Collaboration and productivity

Is there a trade off between productivity and collaboration?

This is the question I often ask myself in and out of the workplace because I usually lean towards a complete disregard of my own interests in favor of those who are around me and this behaviour doesn't always pays off in terms of result. This subject isn't quite original; many other bloggers have walked the dangerous streets of selfishness and productivity correlation analysis. Not all of them dared to say the truth "You need to be selfish to be productive". 

Coming from an Economics background I need to start from a formal definition of the verb produce:

|prəˈd(y)oōs; prō-| [ trans. ] Cause (a particular result or situation) to happen or come into existence 

Producing incredibly resembles the definition of the verb create

 |krēˈāt| verb [ trans. ] Bring (something) into existence 

How are they different from each other? They are not.

Although many like to think and teach that the verb to create relates to a more intellectual and inventive activity than production, I disagree. Producing is a physical and intellectual activity equally engaging the imagination, knowledge and spirit of humans. To produce is therefore to create something that wasn't there before, and that is the result of a skillful mix of resources, knowledge and time. For the skilled worker resources and knowledge are often abundant and the only element limited in quantity is, as always, time.

Time is the object of daily struggles. Time for yourself, time for work, time to dedicate to the people you love. To find the right balance between self interests and willingness to help is to find the Holy Grail of the modern age. It's all about sipping the right quantity of generosity while keeping a clear focus on your personal goals: pure science fiction. Inevitably the higher the focus on self interests, the higher the likelihood to be more productive in respects to personal goals.

Being selfish is therefore useful and beneficial, but it's a dangerous way to walk. Put too much focus on yourself and  those around (family, friend, co-workers) won't trust you anymore. Your outer projection will be biased ultimately you'll look as selfish jerk.

To be highly productive is a lonely and unpopular path... and doesn't always pay off.