Over the years I’ve worked very hard to establish my online business. I’ve cranked out blog posts, videos and networked until my fingers about fell off.  Now in year four, I’m finally seeing the fruits of my labor.  My online business is flourishing — But not because I’m competent. Other women who believed in me and who were willing to help me climb the corporate online ladder are partly to credit for a lot of my success.

However, there are some women who clearly see doing business with other women as a competition.  I do not. The other day a female competitor of mine called to chat (our businesses are very similar). And yes, I took her call.  I gave her as much information as I could to help give her a jumpstart.  I did not give her the phone numbers of my sponsors, but I did show her how to go about getting her own.  There’s enough room for all of us — the Internet is HUGE.  Why be a bed hog?

Don’t you just cringe when you go out of your way for a colleague and then they don’t reciprocate? Even after you’ve sent many gentle reminder emails?  Female competition breaks the universal female bond.  We hall have personal strengths and weaknesses, however if we choose to conduct business, we shall only put forth our strengths. I excel when I bond with my colleagues in a non-competitive way.  The more women continue the cycle of female competition the less chances we have to build a universal female support system.  Men will continue to be the CEO’s of companies if women don’t start promoting other women.

I was so inspired and thankful for all the help and advice that was given to me over the years that I wrote a book about it.  I wrote the book, “The Internet Mommy” because I wanted to bring to light what mothers are really doing online.  We are earning money, changing policy, making friends and learning how to raise healthy kids.

Women need women.  Little girls need to be taught to celebrate the successes of other girls while still embracing their differences. If women support other women, and I mean confident women, then our daughters will learn that there is no place for clique-ish, catty behavior and that others who exceed far beyond us shall be applauded. This stance starts in the home and is taught by mothers.

Kimberley Clayton Blaine is a national parenting expert and a licensed Family and Child Therapist who specializes in working with children ages newborn to six years old.  Kimberley is the founder and executive producer of a grassroots webshow, called www.TheGoToMom.TV.  Kimberley’s new book comes out this fall, The Go-To Mom’s Parenting Guide to Emotion Coaching Young Kids.”

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