If you’re an entrepreneur or a remote worker, you may have visited or used a co-working space. Actually, it appears that people who use them do thrive more than people working in regular office spaces. From seeing their work as more meaningful to feeling part of a community and having more job control, people in co-working spaces just seem to derive more happiness and meaning from their work.
Here in Australia, where I live, which by the way is an amazing place to launch a business, co-working spaces are great places to build connections. It also helps that Aussies are warm, effusive, and highly dynamic. They work hard, take success seriously, and love to experiment with new ideas.These qualities make the country a very interesting place to network.
It is also the ideal environment for entrepreneurs who are keen to push the envelope and create something different. All you’ve got to do is step into the right workplace to find engaging debate, innovative strategies, and collaborative enterprise. In co-working spaces like Servcorp for instance in Sydney, for example, and you’ll be right at the heart of the corporate action.
This guide to making friends and securing big opportunities in your co-working space will give
you some advice on how to communicate.
Acknowledge the Space
While all the best coworking facilities contain a mixture of collaborative and more private
spaces, it’s important to maximise the value of shared endeavour. You don’t have to be
chatty and open to others all the time, but small businesses do stand to benefit greatly from
collective thinking, creating, and brainstorming. Even if you just have casual conversations
with fellow entrepreneurs, they’ll still teach you a lot about the market.
Respect the Space
On the other hand, it is just as important to respect privacy when it’s clearly warranted or
desired. This can be tricky at first, particularly if you’re not used to sharing an office, but it’s
just a matter of letting common sense guide you. Strike up conversations with new
acquaintances during slow moments like coffee breaks or when you’re both setting up your
equipment in the morning. Then, it’ll feel less intrusive if you drop in on them with a
suggestion, question, or recommendation later.
Suggest a Labour Exchange
This is one of the simplest ways to cement a new relationship in a coworking space. These
shared facilities welcome high-end clients from all kinds of industries and walks of life. It
straight talking, so be open to the idea of sharing not just the space but also your goals.
Why Coworking Spaces Are a Great Place to Learn
The idea that entrepreneurs should close themselves off to the rest of the market and only
view their rivals with a suspicious gaze is an old one. It doesn’t really apply to the modern
business world because so much of our technology is now based on collaboration.
Coworking spaces are wonderful learning environments, because they place young
entrepreneurs at the heart of the action, among other motivated, fast moving professionals.
Author Bio: Alexandra Richards is an Australian business consultant, located in Melbourne. She takes a keen interest in business structures and work culture. Recently she has taken a particular interest in the benefit of having virtual office solutions to attract clients in Asia.
Please note this post may contain affiliate links and I may be compensated if you click on the included links.
Gumdrop by Goodshop
I love to shop, that’s no secret (you can ask the hubby!). Yet, I’m also quite on the frugal side when it comes to stretching my dollar. While at the #BlogHer17 conference last week, I learnt of a wonderful way to make my dollar stretch even further, and for a good cause too! I’m excited to be able to share with you an amazing way to shop while saving and giving back right from your computer or smartphone!
Most of us love to give back to causes that are close to our hearts. Yet, life gets so much in the way sometimes that we’re not often reminded to do so. What if we integrated our everyday activities likes shopping for instance, with the higher purpose to contribute to a charitable cause of our choice? That’s what Gumdrop allows you to do, though a simple extension that takes about 30 seconds, if that, to install.
SHOPPING FOR A CAUSE IS EASY WITH GUMDROP BY GOODSHOP
What if you could automatically find the best coupons and deals every time you shop online? That’s exactly what Gumdrop allows you to do. This browser extension sifts through over 500,000 deals and coupons to help you save the most money. I know despite all my best efforts, I rarely have the time or energy to gather the coupons I need.
With Gumdrop, as soon as you’re shopping online, the best deals and coupons are displayed on the retailer’s page. In addition, if you buy anything using one of the deals or coupons from Gumdrop, Goodshop automatically makes a donation to your favorite cause. No headache, no need to navigate to a different page, and no need to pay anything! You can donate to the cause of your choice, and you can actually even create the cause you choose to donate to!
