The Power of Partnerships: Collaborating Your Way to Growth (with Jason Konopinski)

This week on The Blueprint: Powered by K Marketing Co, Megan is joined by Jason Konpinski from Shumaker PDT to dive deeper into the importance of collaboration. While "community over competition" is the mindset we established last week, this week we’re talking about how building partnerships is the action that takes that idea a step further.

In this conversation, Jason and Megan discuss how to approach networking with collaboration in mind and how to nurture those partnerships over time, rather than just at the beginning. They explore the early signs that a connection has partnership potential and provide advice for moving from a community mindset to intentional collaboration in 2026. Whether you are a business owner or a professional looking to create impactful connections, join us to learn why partnerships are so beneficial for small business growth.

To learn more about Shumaker PDT, visit shumakerpdt.com

To learn more about K Marketing Co. visit kmarketingco.com

0:00 Introduction

0:24 Meet Jason Konopinski

1:32 How Do You Build a Connection From Casual Conversations?

3:00 What Role Does Networking Play in Turning Community Into Real Growth Opportunities?

4:02 How Can Businessowners and Professionals Approach Networking with Collaboration in Mind?

5:17 Partners Over Transactions

7:55 There’s Room For All of Us to Thrive

9:00 Competition Can Be Good, But It Can Also Be Antagonistic

11:35 What Makes a Partnership Successful Beyond Exchanging Referrals?

23:08 What Mistakes Do People Commonly Make When They Try Turning Networking Into Partnerships?

27:17 The Changing Landscape of Sales

32:38 The Changing Landscape of Social Media

40:34 Advice For Moving From Community Mindset to Intentional Collaboration

44:26 Conclusion