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	<title>Cohere Coworking Community</title>
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	<description>Coworking Fort Collins, CO &#124; Be Independent Together</description>
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		<title>The Cohere Quick-Start Guide For New Coworkers</title>
		<link>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/the-cohere-quick-start-guide-for-new-coworkers</link>
		<comments>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/the-cohere-quick-start-guide-for-new-coworkers#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:59:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice/Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coworking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Current Members]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cohere]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new members]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new space]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[participate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://coherecommunity.com/?p=3997</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the spirit of welcoming you along on this coworking adventure, we've rounded up a few classic posts that examine the best ways to acclimate to and participate in our community. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/new-cohere-pink-room.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-3998" title="new-cohere-pink-room" src="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/new-cohere-pink-room.jpg" alt="New Cohere Pink Room" width="500" height="320" /></a></p>
<p>Cohere is preparing for it&#8217;s official launch at the new location, 418 Howes, in downtown Fort Collins. We soft launched last week, and since then, members new and old have stopped by to check out the hot pink desks, expanded kitchen and lunching area, and general good vibes that the new building has to offer.</p>
<p>The official grand re-opening of Cohere is February 1, so if you&#8217;ve been thinking about requesting a free day pass to check out the world of coworking for the first time, that would be a good day to do it!</p>
<p><strong>To some the concept of a shared workspace might seem bizarre, and to others it comes naturally.</strong> It&#8217;s true that working in close proximity with other mobile professionals might take some getting used to in the beginning. It&#8217;s also important to note that what makes coworking at Cohere so special isn&#8217;t the location (or color) of the desks, but the talented freelancers and small business owners that will inhabit them on a daily basis.</p>
<p>In the spirit of welcoming you along on this coworking adventure, I&#8217;ve rounded up a few classic posts that examine the best ways to acclimate to and participate in our community. (It will also demonstrate in a nutshell why you should always read the weekly Cohere blog post). As always, please don&#8217;t hesitate to ask a Cohere staff member or veteran member if you&#8217;ve got questions about anything!</p>
<p><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/understanding-the-value-of-coworking-part-1-be-more-than-a-seat-filler"><strong>Be More Than A Seat Filler</strong></a></p>
<p>There are some universal attributes that apply to coworking in any setting, whether it’s a massive space in New York City or a tiny community in rural Virginia. The importance of community engagement and participation is one of these universal truths. Basically, the more you put in to your coworking experience, the more you’re going to get out of it. Period. This post includes quotes from current Cohere members about “getting what you give.”</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Cohere-at-Pickle-Barrel1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-4005" title="Cohere at Pickle Barrel" src="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Cohere-at-Pickle-Barrel1.jpg" alt="" width="403" height="302" /></a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/coworking-how-to-avoid-fragmentation-in-the-presence-of-private-offices">How To Avoid Fragmentation In The Presence Of Private Offices</a></strong></p>
<p>Private offices are a new feature of the new Cohere. In the past, everyone always worked in the same room. Without conscious effort from both office-dwellers and flex desk-sitters, there’s a risk our community could become fragmented. Isolation is bad for both groups and defeats the purpose of coworking. This post contains a quick list of reminders that I hope will help us maintain the level of communication and collaboration we’ve enjoyed in the past.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Cohere-Programmers.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4004" title="Cohere Programmers" src="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Cohere-Programmers.jpg" alt="" width="448" height="336" /></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/coworking-tips-how-to-collaborate-with-other-freelancers">How To Collaborate With Other Freelancers</a></strong></p>
<p>With the proper preparation and foresight, collaborating with fellow coworking members can reduce stress, improve the quality of your product, and enrich your life as a community member. This post points out some things to keep in mind when looking for a collaborator.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/sharing-your-work-and-coworking-to-share">Sharing Your Work And (Co)Working To Share</a></strong></p>
<p>The coworking movement is becoming huge, but it’s only one part of something even bigger–something we’ve talked about before called “<a href="http://http//coherecommunity.com/blog/collaborative-consumption-and-the-coworking-community" target="_blank">collaborative consumption</a>.” Learn more in this post.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/why-failure-is-the-best-part-of-coworking">Why Failure Is The Best Part Of Coworking</a></strong></p>
