Episode 03 — Community Over Competition

Amélie Olala events

17 hours ago

3 min read

Why moving to America changed the way I see success.

When I first moved here, there was something I couldn't quite understand.

Why did everyone seem to need to be part of something?

A networking group, a women's organization, a charity event, a local cause, a business association… People were constantly connecting, volunteering, sponsoring events, making introductions and supporting small businesses.

And my French brain was thinking:

But why? What does everyone want in return?

Was it genuine generosity? A business strategy? A way to make connections?

Of course, there can be a little bit of everything.

But over time, I started to realize something that completely changed my perspective. Sometimes people genuinely want to see you succeed. Or maybe I was just lucky enough to find the right community!

Growing up in France, I was used to a different approach.

We can be quite protective of our ideas, our contacts and our opportunities.

What if someone copies my idea? Why would I share my contacts? What exactly am I getting out of this collaboration?

And sometimes, when someone succeeds, we seem more interested in understanding why than celebrating the achievement. Maybe they had the right connections. Maybe their parents helped. Maybe they were lucky.

Could it simply be that they had a good idea, worked hard and deserved their success?

Of course, I'm generalizing. There are incredibly generous entrepreneurs in France, just as there are competitive and self-interested people in America.

But the difference in mentality was something I personally noticed.

When I moved to the United States, I discovered the power of opening doors.

Here, I met people willing to make an introduction, recommend someone else's business or support an idea simply because they believed it was worth trying.

One experience particularly stayed with me. I was offered the opportunity to organize a market in a private space.

Just like that! No complicated negotiation. No immediate demand for something in return. Someone believed in my idea, thought I could create something valuable and gave me an opportunity. Could it eventually benefit their business too? Absolutely.

But that was the beauty of it.

Helping someone else succeed doesn't mean you have to lose something yourself.

I started to understand that asking for support, sharing ideas and relying on other people could actually take me much further than trying to figure everything out alone.

And perhaps most importantly, I started wanting to do the same for others.

That spirit of support became part of how I approach Olala today.

I love bringing talented professionals together, introducing them to new people and creating opportunities for collaboration. Of course, not every collaboration works perfectly. I've learned that generosity doesn't mean saying yes to everything. Clear expectations, mutual respect and shared values matter just as much.

Because here's something I truly believe:

There is enough room for good people to succeed.

The French approach reminds me to value what I create. To respect my expertise, be selective about partnerships and protect the quality of my work.

The American approach has taught me to be more open. To ask for help, share opportunities, celebrate someone else's success and believe that sometimes the best things happen when people come together.

And me?

I'm learning that I don't have to build everything alone.

I want to surround myself with people who believe in what I'm creating — and be that person for someone else, too.

Because success isn't only about what you achieve.

It's also about the people who help you along the way, the doors they open for you and the ones you choose to open for others.

And if moving to America has taught me one thing, it's that sometimes the community you build becomes just as important as the business itself.

Your turn: Have you ever had someone believe in you or open a door for you when you least expected it? I'd love to hear your story.

À bientôt,

Amélie

Why moving to America changed the way I see success.

When I first moved here, there was something I couldn't quite understand.

Why did everyone seem to need to be part of something?

A networking group, a women's organization, a charity event, a local cause, a business association… People were constantly connecting, volunteering, sponsoring events, making introductions and supporting small businesses.

And my French brain was thinking:

But why? What does everyone want in return?

Was it genuine generosity? A business strategy? A way to make connections?

Of course, there can be a little bit of everything.

But over time, I started to realize something that completely changed my perspective. Sometimes people genuinely want to see you succeed. Or maybe I was just lucky enough to find the right community!

Growing up in France, I was used to a different approach.

We can be quite protective of our ideas, our contacts and our opportunities.

What if someone copies my idea? Why would I share my contacts? What exactly am I getting out of this collaboration?

And sometimes, when someone succeeds, we seem more interested in understanding why than celebrating the achievement. Maybe they had the right connections. Maybe their parents helped. Maybe they were lucky.

Could it simply be that they had a good idea, worked hard and deserved their success?

Of course, I'm generalizing. There are incredibly generous entrepreneurs in France, just as there are competitive and self-interested people in America.

But the difference in mentality was something I personally noticed.

When I moved to the United States, I discovered the power of opening doors.

Here, I met people willing to make an introduction, recommend someone else's business or support an idea simply because they believed it was worth trying.

One experience particularly stayed with me. I was offered the opportunity to organize a market in a private space.

Just like that! No complicated negotiation. No immediate demand for something in return. Someone believed in my idea, thought I could create something valuable and gave me an opportunity. Could it eventually benefit their business too? Absolutely.

But that was the beauty of it.

Helping someone else succeed doesn't mean you have to lose something yourself.

I started to understand that asking for support, sharing ideas and relying on other people could actually take me much further than trying to figure everything out alone.

And perhaps most importantly, I started wanting to do the same for others.

That spirit of support became part of how I approach Olala today.

Because here's something I truly believe:

There is enough room for good people to succeed.

The French approach reminds me to value what I create. To respect my expertise, be selective about partnerships and protect the quality of my work.

The American approach has taught me to be more open. To ask for help, share opportunities, celebrate someone else's success and believe that sometimes the best things happen when people come together.

And me?

I'm learning that I don't have to build everything alone.

I want to surround myself with people who believe in what I'm creating — and be that person for someone else, too.

Because success isn't only about what you achieve.

It's also about the people who help you along the way, the doors they open for you and the ones you choose to open for others.

And if moving to America has taught me one thing, it's that sometimes the community you build becomes just as important as the business itself.

Your turn: Have you ever had someone believe in you or open a door for you when you least expected it? I'd love to hear your story.

À bientôt,

Amélie

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