Considering co-working? Here's what my experience has been so far (with co-working).

Listen here:

​Is co-working the right fit for you? In this episode, I share my mostly positive experiences with co-working, along with the story of why I joined in the first place.

​Hopefully, this will help clear up any misconceptions you might have.

Show notes:

• Why I took a long break from podcasting, and why I so badly want to try something different
• The focus on stories of my own business for this season, and how I hope these stories will be beneficial to your business.
• What made me invest in co-working: the isolation of working from home, and why I felt like doing something about it was so important.
•  The process I went through to get accepted into a co-working space, from the tour to paying my leasing agreement.
• A big part of what peaked my interest in co-working was the innovator for a day experience I had. So, I provided an honest take on why it was a game-changer for me.
• Joining a co-working space is not as simple as you would assume. You don’t just pay the money and sign the leasing agreement. The application process is actually a lot like a grant. Then, I provide an explanation of what that involved for my co-working space specifically.
• Next came the acceptance of my application. Here’s why I chose the option I decided on for total work hours, number of meeting room hours available, etc.
• The multiple benefits I found from just showing up at social events in the early days and talking to people.
• Something I noticed about the co-working conversation: a lot of people aren’t really sure if it’s a good option, and how I hope to clear up any doubts you might have.
• The value of the community part of co-working, especially for people who do very solitary quiet work.
• What co-working really does: takes the best part of an office and gives you the freedom you would have anyways as a self-employed individual. And how that actually works.
• With co-working, the more of an effort you put into it, the better the result. Plus, my own experience of doing that in my first month as a member.
• A hesitation I’ve heard before: “but I find talking to people exhausting,” and how surprisingly forgiving people are when you just need to focus.
• Headphones are a great tool for getting people to give you space at co-working spaces. That’s exactly why I stressed the value of investing in a great pair of headphones.
• Speaking of headphones, one of the biggest problems is that noise levels may vary in terms of people’s work. If that bothers you, that may be a problem you need to address.
• The phone booths that most co-working spaces have, and what they’re designed for. Unfortunately, they’re sometimes full because they’re popular, but there’s a way to work around that.
• The money bit of co-working sometimes intimidates people. So, I wanted to share a way to work around the cost that not everyone knows about.
• If you want to open doors to free space you need to talk to people at co-working spaces, and how I recommend framing that conversation.
• The value of taking your time to choose the right co-working space for you, and why I made up mind so quickly (but I don’t think you should 100% of the time).
• One of the most essential starting points for co-working: doing your research both online, talking to members, and coming prepared with questions when you do the tour of the space.
•  The value of researching organizations based at these spaces, and how that can help you find out if they have mutual values and priorities.
• Figuring out what co-working space is right for you is a lot like deciding on something big and long-term like a college, house, or car. And why this means it’s so important to take your time on the decision-making process.
• The reality is, you might not go with co-working in the end, and that’s okay because like all types of marketing and networking there isn’t a one-size fits all solution. And what I mean by that.

My bio:
 
Hey, I’m Rosemary Richings, a specialist in blog content promotion and audience outreach strategy. I help E-Commerce and retail brands, driven by their love of improving the lives of their community reach their target audience in a meaningful way.
 
This involves offering blog content creation & web page copywriting services, along with editing and blog content strategy services, which challenge clients to look at their content as something they can use to offer value over the long-term.
 
My work has been featured on sites such as Buffer and Search Engine Journal, and I have worked with clients such as Yellowpages Canada and E-Bay.
 
My blog, Rosie Writing Space, and podcast, People Behind the Business, are dedicated to providing practical advice for people who are “putting themselves out there” in the digital space.
 
I am based at the Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto, Canada.
 
How you can follow this podcast (and learn more about its host)
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