<p>A community where everyone keeps their failures to themselves is shallow and uninteresting. It’s way more fun to be real. Life as an independent is messy and complex, and all we’ve got is each other! Here at Cohere, we want to see the roughest draft, hear the first/worst idea, and feel the pain of the client you knew you shouldn’t take. This posts explains why you should always show&#8217;n'tell us about your hot mess.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/why-a-coworking-space-is-important-to-the-local-economy">Why A Coworking Space Is Important To The Local Economy</a></strong></p>
<p>Most people can imagine what shared office space looks like. It’s harder to understand the larger economic benefits of participating in such a space until you experience it first hand. If you’re on the fence about joining a coworking space (or just recently joined!), this post lists some big picture positive impacts to think about.</p>
<p><strong>Is there an ancient Cohere blog post that really made your day? Share the link or title in the comments below!</strong></p>

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		<title>It&#8217;s The End Of Cohere As We Know It! (But Everything Will Be Fine)</title>
		<link>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/its-the-end-of-cohere-as-we-know-it-but-everything-will-be-fine</link>
		<comments>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/its-the-end-of-cohere-as-we-know-it-but-everything-will-be-fine#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:51:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coworking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Current Members]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[closure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cohere]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[members]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[moving]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://coherecommunity.com/?p=3953</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Cohere is moving!! (Very soon!) Please read this post for pertinent details of what I hope will be a smooth transition to our new home.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/new-cohere-front-door.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3954" title="new-cohere-front-door" src="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/new-cohere-front-door.jpg" alt="New Cohere Front Door" width="500" height="320" /></a></p>
<p><strong>That&#8217;s right folks, in case you haven&#8217;t heard by now, COHERE IS MOVING!</strong></p>
<p>Our new home is located at <strong>418 South Howes Street</strong>, a scant 8 blocks from our current location. Cohere 2.0 will officially open its doors to the laptop-working public on 2/1/2012, but current members and first timers will have access before that time.</p>
<p>Below are more pertinent details of what I hope will be a smooth transition to our new home. If you have any questions or concerns about this change, please contact Hannah or Angel. And PLEASE mark the below dates on your calendar&#8211;I don&#8217;t want anyone showing up to the cold, empty, Jefferson St. location next Monday, wondering what happened to their coworking space.</p>
<p><strong>The Essential Details </strong>(for skimmers)</p>
<p>Cohere will be closed from 1/20-1/23 for the move and reopening at 9am on Tuesday, 1/24 at our <strong>new location. 418 South Howes Street</strong>. From Howes, walk along the south side of the building until you see the door with 2 small steps (above). Head to the top floor. <strong>Free coworking from 1/24-1/27 for first timers.</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Complete Details</strong></p>
<p>In prep for the move, Cohere will be <strong>completely CLOSED for just 2 days to members</strong> and the public on:</p>
<p><strong>Friday, January 20th</strong></p>
<p><strong>Monday, January 23rd</strong></p>
<p><strong>If you volunteered to help with the move </strong>(you are awesome). Please show up at Old Cohere around 10 am on Saturday, January 21st. There will be a variety of different tasks, and not all will include heavy lifting. Pizza and beer will be provided.</p>
<p><strong>Cohere will reopen at our new location</strong>, 418 South Howes Street on <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Tuesday, January 24th</strong></span>. We&#8217;ll have an electronic key pad at the new location too but your code may change so please watch your email in the coming weeks for what code to use to access the space.</p>
<p><strong>Mail Service: </strong>will still be available at new Cohere to ACTIVE members only and you should have <a href="https://moversguide.usps.com/icoa/icoa-main-flow.do?execution=e1s1" target="_blank">changed your address</a> effective January 13th (If you didn&#8217;t, please do so ASAP!) An active member is someone who uses at least 50% of their coworking days each month.</p>
<p><strong>Conference Room Reservations</strong>: you&#8217;ll reserve the NEW conference room exactly as you do now just realize that your meetings will be at NEW Cohere starting Tuesday, January 24th. <strong>There will be no operations at Old Cohere as of Friday, January 20th.</strong></p>
<p><strong>To see juicy pics of the new space <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.229133707149970&amp;type=1" target="_blank">check out our Facebook group page</a>!</strong></p>

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		<title>Coworking: How To Avoid Fragmentation In The Presence Of Private Offices</title>
		<link>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/coworking-how-to-avoid-fragmentation-in-the-presence-of-private-offices</link>
