Forge News and Updates |
As remote work and flex working becomes more and more popular with a variety of industries, working from home is becoming the norm. But is work-from-home really the best, most productive way to work?
We explore 5 reasons that having a coworking membership is a better and more productive option than working from home.
Working Around Others
Working around others can keep you accountable, especially when they are not working on the same projects you are. Being around a group of motivated, productive individuals can inspire you to make progress on your own work projects and assignments! You may also get inspiration and motivation from learning about their work projects and what kind of goals they are working toward in their line of work!
Less Distractions
Working in a coworking space eliminates the distractions that can come with working from home. No laundry piled up out of the corner of your eye, no dishes to clean, and no other household tasks nagging at you. You can disconnect from home and plug into work in a work-only zone that is more inspiring and less chaotic than your dining room table setup.
Work-Life Balance
When you work and live at home, it can be really tough to maintain a good work-life balance because it can start to feel like you are always at work. Having a separate place to work is vital to keeping a separation between your work life and your home life. There are countless studies that show the importance of having a healthy work life balance for the impact it can have on your relationships, your well-being, and your quality of work. Obtaining a membership at a coworking space gives you the option to get out of your house and have a “true” workday that you can come home from at the end of the day.
Making Personal and Professional Connections
One aspect of coworking that can’t be overlooked is the opportunity to make meaningful professional connections. If you are an entrepreneur, the support and help you get from others is invaluable. You may make personal and professional connections who will help you propel your new business, take your current business to the next level, or connect you to someone who can skyrocket your career.
“Co-working also means brainstorming and learning new things every day from your differently skilled co-workers. In the long run, you become knowledgeable, creative, and eventually an industry-leading expert. That expertise will come in handy later in your professional life- You will be completing projects faster than usual by leveraging the skills you are gaining today.” – Facile Things
More Flexibility = More Productivity
“According to the Gartner 2021 Digital Worker Experience Survey, 43% of respondents said that flexibility in working hours helped them achieve greater productivity, and 30% of respondents said that less or no time commuting enabled them to be more productive.”
When workers have options and flexibility in their workday — whether that be with their hours, commute, or workspace — they are often more productive. When we feel like we have agency over our workday, we can get more done. Perhaps a coworking community is a shorter commute for you, or allows you more flexible workspaces to take Zoom meetings and in person meetings… whatever the reason, having access to a coworking space can increase your flexibility throughout your workday, which can in turn increase your productivity!
Forge News and Updates |
For entrepreneurs and established businesses alike, making a decision about office space is no easy task. There are so many options to consider and factors to weigh. Before you begin your search for a home base for your business, it’s critical to determine what you’re looking for: are you going to go with a coworking space or a traditional office?
If you are given the options of an office in a coworking space vs. traditional office work, which suits you better?
One of the most important benefits of coworking is its flexibility as compared to traditional offices. At Forge you can rent an office for one year, 6 months or month-to-month. You don’t have to commit to a long-term lease. And your rent at Forge includes things like utilities, internet, professional business address, meeting room credit, and even coffee.
Flexible lease options give you the ability to use the space on a short-term basis and to grow or shrink your physical space requirements as needed. Coworking offices can offer a more tailor-made solution when it comes to lease and space requirements.
Forge Rooftop Conference Room
Another perk? You can occupy your fully-furnished space right away. Forge private offices come with desks, chairs, filing cabinet, whiteboard and internet… plus a variety of amenities (like unlimited coffee!) and on-demand meeting space arrangements.
It’s not all about the physical space. Coworking spaces mean you have the opportunity to join forces with people with complementary skills and/or people who require your skills. Working from Forge makes it easy to network and grow your business connections and friendships!
Team office at Forge
Now let’s talk about traditional offices…
Leasing a traditional office usually represents a long-term commitment. Also, you need to think about your upfront costs with a traditional office. When you lease a traditional office, you will have to furnish and equip your space. This may also include expensive investments like building out amenities and meeting rooms.
And what about management of the space? You’ll have to take on the task of managing the office which can include maintenance and cleaning.
Not only that, but you have fewer opportunities to network and collaborate. You have less of a chance of connecting with people from other companies or industries.
Whether you’re considering a traditional office or an office in a coworking space, make sure the physical space you choose reflects the image you want to project for your clients, potential employees and partners, and the type of business you’re in!
Interested in touring a private office at Forge? Click below!
Forge News and Updates |
MEET FORGE MEMBER DR. MAEGAN RENEE, a Counselor Education Professor at Grand Canyon University. We are so happy to have her here at Forge!
Q: What’s the last show you binge-watched?
A: The Good Place
Q: Is there a product you can’t live without?
