Written by: Oyekanmi Olorunfemi – Femi Knows
There’s something magnetic about the word collaboration. It drips with promise, like the idea that if two people with genius sparks come together, fireworks will fill the sky and the world will clap in amazement. But if you’ve been in the creative trenches long enough, you’ll know one truth: not every collab is a blessing. Some will elevate you. Some will teach you. And some will drain the very sauce you’ve spent years cooking.
I learnt this the hard way. Let me paint a few pictures.
Scenario 1: The Idea Merchant with No Shop
There was this guy I once met who could pitch ideas like a TED Talk. Smooth voice, hand gestures, even that pause-for-effect style that makes you lean in. He told me: “Bro, if we combine your creative brand with my marketing network, we’ll be unstoppable.”
Sounded like the Avengers, right? But the first red flag came when I asked, “Cool. Can you send me a proposal so I understand the structure?” His reply?“Don’t worry, the plan is in my head. Let’s just start moving.”
That’s how you know you’re dealing with an Idea Merchant with No Shop, they live in the land of big talk, but when it’s time for execution, you realize you’ve been sold smoke.
Scenario 2: The Timeline Terrorist
Another time, I agreed to co-create a small project. I brought my A-game, delivered my part two days early, with clean formatting and all. My collaborator? Let’s just say their definition of “deadline” was “whenever my spirit leads me.” Days turned into weeks. Clients started side-eyeing me. At the end of the day, the project was delivered late and my name was dragged along. Lesson learnt: timelines are sacred. A partner who disrespects time will eventually cost you more than money—they’ll cost you credibility.
Scenario 3: The “Free Labour in Collab Clothing”
This one still makes me laugh (and cry). Someone approached me with: “Let’s collab on this event. Your brand will get massive exposure, trust me.”
Now, exposure is nice. But when exposure becomes the only thing on the table, be careful. I ended up doing all the heavy lifting—planning, connecting vendors, even designing flyers. At the end? The “partner” showed up with shades on, took photos for the gram, and vanished.
That wasn’t collaboration. That was exploitation with a smiley emoji.
The Big Truth: Not All Collabs Are Equal
Here’s what I’ve learnt: collaboration is like marriage—you don’t just say “yes” because someone says “I love your vibe.” You ask:
- Do we have shared values?
- Are we both putting skin in the game?
- Is there clarity on deliverables?
- What’s the actual exchange of value?
If the answers are vague, don’t kid yourself. You’ll end up carrying the whole project like a Jollof rice pot to a wedding, while the other person just comes to eat.
The Flip Side: When Collab Works, It’s Magic
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against collaboration. In fact, some of my biggest wins came from working with the right people.
One of my favorite stories: I once teamed up with a creative friend on a campaign. She was a beast with visuals, and I was strong on strategy. Instead of competing, we combined our strengths. Guess what? The campaign didn’t just deliver, it tripled the client’s expectations. That’s the kind of collab that feels like a good jam session, everybody stays in rhythm, and the final product is sweeter than what either of you could’ve cooked alone.
How Do You Protect Your Sauce in Collab Season?
Here are three quick checks I now use before saying yes:
- The Value Exchange Test – Ask: “What exactly are you bringing to the table, and what am I bringing?” If one person’s plate is empty, rethink.
- The Timeline Commitment – Agree on deadlines early. If they start wobbling before the first draft, that’s a clue.
- The Paper Trail Principle – Even if it’s your bestie, write things down. Contracts, agreements, or at least an email. Your friendship won’t save you in court.
The Moral of the Story
Collaboration isn’t automatically a blessing. It’s not a magical word that guarantees success. It’s a tool. And like every tool, it can build or destroy, depending on how it’s used. So, the next time someone slides into your DM with “Let’s collab, fam!”, don’t just jump. Pause. Ask questions. Run your checks. Protect your sauce.
Because when the collab is right, you’ll soar. When it’s wrong, you’ll spend months cleaning up the mess.
And let me leave you with this September challenge: What is one thing you’ll do this month to protect your sauce?