		<comments>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/coworking-how-to-avoid-fragmentation-in-the-presence-of-private-offices#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:56:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice/Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coworking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cohere]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fragmentation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[isolation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new space]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[private offices]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://coherecommunity.com/?p=3938</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Without conscious effort from both office-dwellers and flex desk-sitters, there's a risk that private offices could fragment our community. Isolation is bad for both groups and defeats the purpose of coworking. Here are tips for avoiding it.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/coworking-private-office.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3939" title="coworking-private-office" src="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/coworking-private-office.jpg" alt="Coworking Private Office" width="500" height="375" /></a></p>
<p>As many of you know, Cohere is getting ready to move to our new home: a larger, more versatile space that will better meet the needs of our growing community. Of course, this new facility also comes with a bigger price tag, so I&#8217;ve had to spend time deciding the most economical way to make use of all our new space.</p>
<p>Among other things, this means for the first time in Cohere history, I&#8217;ve decided to offer private offices. These offices will be separate from the open work space, meaning the members that use them will spend most of their time away from the chatter and sharing that make Cohere such a lovely place to belong.</p>
<p>I know, I know. In the past I&#8217;ve ranted that <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/why-private-offices-crush-the-true-spirit-of-community">private offices crush the true spirit of community</a>, and to some extent I still believe that. So what changed?</p>
<p>Over the past year I&#8217;ve discovered that a) doors and walls, while they may help set the tone, don&#8217;t always determine how the community functions; and b) private offices are an easy way to get much-needed money in the door. Also, private offices attract fledgling businesses that are too small for their own space, but could really benefit from and add to the dynamic of our community.</p>
<p>But without conscious effort from both office-dwellers and flex desk-sitters, there&#8217;s a risk our community could become fragmented. Isolation is bad for both groups and defeats the purpose of coworking. To avoid that, I put together a quick list of reminders that I hope will help us maintain the level of communication and <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/coworking-tips-how-to-collaborate-with-other-freelancers">collaboration</a> we&#8217;ve enjoyed in the past.</p>
<p><strong>How To Avoid Fragmentation In The Presence Of Private Offices</strong></p>
<p>1. Keep your door open whenever possible. This small gesture will let other members know it&#8217;s ok to pop in and say hi. Quickly.<br />
2. Make a point of chatting with other members on the way to and from your private office. Even if it&#8217;s just a smile and &#8220;good morning,&#8221; it helps.<br />
3. Don&#8217;t eat meals at your desk. Give your eyes a rest and venture into a common area where you can enjoy some small talk.<br />
4. Avoid IMs/IRC when the person you&#8217;re chatting with is in the building. You&#8217;re not glued to your chair. Take a much-needed stretch, and walk over to their desk.<br />
5. Attend social functions and workshops whenever you can. This is a great way to meet members who work different schedules, and you might also learn something!<br />
6. Interact with Cohere members via <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/being-social-is-more-important-than-social-media">social media</a>. We&#8217;ve got a pretty active Facebook group where people ask emergency questions, share funny links, and respond to community announcements. Being active here will ensure that we don&#8217;t forget your name, even if we don&#8217;t see your face that often.</p>
<p><strong>Do you have concerns about the introduction of private offices? What are your ideas about how to maintain a high level of community interaction despite closed doors? Share your thoughts in a comment!</strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #888888;"><em>Image Credit: Flickr &#8211; <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coworkcentral/3550878227/sizes/m/in/pool-65333679@N00/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #888888;">Cowork Central</span></a></em></span></p>

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		<title>4 Enlightening Events For Indy Professionals In 2012</title>
		<link>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/4-enlightening-events-for-indy-professionals-in-2012</link>
		<comments>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/4-enlightening-events-for-indy-professionals-in-2012#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:32:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coworking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conference]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[networking]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://coherecommunity.com/?p=3931</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Attending events, both inside and outside your chosen industry, is a great way to continue your education while also increasing your friends and followers. Here are some you should check out!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/must-attend-events-2012.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3932" title="must-attend-events-2012" src="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/must-attend-events-2012.jpg" alt="Events For Independent Professionals" width="500" height="281" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Happy New Year Coworking Community!</strong></p>