Here’s an example of two of the places I shop online and use Gumdrop on:
Shopping online with Gumdrop by Goodshop
Shopping online wit Gumdrop by Goodshop
For example, my charities of choice are UNICEF and the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer.
Welcome to our weekly career, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and fashion news roundup! Think of it as your online watercooler/work gossip station/coffee break spot for now…Want to add anything to our list? Email us at corporate@thecorporatesister.com!
I just came back from the amazing BlogHer17 conference and it was everything! Read my recap here!
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This year, I attended my very first BlogHer conference in Orlando, after being encouraged to do so by my dear mentor Danyelle (check her out at The Cubicle Chick). The BlogHer conference is one of the biggest gatherings of content creators, social media influencers, and entrepreneurs in the US, garnering an attendance of over 2,000 women content creators every year who can connect in person and through apps like the Muses app. This incredible event also features female powerhouses in their own businesses, industries or sports. This year, I was honored to be in the same room as extraordinary women such as Serena Williams, Joy Ann Reid, Chelsea Clinton, Cecile Richards, Tai Beauchamp, Luvvie, and so many others…
As a newbie, experiencing a conference of this size in the presence of inspiring female role models, from the celebrity speakers to all the influential women in attendance, not to mention the supportive brands and sponsors, is almost surreal. Yet, it all comes down to one simple, very often overlooked fact: the power of being in the room!
There’s power about being in the same room as people who may have done the things you want to do, have the careers you want to emulate, or just speak to you in one way or another. Proximity brings in us a new level of renewed confidence and trust that if someone else could do it, so can we!
The conference started every morning with a short yet powerful meditation session filled with empowering quotes, led by amazing women such as CEO of the Still Going online meditation coaching service Starr Barbour. These meditation sessions were then followed by powerful keynotes, and various sessions with topics ranging from how to build a successful business, to SEO secrets and business tax tips.
Even more than the powerful tips shared during the conference, what impacted me, and I believe the majority of the attendees, was to be in the same room as successful career women and entrepreneurs. Here are 6 powerful lessons I learnt during three incredible days of #BlogHer17:
Do Not Fear Failure!
Serena Williams at the BlogHer17 conference
My most anticipated keynote was the one given by tennis champion Serena Williams, who walked on the stage as a proud mama-to-be, a living image of the strength and power of women everywhere! Her message, one of resilience, courage and championing other women, resonated with the entire audience! I mean, the woman won her 23rd grand slam while pregnant, and knows a thing or two about coming back from hardship to reach new heights!
“People have to make mistakes to become stronger” – Serena Williams
We need to fight for women’s health!
Chelsea Clinton at the BlogHer17 conference
Chelsea Clinton and Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood’s keynote was a crucial reminder of how endangered women’s health is nowadays. Legislations are being passed that are putting maternal care in danger, and it’s our responsibility, not just as women, but as human beings, to ensure that we participate in the electoral process.
Both Chelsea and Cecile reminded us that not only do we have the power, but we also have the responsibility, to reach out to our state and local representatives to ask for the changes we need. It’s important that we play our role to advocate for ourselves, for our mothers, sister and friends.
“Women are the resistance in this country.” Cecile Richards
“Everyone has a mother. Maternal care is in danger.” Chelsea Clinton
You should buy your time instead of selling yours!
Luvvie Ajayi at the BlogHer17 Conference
This was a powerful quote and lesson from author and blogger extraordinaire Luvvie Ajayi, author of the New-York best-seller “I’m Judging You” (read my review of “I’m Judging You”). First of all, can I tell you about Luvvie being on stage! Hers was a hilarious keynote address that had the audience in stitches. Yet she was dropping all kinds of business and life truth bombs on us…
As a blogger who is now a successful author, Luvvie shared her story of becoming a full-time entrepreneur, writing a best-selling book, and running a thriving business. Out of it, she extracted impactful nuggets of wisdom for entrepreneurs and career women alike, such as the need to outsource our lives, and to buy time back so we can out more money in our pockets!
