The Beekman 1802 Boys have launched their exciting new bag: a collaboration with The International Collaboration Project that uses the image Pastorale-Summer from our mini series– The Four Seasons. This new bag – a beautiful retail bonus when customers make a purchase– is now available at their Sharon Springs, NY store.

One of the reasons why working with the Beekman 1802 Boys is a wonderful experience comes from the idea of a double collaboration.– two teams working together. In creating a collaborative effort that is near perfect, many important qualities, both personal and professional, must sync up with everyone working together. Collaborations have been key for success in business and art so many times over, and as a team woven into the collaborative fabric, we know there are certain efforts that must be considered before it can be ultimately effective. When Deb and I started The International Collaboration Project 4 years ago, many were baffled at our process of creating images in real time...over 8,800 miles apart from each other. With the Beekman Boys having launched their amazing new bag, Deb and I wanted to demystify what makes a successful collaboration by leaning in on secrets that will help you have a more fruitful collaborative experience. The concepts here are not about the technology we used, but about the personal approach we developed in collaborating.

First is the activity of comfortability and confidence in yourself and the people you will be collaborating with. Holding onto judgement, keeping yourself from speaking up about preferences or opinions, not adjusting, per se– these (and much more) can lead to an uncomfortable working relationship, thus, a collaboration lacking chemistry. There must be the right mixture of comfort and kindness to allow the collaboration to unfold in healthily. Each person in the collaboration must let go of biases, accept new ideas, make shifts, and understand that collaborating is a process. Listen to others, listen to yourself and stay open-minded.

You must feel confident that you can rely on your collaborative partners point of view and when a difference of opinion arises, be able to openly, yet kindly, listen to what your collaborator thinks. Collaborating is a team effort, after all.

Coming: Part 2 – Clarity of Purpose + The Ability to Listen