<p>This is a wonderful time when the new year stretches out before us like an untouched canvas. The possibilities of what can be accomplished over the next 12 months seem endless at this moment.</p>
<p>As location-independent professionals, January is a great time to set goals, plan strategies, and identify the opportunities for connection and collaboration that will expand our own networks as well as enrich the larger community.</p>
<p>Even if you&#8217;re a regular at your local coworking space, it can be easy to become comfortable with your limited circle of friends and colleagues. But as a freelancer or business owner, it&#8217;s essential that you find new ways to challenge yourself, and new people who will expand your mind. Attending events, both inside and outside your chosen industry, is a great way to continue your education while also increasing your friends and followers.</p>
<h3>If you&#8217;re looking for a few key events to attend this year, here&#8217;s a short list of favorites to get you started:</h3>
<p><strong>Worldwide #Jellyweek 2012</strong></p>
<p>A &#8220;Jelly&#8221; is like coworking, only without a dedicated space, time or set of attendees. Often catalysts use the Jelly format to explore their community&#8217;s interest in coworking before opening a permanent space. International Jelly Week is a decentralized global event during which independent professionals will come together (in a person&#8217;s home, a coffee shop, a public space or an office) to work and network for the day. Topics of discussion include: What important needs can be fulfilled by coworking? How can coworking help solve local and global problems? How can coworkers use the global coworking infrastructure to foster their businesses and projects? Which people and networks aren’t yet connected to the idea of coworking, but should be involved? How can business-oriented networks and NGOs use the coworking infrastructure for their global community building and actions? Learm more at <a href="http://jellyweek.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">jellyweek.org</a> and on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/198254403541920/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</p>
<p><strong>2nd Annual Global Coworking Unconference &#8211; Austin, Texas &#8211; March 8, 2012</strong></p>
<p>The premier event for coworkers and coworking space owners returns for its second year&#8230;bigger and better than ever! This year, the Global Coworking Unconference (GCUC or &#8220;juicy&#8221; for short) moves to a bigger location and will feature two tracks: an “unconference” track with exceptional peer-to-peer breakouts (great for seasoned coworking space owners) and a more structured conference track (perfect for newer owners and folks who just want to learn more about the movement.) Anyone can jump back and forth between the two tracks throughout the day. The larger keynotes and breaks will bring everyone back together in one large group, making it a cohesive experience for all. <a href="http://www.austingcuc.com/" target="_blank">Learn more and register here.</a></p>
<p><strong>International Freelancers Day 2012</strong></p>
<p>International Freelancers Day is the largest FREE online conference exclusively for self-employed service professionals. You&#8217;ll learn from some of the world&#8217;s most respected professionals and thought leaders in the areas of freelancing, marketing, social media and personal development. They&#8217;ll reveal proven and actionable business-building ideas, insights, tactics and strategies that will help take your &#8220;business of one&#8221; to the next level. International Freelancer&#8217;s Day 2011 took place in September and was a huge success. <a href="http://www.internationalfreelancersday.com" target="_blank">Watch this website</a> for an announcement of this year&#8217;s conference.</p>
<p><strong>HOW Design Live 2012 &#8211; Boston, Mass., June 21 &#8211; 25</strong></p>
<p>Registration is now open for HOW Design Live—not one but four high-energy creative conferences rolled into one. Individual tracks focus on Designers, Project Managers, Creative Freelancers, and Packaging Specialists. Choose one—or all—of the conferences detailed below and produce your most inspired and professionally rewarding creative work ever.</p>
<p>Check out the main web site, <a title="HOW Design Live" href="http://howdesignlive.com/?r=cfblog&amp;lid=cfblog" target="_blank">HOWDesignLive.com</a>, now updated with full conference information on sessions, workshops, tours, speakers, and networking events. Sign up by March 30 and take advantage of Early-Bird Savings!</p>
<p><strong>Do you know of a stellar event that independent professionals would be crazy to miss? Share it in a comment!</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color: #888888;"><em>Image Credit: Flickr &#8211; <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/4371000486/sizes/m/in/set-72157625612673573/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #888888;">opensourceway</span></a></em></span></p>

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		<title>5 New Year Resolutions For The Successful Freelancer</title>
		<link>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/5-new-year-resolutions-for-the-successful-freelancer</link>