“You do not have the same 24 hours as Beyonce.” Luvvie Ajayi
Fill a void in the market!
Tai Beauchamp at the BlogHer17 Conference
Let me first preface this by saying I’m a huge fan of Tai Beauchamp! She’s a veteran journalist, entrepreneur and media personality, as well as the founder of TheTaiLife.com. She led the Passion to Profit panel on the first evening at BlogHer17, featuring social media influencer and ex-surfer and model Anastasia Ashley and style blogger turned swimwear designer Gabi Gregg.
The conversation was chock-full with tips to build and scale a business from scratch, basically! It was a powerful session for bloggers, influencers, and pretty much any entrepreneur looking to grow their business. My biggest take-away from it came from the talented Tai Beauchamp, and was around identifying a gap to fill in the market and positioning yourself accordingly.
“Ask yourself if there’s a void in the market!” – Tai Beauchamp
Use social media to disseminate the right information!
Joy Ann Reid, Ana Navarro and John Avlon at the BlogHer17 Conference
Another one of my sheroes also spoke at the conference. MSNBC’s own Joy Ann Reid shared the stage with political commentator Ana Navarro, and Editor-in-chief of the Daily Beast John Avlon, to discuss the current political scene.
My biggest take-away here came from Joy, as she emphasized the importance of the role of social media in politics, and how we can participate through this medium.
“I think social media has been great…to be able to disseminate information quickly.” Joy Ann Reid
Dare to Pitch Yourself!
Last but not least, one of the most powerful lessons I got from the BlogHer conference this year can be summarized in four words: “Dare to Pitch Yourself!”
There were many brands, from Olay to Best Buy and LG, that were in attendance, and were looking to connect with influencers like myself. Being there allowed me to really dare to introduce myself, share my message and pitch my brand. If you think about, those are three things we’re called to do constantly in our careers and businesses.
Checking out the LG vendor booth at BlogHer17 conference
It was also interesting to attend and vote in the Pitch Competition that took place later during the conference. How impactful to witness brilliant female entrepreneurs defend their business ideas and pitch them to the audience ! My personal favorites were Esosa Ighodaro’s money-making app CoSign, and Spotlight Girls Camps creator Lynn Johnson (Lynn Johnson ended up winning the Pitch competition).
Esosa Adeghboro, CoSIgn app creator presenting at the BlogHer17 Pitch Competition
Lynn Johnson on her video pitch for the BlogHer17 Pitch Competition
I also had the pleasure to be interviewed by ForbesBooks Radio, and share my message about working women on their podcast (I will share it in a couple of weeks when it comes).
My interview with ForbesBooks Radio
As a recap:
Do Not Fear Failure!
We need to fight for women’s health!
You should buy your time instead of selling yours!
Fill a void in the market!
Use social media to disseminate the right information!
Dare to Pitch Yourself!
Overall the BlogHer conference was an amazing experience, which taught me invaluable lessons to implement in my life and business. Can’t wait for next year!
“What would you want someone like me to know about women of color at work?”
When Gregg Stebben, host of Forbes Books Radio, asked me this question as part of my interview during #BlogHer17, something clicked. Here I was, as a working woman of color and entrepreneur, with a mission to start and continue a conversation around providing women with the opportunity to have work and lives they love. Yet, it was apparent that a significant part of the narrative of women of color at work is unknown (or falsely known) to many. Here I was, faced with the confirmation that as women of color at work, we need to tell our stories in order to fuel this conversation.
You know when you know something, and think that everyone else does too? When you believe that the reality of your experience, struggle and identity is obvious to others. Yet, most often, it is not. Most often, the “unconscious bias” in others is fueled in large part by ignorance. There are of course other very much negative factors affecting the way we’re perceived, but by not telling our stories, we’re indirectly reinforcing them.
