You did it! You took the plunge and decided to strike out on your own. Maybe the 9-5 life just wasn’t working for you anymore. Maybe your creativity and business idea can’t be confined to an 8 x 5 cubicle enclosed within nondescript corporate walls. Whatever the reason for choosing to run your own business, on your own terms, the journey can at times be equally fulfilling and daunting.
Gone are the days of having to conform to the standard corporate culture of time constraints. Who says you can’t work from 5 p.m. until midnight if you choose to? Why can’t you work all day on Saturday and sleep in on Monday? Maybe you want to attend the company potluck, and maybe you don’t. You want to work on your own terms, and you want to do it without worrying about whether Larry from accounting decided to have YOUR clearly labeled sandwich for lunch!
Then comes the epiphany, that the absolute best thing about working from home is, you get to work in your pajamas and favorite pair of fuzzy socks! Yoga pants and your old college sweatshirt, no problem. Bathrobe and bunny slippers, bring it on! Your favorite pair of jeans and t-shirt with the soup stain, why not? This is going to be great! Or is it?
Maintaining Focus
What was I doing again?
One of the greatest challenges that face solopreneurs and freelancers is the struggle to maintain focus. When working from home, it can often be challenging to detach your work life from your personal life. The onus to focus and maintain accountability lies solely upon you. Between your dog begging you to take him for a walk, the week’s worth of laundry, and yes, the extreme comfort of your favorite pajamas; sustaining your attention on the task at hand, oftentimes falls prey to procrastination and habit.
It occurs to you that maybe it’s time to get out of the house and explore an alternative work environment. Going to the local coffee shop will at least compel you to get dressed and out the door. There may even be other like-minded individuals for you to converse with. After your fourth cup of $7 coffee, you come to the realization that the faces in the coffee shop are constantly changing and it doesn’t afford you many opportunities to network. The next option you imagine, is to secure your own office. This will at least furnish you with a professional space to meet with clients. After quick research into the cost of renting office space, in addition to purchasing furniture and office equipment, you swiftly conclude that it would be cost prohibitive to you. Not to mention the fact that it still wouldn’t give you those networking opportunities that you desire.
Coworking, A Better Option
Coworking to the rescue!
Coworking, as defined by the Oxford dictionary is, the use of an office or other working environment by people who are self-employed or working for different employers, typically so as to share equipment, ideas, and knowledge. Maria Trujillo of Aqui Designs is quoted as stating, “I found a coworking space to work in where I have had the chance to find like-minded people and grow the human connections I was missing from working at home.” This is very often the case when you join a coworking community. You enter an environment where your business and ideas can thrive.
In addition to helping you maintain focus and accountability, a coworking space removes other obstacles that you may face. You gain the opportunity to network and collaborate with peers, access professional and cost effective work spaces and meeting rooms, and be a part of a like-minded community. You also gain opportunities to socialize, as most coworking spaces organize networking and recreational events, exclusively for their members. Coffee and tea are usually complimentary, along with high speed internet and office equipment usage. A coworking space is a place where you can build business relationships, gain new perspectives, and grow your business without breaking your budget. A space where you and your business can flourish.
SEAT Caribbean, on St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands is a coworking space that offers an inviting and professional work space along with a host of amenities that will meet your needs. Reserve your seat and join our community! Check out www.seatcaribbean.com.