Breaking the Work-Life Barrier: Collaboration Unlocks New Possibilities

Many hold the belief I once did: that work is work, and life is life. For a very long time, I kept my “work me” persona in one corner of my life, separate from the more authentic version of myself that existed outside those office walls.

But something’s changing for me as I re-enter the collaborative coworking space. And honestly? It’s exhilarating.

From Corporate VP to Solopreneur: My Journey to Wholeness

For context: Four years ago, I resigned from my role as a VP at a Bay Area company to start my own business. I locked away the “business me” for a while, taking the time to learn who I was beyond my title (for the full story, read "Extremes to Equilibrium").

After taking a long hiatus from the corporate world, I now find myself easing back into team dynamics and leadership perspectives as this new (and far more balanced) version of myself.

During this period of deep self-discovery, I fell in love with nature, balance, and most importantly, myself. When I eventually allowed the “business me” to resurface, it felt incredible to merge these two previously separate sides of myself—each side learning to respect and enhance the other.

This newfound wholeness was profound. But even then, I was still predominantly a solopreneur, managing my clients, occasionally collaborating but primarily flowing at my own pace, dictated by my own energy.

Kismet: The Unexpected Power of Collaboration

Fast forward to today, as A Project Called Life has grown, I now work with a core team of around 10 contributors. And here’s the sweet aha that revealed itself recently: When I worked alone, I can only dream as far as I can dream. My excitement can only build as much as I can generate internally. But with others? Creativity compounds creativity, and the energy we create together is nothing short of extraordinary.

When two or more minds come together, we tap into an endless source of creativity and possibility. We riff, build, and elevate each other’s ideas in ways I could never have imagined working solo. It’s intoxicating. This collective energy has made me realize that work and life don’t have to exist in separate containers—they can beautifully collide and co-create.

Reframing Work: A Container for Limitless Innovation

Here’s the reframe I offer you today: what if work and life weren’t opposing forces? What if your work environment was a collaborative container for possibility and explosive creativity? Without this container, it’s just us, thinking and creating with ourselves—which can be magical in its own right—but nothing in comparison to the power of co-creation.

Work doesn’t have to be a place of stress or obligation. It can be a space where we get to come together, innovate, and dream bigger than we ever could alone.

Emotions Drive Reality: Why This Reframe Matters

At A Project Called Life, we are constantly teaching our clients how to tell better feeling stories. 

This shift in perspective leads to more aligned, better-feeling emotions. And as we also teach, our emotions are the drivers of our reality. The excitement, fulfillment, and collaboration that stem from this new work-life synergy can reshape not just your professional life, but your entire world.

Let’s Reframe Together

If you feel ready to challenge a limiting belief and explore a new way of thinking about work and life, schedule a discovery call or email heather@aprojectcalledlife.com. 

Together, we can create a world filled with new perspectives and infinite possibilities.