		<comments>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/5-new-year-resolutions-for-the-successful-freelancer#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:53:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Benefits of Coworking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coworking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grow your business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Year]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[resolutions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[work smart]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://coherecommunity.com/?p=3927</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you're looking for some resolutions that will help you to improve your professional and personal life in the New Year, here are a few to get you started.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/freelance-happy-new-year.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3928" title="freelance-happy-new-year" src="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/freelance-happy-new-year.jpg" alt="Freelance New Year Resolutions" width="500" height="303" /></a></p>
<p>Well folks, 2011 is almost over. There have been ups and downs, surprises and disappointments. But over all, I think I can say with confidence that Cohere is a stronger, more vibrant community than we were before. We survived a lean summer, a difficult lease renewal, a graffiti attack, and the search for a new home. All the while, you, the amazing community, supported each other, collaborated, grew your businesses, and redefined the state of unicorn cuisine.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m so excited to see what&#8217;s in store for Cohere in 2012! There will be a new space to make our own, new members to welcome, new projects to devise, and new projects on which to <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/coworking-tips-how-to-collaborate-with-other-freelancers">collaborate</a>. It will be hard work, but as freelancers and remote workers, we are no strangers to self-motivation.</p>
<p><strong>But just in case you&#8217;re looking for some resolutions that will help you to improve your professional and personal life in the New Year, here are a few to get you started:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Raise Your Rates</strong></p>
<p>One thing every freelancer can agree on is the need to end the feast or famine cycle. One month you&#8217;ve got too much work, the next month you&#8217;re killing time while the bank account dwindles. This is no good. One strategy for ending this cycle is to <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/attention-freelancer-its-time-to-raise-your-rates">raise your rates</a>. Undervaluing your services is a surefire way to ensure you will constantly be searching for more clients. This can be stressful and also reduces the quality of customer service you can provide to your loyal customers.</p>
<p><em><strong>Resolve to dedicate at least a few hours of your time to researching your competition.</strong></em> Get a better idea of what your peers are charging, and consult industry resources (if they exist) to find a baseline rate for professionals in your field. Consult with your fellow coworkers to find our what they charge. When in doubt, double it.</p>
<p><strong>Use Your Coworking Space</strong></p>
<p>Once you&#8217;re a seasoned coworker, it can be easy to forget that <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/3-ways-coworking-makes-you-a-better-professional">this community exists to empower and enrich you</a>, the mobile worker. Are you using it to it&#8217;s full potential? Your membership at Cohere gives you permission to use this community as your sounding board, your focus group, your group therapist, and your drill sergeant. The level to which you are engaged with the community determines how much of a return you&#8217;ll see on your monthly investment.</p>
<p><em><strong>Resolve to <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/get-more-out-of-coworking-in-the-new-year" target="_blank">to teach and be taught</a>.</strong></em> Be willing to share: your success and failures, as well as your knowledge and time. Most importantly, just show up. Amazing things happen when you are in the company of like-minded individuals that are genuinely interested in your success.</p>
<p><strong>Say No More Often</strong></p>
<p>As a freelancer or small business owner it&#8217;s easy to feel guilty when you&#8217;re not working. We take on too many projects because we&#8217;re afraid that someday we might not be able to find any. This &#8220;bring it on&#8221; approach might work for bigger companies with a stable full of talent, but it&#8217;s the expressway to burn out for a one or two person business. Not charging enough for your services facilitates this need to take on more than you can really handle (see Resolution #1).</p>
<p><em><strong>Resolve to be more choosy.</strong></em> Pick projects that excite you, not projects you can live with. <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/freelance-issues-dealing-with-deadbeat-clients">Refuse to renew contracts with difficult clients</a>. Embrace your status as an expert in your field, and leave the entry-level projects for entry-level professionals.</p>
<p><strong>Refine Your Brand/Specialize</strong></p>
<p>This is part-two of the resolution to say no more often. Finding your niche is the first step toward success in your field, and limiting the type of projects you take on is the best way to define your brand. Specializing will allow your customers and coworking community to better understand what type of work you&#8217;re looking for, facilitating referrals that you&#8217;ll actually enjoy.</p>
<p><em><strong>Resolve to sit down with yourself and outline your dream projects and clients.</strong></em> Once you&#8217;ve got a list, look for overarching themes. This is the type of work you&#8217;d love to do, and therefore the work that you&#8217;ll do the best.</p>
