we all move forward together.
Over the years, I’ve watched how generosity changes everything in business. It softens competition, strengthens connection, and builds communities that last.
And that’s what community over competition really means, understanding that success isn’t a limited resource. It’s something we grow together.
The myth of competition
There’s a quote I saw recently that struck a chord:
“Supporting someone doing the same thing as you won’t slow you down. If anything, it’ll push you both forward. Competition exists at the bottom. Collaboration thrives at the top.”
That quote captures something I’ve believed for years.
We’ve been taught that competition drives growth. That we need to be faster, louder, better than the person next to us. But running a small business isn’t a race. It’s hard enough without turning it into one.
When you work for yourself, it’s easy to feel like you need to keep up with everyone else, bigger clients, bigger teams, bigger results. But bigger isn’t better, and none of that has anything to do with your version of success.
The people around you aren’t competition. They’re part of your business community. Sometimes you’ll need a bit of help, and sometimes you’ll be the one offering it. That’s how it should work.
What happens when women support women
I’ve seen what happens when women back each other fully and without fear. When we stop comparing and start connecting, everything shifts.
I’ve been part of Business Women Albury Wodonga for years (actually from the very start), not just as a platinum sponsor through Starfish Marketing, but as someone who believes deeply in what happens when women create space to lift each other up (and create magic).
Every event, every conversation, every collaboration within that network reminds me why this work matters.
I’ve watched women who once questioned their worth stand up, share their stories, and take bold new steps in their businesses. I’ve seen partnerships form between supposed “competitors” that go on to create real, tangible success for everyone involved. I’ve seen businesses grow because someone took the time to make an introduction or offer advice.
That’s not coincidence. It’s what happens when generosity becomes part of the culture.
When we support each other, we all gain something, whether that’s confidence, opportunity, or simply a sense of not doing it alone. Together, we challenge the old narrative that says there’s only room for one at the top.
It’s what community over competition looks like. Women supporting women, creating real magic.
The ripple effect of generosity
Celebrating others doesn’t cost us a thing, but the return is incredible. It builds trust. It deepens relationships and builds communities. And it makes business feel better. .
Every time you spotlight another woman’s win, whether that’s sharing her post, referring her business, or cheering her on, you’re not just helping her. You’re helping create a ripple of confidence and courage that reaches far beyond that one moment.
That’s how visibility spreads and confidence grows, and how we change what success looks like for all of us.
When you lift someone else up, people notice. They see your integrity, your confidence, your belief in collaboration over competition. Those qualities draw others to you, the kind of clients, collaborators, and peers who want to work in the same way.
It’s the opposite of scarcity. It’s simply choosing generosity, and community over competition, as a way of working. It’s proof that when women support women, magic happens.
Collaboration in action
Collaboration has always been part of how I work. It’s never been about guarding knowledge or protecting turf. It’s about sharing what works, connecting people, and celebrating others’ wins as if they were your own.
That mindset has shaped everything I’ve built, from mentoring to partnering with organisations like Business Women Albury Wodonga. Because when you collaborate instead of compete, everyone benefits and we build better communities.
Choosing generosity
Supporting others is a choice. It requires intention. It means resisting the urge to measure your worth against someone else’s highlight reel. It means knowing that success isn’t limited and that your achievements don’t lose value just because someone else is doing well too.
If you’ve ever felt that twinge of comparison, you’re not alone. We all feel it from time to time. But try turning it into curiosity or appreciation instead. Ask how they did it. Share their work. Congratulate them.
The moment you turn that feeling into admiration, curiosity, appreciation, support, or collaboration, everything changes.
When you choose generosity, you open doors. And those doors rarely swing only one way.
Shining the light forward
I think we all know someone who deserves a bit more recognition than they get. Someone who works hard, helps others, and rarely puts themselves in the spotlight.
When you take a moment to acknowledge them, even just a simple “you’re doing great work”, it matters. It builds confidence. It reminds them that what they’re doing makes a difference.
That’s how this whole community thing works. One person at a time. One moment at a time.
Because when women support women, magic really does happen. And it keeps happening every time we show up for each other.
