Personal Letter to Rival

Dear ____:

As you know, the two of us have often competed against one another, but we have both been equally committed to achieving the same underlying goals: to earn revenue for this company. Even as head-to-head competitors, I believe we have established a basis of mutual professional respect. From my perspective, I have learned a lot from you and I consider you to be a talented marketing professional who I am proud to call a professional colleague.

Certainly, we have had our share of disagreements, but if anything, I believe that our professional rivalry has only benefited the company; that is because it has helped bring out the greatest effort and forced us both to develop and grow as much as possible professionally. The success of ____ during our respective tenure would seem to be evidence that our professional relationship is beneficial to the strength of the company. In my opinion, both of us may have sometimes been so focused on our own perspective that we may have failed to appreciate the extent of one another's sacrifices and our respective contributions to the company. Unfortunately, that might have also contributed to some of the difficulties we have experienced understanding one another and getting along as well as we might have otherwise.

On my end, I recognize that I might have been responsible for some of the friction we have experienced working together and that some of my actions and decisions could very well have been perceived as being motivated by egoism. That is unfortunate, because my primary concern has always been for the welfare and continued success and strength of ____. Finally, I would like you to know that I have used my more recent perspective of our relationship and the nature of our past difficulties working together as a learning experience that has helped me advise others how to avoid some of the problems we experienced. You should know that in that regard, I have always referred to you only in the most respectful manner that highlights your talents and the way that our professional collaboration has helped me develop to the best of my professional abilities.

Yours truly,