<p><strong>Don&#8217;t Work More, Work Smarter</strong></p>
<p>As a non-traditional worker, you are the master of your own destiny. You decide when and where to work. But we often forget that we also have the ability to decide HOW we work. Emulating a traditional workstyle in a new place won&#8217;t allow you to achieve the greater productivity that&#8217;s proven to come along with location-independence. Most people can only be truly productive for about 4 hours a day, so why are you forcing yourself to work 8?</p>
<p><em><strong>Resolve to listen to your body and mind.</strong></em> Pay attention to your work habits, and find ways to maximize your personal style. When you&#8217;re tired, take a break. When you&#8217;d rather read a book than answer emails, do it. Don&#8217;t gaze out the window at a nice day, get out in it. Seek out <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/3-free-tools-every-freelancer-should-know-about">tools</a> and tricks that will help you stay focused and work more efficiently.</p>
<p><strong>What are your New Year&#8217;s resolutions? Share your goals for a more productive year in the comments!</strong></p>
<p><em style="color: #888888;">Image Credit: Flickr &#8211; <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lel4nd/5311059950/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #888888;">lel4nd</span></a></em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

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		<title>Why You Need A Few Days Off (And Why That&#8217;s OK)</title>
		<link>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/why-you-need-a-few-days-off-and-why-thats-ok</link>
		<comments>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/why-you-need-a-few-days-off-and-why-thats-ok#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:38:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice/Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coworking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[guilt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[laziness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[time off]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vacation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://coherecommunity.com/?p=3918</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The average freelancer works almost twice as long as the average nine-to-five employee. So, why is it that we feel guilty taking some time off for the holidays?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/out-of-office-vacation.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3919" title="out-of-office-vacation" src="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/out-of-office-vacation.jpg" alt="Out of office vacation" width="500" height="334" /></a></p>
<p><strong>The average freelancer works almost twice as long as the average nine-to-five employee. So, why is it that we feel guilty taking some time off for the holidays?</strong></p>
<p>No matter how you celebrate, the holidays are a time for sleeping ridiculously late, eating way too much, spiking the egg nog, and hugging everyone you know.</p>
<p>To that end, the holidays are one time of the year when traditional workers have an advantage over the freelancer: They get PTO, and we get guilt. The average 9 to 5-er waits for the clock to hit quitting time, and bolts out the door. The thought of the emails waiting to be answered or presentations to be assembled won&#8217;t cross their mind again until Monday morning.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s the difference: most freelancers love what they do.</p>
<p>We are obsessed. We think about our business every waking moment. We&#8217;re always networking, worrying about clients, checking our published work to make sure our names are spelled correctly. While we are completely in charge of when we get work done, the thinking about it never stops. We ALWAYS feel like we should be getting work done.</p>
<p>Maybe it&#8217;s because we still don&#8217;t feel like our job is as legitimate as one that happens in an office. Or maybe the lack of a salary safety net makes us feel uneasy about earning a few hours less this month.</p>
<p>Whatever the reason, I&#8217;m here to tell you that the guilt you&#8217;re feeling is unfounded, and you totally deserve a day (or seven) to completely unplug from your business.</p>
<p>This is not the corporate grind. You&#8217;re not competing for the corner office. You&#8217;re building a business, a legacy. You&#8217;re in there for the long hall. The work will always be here, but your friends, family, and the opportunity to make memories with them may not.</p>
<p>So go ahead. Activate that &#8220;out of office&#8221; email response a few days early. I know you planned to work right up until Christmas Eve, but I&#8217;m challenging you to scrap that plan. Bake 1,500 gingerbread cookies with your kids. Craft some presents for your best friends. Stay in your pajamas and read a book all day.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m writing you a prescription for laziness and self-indulgence. Take daily and repeat as needed. You&#8217;ll be surprised how much better you&#8217;ll feel when it&#8217;s time to be brilliant. Next year.</p>
<h3>Happy Holidays Cohere!!!</h3>
<p><span style="color: #888888;"><em>Image Credit: Flickr &#8211; <span style="color: #888888;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/s-t-r-a-n-g-e/3407827288/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Victor Bezrukov</a></span></em></span></p>

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		<title>Top 6 Gift Ideas For Freelancers &amp; Small Business Owners</title>
		<link>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/top-six-gift-ideas-for-freelancers-small-business-owners</link>
