The Joy of Working Together

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller

It’s easy to romanticize the lone genius, to imagine breakthroughs happening in dimly lit rooms with nothing but a whiteboard, caffeine, and raw brilliance. But let’s be honest, most of us do our best thinking when someone else is in the room... asking, “Wait, are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Whether you're thinking something through with a colleague, building something with a team, or just trying to stay sane through a hectic week, there's something undeniably wonderful about working with others.

I’ve spent all my career working as part of a team – however, the last year I’ve been doing much alone, which has been good, but I’m delighted to say things are broadening out for me and a great team is on the horizon.

I’ve always believed that no matter how smart you are, you only see the world through one lens—yours. Working with others brings in fresh perspectives, different experiences, and questions you hadn’t thought to ask. Ask anyone and they would’ve heard me say a hundred times, I don’t have the monopoly on wisdom.

The wisdom I do have is that I’ve been smart enough to surround myself with people that are brighter than me, that bring what I don’t have. I would always advise that if you want to grow, work with people who are smarter than you, better than you at certain things, or just brave enough to say, “Hey, that’s not quite right.” Collaboration is one of the fastest (and most humbling) ways to learn. That has pretty much served me well, with one or two exceptions.

I’ve also learnt that when things go wrong (and let’s face it—they often do), having people in your corner is priceless. Good teammates help carry the load, offer perspective, and bring snacks. Great ones also remind you that perfection is a myth and that done is often better than perfect.

And when things go right? You don’t have to do a sad little solo fist pump, you get to celebrate with the people who helped make it happen. Bonus: someone might even bring cake.

Sure, solo work has its place. But if you want to build something truly meaningful, overcome challenges, and enjoy the process, find your people and get to work. Because in the end, it’s not just about what we do—it’s about who we do it with.