To Uncompete isn’t keeping score, it’s paying it forward.

I know I’m not alone in feeling absolutely devastated. Like most, I don’t know how to process, deal, make sense, feel like I can help. Again, not unique in this, I know. 

And––as I have to keep one foot in front of the other–not least, to be fully present as I can for the rambunctious 8-year-old human in my life–I’ve been holding on to the words “I’m not alone” to find a way.

None of what we do is possible without the contributions of many people we’ll never meet. We know this instinctively…and yet. (And so much more “and yet,” thinking of the individualism rampant in our societies.) 

I’m speechless when I deeply reflect on how interlinked we truly are. From the coffee in my cup to the people who care for my child at school or camp, I’m reminded daily that no one does anything alone.

This truth is a fundamental principle behind my book Uncompete and the third annual #AmplifyJuly campaign.

Uncompeting in Action

I wrote about how #AmplifyJuly helps me joyfully reject competition on LinkedIn, and today I want to share with you how I think about “returning” meaningful support we receive—especially when it comes from “big names” whose audience, reach and influence far surpass our own.

I know I’ve been lucky to have incredible support from many leaders and their communities over the years. When I think about all the people—many I know personally, plenty I do not!—who’ve amplified my work, I feel awed and so, so grateful. 

Some of that support comes from well-known names, like Brené Brown and Amy Edmondson (!). But it’s equally meaningful when people who don’t spend much time online take action—like those who were moved to write their first online review for my book (thank you). 🙏 

All these acts of support light me up, and they help me keep my head high when the going gets tough (as it is for many of us right now). I want to do what I can to share that experience with others. And so #AmplifyJuly is one way I hope to pay forward the generosity I’ve received. 

I think of it like this: Brené and Amy don’t need me to amplify them, and there’s not much I can do to directly return their support anyway. And that’s OK—uncompeting isn’t keeping a tally of who’s-done-what, it’s doing what you can from where you are.  

That might be a heartfelt thanks, a leg-up at work, or using your platform to boost other people.

I’m so lucky to have multiple circles of amazing women who amplify and support each other. I got to realize a bucket list dream with these humans–more details in a future newsletter! :)

Radical Generosity and Solidarity

No one does anything alone. But here in the United States (and from what I can tell, much of the western world) it can seem like people do. There’s a strong cultural emphasis on individuality, which obscures the fact that we’re connected in countless ways. Social media seems to turbocharge this harmful idea.

By amplifying others—in the many big and small ways available to us—we show another, truer side to our stories. We practice radical generosity and solidarity, which are two key ways to reject competition that I outline in Uncompete. 

In doing so we help each other and we help ourselves, and everyone wins.

And I’ll say one final thing that makes my heart sing about #AmplifyJuly: We haven’t received a single piece of negative feedback, and not many Internet initiatives can say the same! To me, this underscores the fact we’re wired to uncompete.

Uncompeting feels good.

In solidarity,

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