Worse Together

OK, so maybe it’s not “Better Together” with everyone.

I’m a huge proponent of “Better Together.” For you math fans out there, here’s the equation:

1 + 1 > 2

One plus one is greater than two. Or You plus someone else is greater the individual sum of the parts. You are better together than you are separate or even together in parallel.

No, it’s safe to say that I believe that there are power in numbers (even the number two) and there are greater powers still in numbers even larger.

But it’s time to add a little addendum.

1 + 1 < 1

Ouch. Even if you hated math in middle school, you have to feel the pain of that equation.

One plus one is less than one. Note that it’s not one plus one is less than two. That would seem rational, even obvious.

No, this is far worse.

What if, math aside for a moment, you plus someone else actually brought both of you down? Together, you were worse off than you were if you stayed apart, if you stayed separate, individual, away from each other?

Depending on your history, you might even be thinking of the distance you’d like to have between you and your middle school math teacher. Or maybe you’ve quickly imagined one of your least favorite people on the planet and she’s hovering above your head, ghost like, evil, and with a wicked smile.

Yeah, so her.

But it’s not just about dislike. Or fear. Or even hatred.

This equation is important to adhere to even in cases where you’d rather not believe it’s true.

Think of that business partner or neighbor with whom you’d truly like to have a project with. What about that friend of a friend who you keep running into but things remain just plain awkward between the two of you?

In certain environments, can 1 + 1 > 2 actually be 1 + 1 < 1?

You’d rather not think about it. You like working with that person. You want to be with that person. But maybe it just doesn’t, sorry for the pun, OK, I’m not sorry, it just doesn’t add up.

I can’t tell you who they are. You know who they are. The worst part? You know exactly who they are. How? Because we just traversed the mathematics part of the brain, slithered down the spine along the neck and entered into the little-known math center of the heart.

Bring a little math into your life. Find those who make you less than who you are. Maybe they have the same thoughts about you. Work less with them. Don’t try to do that project with them. Leave them be. Let them do their thing and you do your thing.

It adds up.

In the end, you’ll find that one that makes you greater than you. You’ll find that one who makes you Better Together.