Why you should try coworking

Today I’m delighted to bring you a guest post by Genevieve DeGuzman, the co-author of Working in the Unoffice, one of the first books about coworking:

Entrepreneurs are looking for new ways to work and it’s easy to see why they would be attracted to coworking. Coworking combines the best of different work settings where small businessess thrive: the flexibility of a home office, vibe of a café, and facilities of a serviced office.

Here are more reasons to try a coworking space:

1. Network everyday just by bumping into someone.
“By being surrounded by entrepreneurs on a daily basis, I am constantly learning and growing,” says Joey Coleman, a member at Affinity Lab in Washington, D.C. “Brown bag lunches with guest presenters, featured speakers at evening training sessions, and even the casual conversation in the hallway, have all led to tremendous opportunities.”

2. Build your bridges— from finding team members to generating contacts.
Coworking hinges on the belief that innovation and inspiration come from the cross-pollination of different people in different fields or specializations. Group projects are often successful not because of one person’s technical prowess, but because of the diversity of expertise among different players.
“Being a member of a coworking facility has connected me with a large and talented pool of like-minded, hardworking individuals— some of whom have since worked with me on projects and enhanced my ability to accept a broader range of work”, says Jason Beatty of NextSpace in California.

3. Find opportunities to score bigger projects.
Johnny Bilotta says that when he first came to Indy Hall in Philadelphia as a graphic designer, “I was struggling to find work, picking off things from Craigslist. But before I knew it, I started being contacted by companies in San Francisco, New York, and wherever, who saw the work that I’d done. I would not have the success that I have today if it wasn’t for this space.”

Being a solo worker means independence, but you shouldn’t feel like you have little choice but to work alone. Find your community and thrive.

Genevieve DeGuzman is the co-author of Working in the UnOffice: A Guide to Coworking for Indie Workers, Small Businesses, and Nonprofits (Night Owls Press), the first volume in a series of books planned covering the ‘collaborative economy’.