A: Blue Mercury M-61 Skin Care
Q: What’s your ideal weekend in Birmingham?
A: A morning yoga session at the Yoga Circle or hiking at Oak Mountain with friends. Followed by a late brunch at Alabama Biscuit (I love the croque madame biscuit with aioli sauce) and a walk in Rail Road Park with my Westie Charlie! To top it all off, an ideal way to wrap up the weekend would be with a sunset aperitif with friends, a good charcuterie board, and wine on my condo’s roof top!
Q: In addition to your job title, tell us a little bit about what you do / what your company does.
A: I am a Counselor Education College Professor at Grand Canyon University. GCU prides itself on making educational affordable and accessible for all. The school offers both on campus and fully online undergrad and graduate programs.The majority of students are nontraditional students, meaning they work full-time jobs, have families, and are going back to school. The students I teach are working towards their graduate degrees in the field of counseling. Whether they want to become a school counselor or a counselor who works in private practice, I work with them to develop the skills they need to be effective therapists in their communities.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Forge?
A: My favorite thing about Forge is the sense of community but I also love the architecture of the building itself. There is so much natural light it’s an immediate mood boost! Too add, you can’t beat finishing a long work day with the Forge Thursday Happy Hour or hopping downstairs to the food hall for a nice evening glass of wine!
We are so glad to have Dr. Maegan as a part of our community here at Forge!
Forge News and Updates |
You may recognize Katelyn — she used to be the Events Manager for us here at Forge! She is now one of our awesome members with the company Quire Consulting.
Q: What’s the last show you binge-watched?
A: We are currently making our way through Letterkenny rather quickly in the Foote household.
Q: Is there a product you can’t live without?
A: My ember mug – I drink my coffee sooo slow. I might be able to live without it but all my coffee would be cold.
Q: What’s your ideal weekend in Birmingham?
A: I love a chill Birmingham weekend with good food and friends! I’m all for sleeping in and enjoying a slow morning with coffee, a good book, and my cats. Then I love stopping by some of my favorite shops like Thank You Books and Urban Suburban. Throw in some food and drinks from Zaza or El Barrio and I’d say that’s a perfect mix for a great weekend.
Q: In addition to your job title, tell us a little bit about what you do/ what your company does.
A: I am a Design Research Associate with Quire Consulting. Quire is a human-centered innovation consultancy – which means I get to ask a lot of questions, listen to people, and help them solve problems and move their organizations forward!
Q: What is your favorite thing about Forge?
A: The people, of course!
Katelyn is a Design Research Associate at Quire Consulting. Learn more about them here.
Forge News and Updates |
We cannot believe the year is almost over… And what a year it has been!
As we head into 2022, we rounded up some of our favorite pieces of wisdom and lessons learned from Forge Members and Building Birmingham Together guests. We hope these tips and tricks will help kickstart your new year!
Jacqui Jones of One Degree Marketing
- Find and understand ways to put yourself first.
- This is not selfish! You cannot pour from an empty cup. And you cannot be everything to everyone if you are not everything to yourself first. It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life that we forget to slow down and put ourselves first, intentionally. In business and life, know yourself, love on yourself, show yourself grace, know when you need help. When you put yourself first, you will realize that everyone else comes with you. Your people will be standing beside you and not behind you as you move forward.
- Surround yourself with like minded people that want you to succeed.
- This is what Forge is all about! Surround yourself with people that want to succeed and people who you can cheer on along the way. This allows us to help each other thrive!
- You can’t walk into a gym and walk out with a six pack; it’s a little bit every day.
- Unless you stop and buy a six pack of beer on the way home! But, this is a tough one- you have to stay committed. We cannot click a button and have everything turn out exactly like we want it to. There will be good days and bad days but as long as you stick to your why, push forward, challenge yourself, grow and learn, that will help you. Always continue to grow whether through meeting new people, books, or podcasts like Building Birmingham Together!
Autumn Sanders of Quire Consulting
- Have a name and convention for your files and projects.
- This may be minor, but it really matters! It will make such a difference when you are bringing in a new team member or trying to find something in a project. It might be painful to do, but it speeds up your morning by at least ten minutes because you know where things are.
- Learn from your past experiences.
- One moment can be key to your success so always walk into a room prepared for what could happen (and if things do not work out, use it as a learning experience!)
- Be consistent.
- There are so many things in life that we can never prepare ourselves for, but be consistent. Learn from the yes’ and from the no’s and then you can figure it out from there.
- Prioritize the “aha” moments.
- The “aha” moments happen everyday and we have to start prioritizing them. We cannot stare at the disco ball and chase every bright light there, but we can stay in tune with our consistency and organization and thus run a successful business.
Happy New Year!!
