Learning to not take things personally may be difficult, however, it's a very necessary part of evolving. One of other big lessons of setting boundaries - whether business or personal - is that you don't owe anyone an explanation on changes you're making. We humans seem to think that when we say "no" we have to explain ourselves. Yet, when we say "yes" we never explain ourselves! When someone asks you why you've made a business change, it's OK to give a simple answer like "it's a business decision" or "it's best for me this way."

Professional standards and boundaries help our businesses most often by adding a new level of consistency and structure. Michael Gerber, in his book "The E-myth Revisited" says, "The business development process is not static. It's not something you do and then are done with. It's something you do all time."

This month, take a look at your Professional Standards and Boundaries and raise them to next level. If you'd like to view sample business standards or boundaries, visit www.coachmaria.com/articles/professionalstandards.html

> DO YOU RESPECT YOUR PARTNER'S CAPABILITIES? - Do you have a healthy regard for what she can do? You have seen results previously achieved and you like them. At same time, does your partner respect your work? Without this respect you will not be able to collaborate.

> DO YOU HAVE A SHARED VISION AND COMMON VALUES? - Do you share same or similar goals? Do you agree on what needs to be done? Do you visualize results to be achieved in similar ways? And your values about work, selling, profit and human relations are similar?

> DO YOU TRUST YOUR PARTNER? - Without trust you will achieve nothing. You will spend more time in arguments than necessary. Trust is a must!

> CAN YOU STAND TO BE CRITIQUED? - Do you get hot under collar when your work is critiqued? Your partner must be able to critique your work just as you should be able to critique your partner's work. Good, honest give-and-take is necessary for a fruitful collaboration.

> CAN YOU SHARE THE LIMELIGHT? - Must you be top guy, or can you share credits with others? Is your ego strong enough to do this?

If both you and your partner meet these requirements, try a collaboration. Begin with something small, just to test yourselves. If you meet test, go for it.

A successful collaboration may lead to greater accomplishments and greater business success. Each of you learns and improves, and so does final product or service. Collaboration lifts all to a higher plane.

Collaboration is Wave of Future

The Internet lends itself to successful collaboration. When wireless equipment becomes more sophisticated - in a year or 2 - collaboration will be more frequent. In addition to usual voice messages, individuals will be able to use cellphones to exchange diagrams, pictures and other data they may be working on together.

In Western countries, we have been trained to be individualistic. Self-reliance is a major virtue. But in this complex world, which daily becomes more complex, there is no way any individual can be totally self-reliant as in past.

Individualism is great. But to be more productive and successful, we may need to cede a small amount of ego, so we may be able to collaborate effectively with others. Collaboration will become more and more conventional way of doing things.