10 Quotes From Coworking Entrepreneurs
There are a number of big name companies that got their start coworking. The likes of Uber, Instagram, and Square all spent time during their early years in coworking spaces.
But you don’t have to be a Fortune 500 company with humble roots to see the value in coworking. Here’s how 10 entrepreneurs describe the benefits of coworking.
Why These 10 Small Businesses Find Value in Coworking
With the continued popularity of coworking, we looked for entrepreneurs across the country (and a couple close to home) who see value in coworking for their small businesses, nonprofits, and startups. Here’s a look at what we found:
Confidence: “Coworking helped get me back in a professional setting that helped to provide me with the self-confidence I needed again to dream big and go after big corporate sales,” said Jillian Ryan, founder of Marie Mae.
Close to the gym: “My go-to workspace right now is a coworking cafe near my gym,” said Lucy McInally, who writes about neighborhood workspaces on her Inclusive Coworker blog. “My productivity levels absolutely soar before I close my laptop for an hour’s lunchtime workout.”
Hosting meetings: “We needed a space where we could meet with our clients one on one and have staff meetings,” said Nicole McArdle with Great Work.
No longer alone: “If you're working for yourself, often you're going to find that you feel like an island,” said Lianna Kemmerer. “Whether you're an entrepreneur or a solo-preneur, being in a space with other people who are also working—it is motivating, it is going to keep you on track, it's going to hold you accountable in ways that maybe you're not even aware that you're missing.”
Room to grow: “As the company began to grow, we realized we needed an office space that would support our local Raleigh team and provide an environment for us to grow in,” said Olivia Dorsey with the esports company XP League.
Can’t work at home: “I knew I wouldn’t be able to work out of my bedroom forever!” said Jasleen Jalwal with the web design company Simple Focus. “As soon as I settled on a remote position, I started looking for places to cowork.”
Temporary fix: “Close to our facilities and employees, meeting spaces, great option while our office is being finalized,” said Derek Johnson with Amethyst Recovery Solutions.
Creative chaos: “Creativity is a perfect balance between chaos and order,” said J.R. Briggs. “What I found when I was at home [is] it was way too much order and not enough chaos.”
Not be isolated: “I've been been doing remote work for a long time and I need to get out of my house,” said Ryan McKenzie. “I need to not be isolated in my basement.”
Home: “It’s definitely helping our business and basically providing us with a pretty productive space where we can get our creative juices flowing,” Bianca Finley said in a San Francisco Examiner story. After two years in their apartment, they moved to a coworking space because they wanted more interaction, both for hosting events and collaborating with others. “It feels like home away from home, in a sense,” Finley said.
Space That Works
Whether you’re looking to connect or grow, something convenient or temporary, Evolve Workplace has office and meeting space that works for your business.