Our stories are made to be shared. Not just amongst those who are in the midst of them, but among those who may not suspect the intricate tapestry of our lives and work. It’s not until we shed light on the reality of what we face that we can hope to bridge the understanding divide.
I remember on one occasion, a cultural initiative was launched in my then-department to share our origins with the rest of the employees. There was this large world map on the back of a cubicle wall, and every employee was asked to volunteer to pin her/his place of origin. As expected, most pins ended up on the European continent, with a large majority of them resting on Ireland, Italy and England. Then a couple of solitary pins, mine included, floating over Africa…
Conversations started buzzing about each and everyone’s ancestry, and how they found out about their origins, as well as their family traditions and recipes. As the only (or one of the very few) Black women in the room, it felt intimidating to share my own story. Thoughts of being judged based on the inaccurate, yet popular prejudices about Africa, started swirling in my mind. As much as I wanted to share my own stories about rice and fish, traditional holidays, and my favorite family traditions, I remained silent. Instead of continuing the conversation, I waited for a hypothetical invite to partake in the cultural sharing, which never came.
This is an example of one of the many ways in which we sometimes fail to share our stories. Not just for the sake of sharing, or entertainment, but to shed light on facts and figures most often hidden from general view and understanding. To be a part of the ongoing conversation, whether we’re invited or not…
Very often, as women of color, we owe it to ourselves, our fellow women of color, and our communities to make ourselves part of the conversation. There may not be invitations or much encouragement to do so at first. Yet it is our responsibility to spread the knowledge and information without which we may not be understood, acknowledged or recognized.
I’m an immigrant, and my experience is part of the tapestry of the American and world history. It defines my contributions to work and life in general in invaluable ways that can only be recognized and acknowledged when I dare to own my story. In the same way, whether you’re an immigrant, or a first-generation college graduate, or a single mom striving to climb the corporate ladder or create your own business, the invaluable experience you bring to the table is needed. Yet it must be known to be used and make an impact…
“Will it even make a difference to tell my story?”
“Will it not actually hurt my chances at advancement and success to reveal that I’m an immigrant, or a first-time graduate in my family?”
“Does it even make a difference? I can just come in, do my work, get my paycheck and just blend in.”
“It’s safer to wear a mask at work, and pretend all is well and dandy. Who wants to attract unwarranted attention?”
Many are the questions raised to the forefront when it comes to sharing your story as a woman of color at work. We still feel the need to hide a large part of who we are, where we come from, and what we really are about, when the rest of the world uses those very factors as competitive advantages.
I’m learning that there are no real work personas. We take all of us with us everywhere we go. That includes our beliefs, mindsets, origins, and unique life experiences. While we may at times think these may hinder us, or slow our progress, we forget that without authenticity there is no power. At work or anywhere else…
This is not about exposing your dirty (or clean) laundry in the middle of the office floor. Neither is it about revealing private facets of your life or experience you’d rather keep to yourself. Nor is it about resurrecting the past…
It’s about participating in the global conversation around women in and out of work. It’s about showing that there are educated women doctors, engineers, lawyers, finance gurus, entrepreneurs who happen to be first-generation graduates; or were unwed mothers at 18; or come from a family of immigrants with beautiful and original traditions; or have faced discrimination and rose above it; or are creating new paths for other women.
It shouldn’t take a hashtag in response to extreme breaking news for us to share our stories and pictures as brilliant women doctors (or any other profession). We shouldn’t wait for permission, or the perfect opportunity, or for reality to become unbearable, to speak up and share our stories. To show a young girl in high school how a teen mom survived to become a trailblazing entrepreneur. To sit with a young college girl and share our testimonies of starting out in the trenches of Big Corporate and rising through the ranks. To teach, inspire and educate from our unique life experience, beliefs and mindsets. To give other women the freedom to do the same…
There’s a conversation going on around women at work, and as women of color, we must sit at the table. With or without invitation. With or without fear. With or without the perfect opportunity…
How do you share your story as a woman of color at work? If you haven’t, what prevents you from doing so?