		<comments>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/top-six-gift-ideas-for-freelancers-small-business-owners#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:54:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneurs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gift ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[independent professional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mobile worker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tools]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://coherecommunity.com/?p=3901</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Although there's more to the holidays than giving and getting, here are some useful gift ideas that will help your favorite freelancer be even more productive and successful in the New Year.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/freelance-christmas-gifts.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3902" title="freelance-christmas-gifts" src="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/freelance-christmas-gifts.jpg" alt="Christmas Gifts for Freelancers" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />
<strong>Wondering what to get the independent professional on your list? Stumped about the best present for the small business owner in your life? </strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>Although there&#8217;s more to the holidays than giving and getting, here are some useful gift ideas that will help your favorite freelancer be even more productive and successful in the New Year. Feel free to add your own gift suggestions in a comment below!</p>
<p><strong>1. Membership at a local coworking space.</strong></p>
<p>(You know I had to&#8230;) There&#8217;s nothing better than the gifts of friendship and <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/why-a-coworking-space-is-important-to-the-local-economy">community</a>, and you&#8217;ll be giving both when you buy a coworking membership for your favorite mobile worker. Most coworking spaces offer different levels and lengths of membership, so it&#8217;s much more flexible than a gym membership or fruit of the month club. Do some light research before you buy to make sure the coworking space is conveniently located and has all the amenities your small business owner will need. Cohere has a wicked discount on <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/ebooks/3-day-pass-pack">3 day pass packs right now. 3 days for just $25!</a></p>
<p><strong>2. Cloud storage for precious data.</strong></p>
<p>Freelancers live on, for, and through their laptop and other mobile devices. In the blink of an eye these precious machines can be destroyed by a poorly placed coffee cup or dragged to the floor by a dangling power cord (just ask Julie). Give peace of mind by purchasing a storage unit in the cloud. Online data storage backs up your files automatically, and allows you to access them from any internet-connected computer. <a href="http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/free_online_storage_services.php" target="_blank">Check out these top five affordable online storage services</a>.</p>
<p><strong>3. A stand-up desk.</strong></p>
<p>While freelance work can be done from almost any location, it&#8217;s almost always done in a sitting position. According to a study published in the <em>Medicine &amp; Science in Sports &amp; Exercise</em> journal, people who sat most of the day had a 54% increased risk to have a heart attack. Therefore, a stand-up desk can literally save a freelance writer’s life. Check out <a href="http://www.geekdesk.com/" target="_blank">GeekDesk.com</a> for some of the best stand up desk designs.</p>
<p><strong>4. A mobile hot-spot.</strong></p>
<p>While this might be at the pricier end of the holiday gift-giving spectrum, it is absolutely worth the cost. A mobile hot-spot has the power to change a freelancer&#8217;s life by creating a little bubble of secure wi-fi that will travel with them wherever they go. Slow, costly airport wi-fi, and unsecured coffee shop wi-fi will be a thing of the past, and your beloved freelancer will never have disconnect anxiety again. <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/208154/mobile_hotspots_which_are_fastest_most_reliable.html" target="_blank">Read reviews of the fastest, most reliable hot spots</a>.</p>
<p><strong>5. Portable solar charger.</strong></p>
<p>The only thing worse than having no internet access is dead devices with no power outlet in sight. Ease the fear of running out of juice by giving a portable charger that only needs the sun to work! There are now solar chargers that can power everything from your laptop to your smartphone as long as you&#8217;ve got an hour and access to sunlight. Check out <a href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-reviews/eco-friendly-products/portable-solar-panels#slide-1" target="_blank">the best portable solar charging devices here</a>.</p>
<p><strong>6. Industry-relevant e-books.</strong></p>
<p>As a small business owner, it&#8217;s easy to feel like you&#8217;re just making stuff up as you go along. Reading books by successful entrepreneurs can restore inspiration as well as confidence. Instead of giving a bulky book that will only end up gathering dust, give a sleek (and more affordable) e-book that can be accessed anywhere. Here are some of our favorite titles:</p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.guerrillafreelancing.com/download-the-guide-to-guerrilla-freelancing-ebook-for-free/">Guide to Guerilla Freelancing</a></em> - In this compact eBook (22 pages), Mike Smith packs in information on how to start your freelancing business for a minimum amount of money, red flags to look out for, benefits and drawbacks to freelancing, and more.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/12/what-matters-now-get-the-free-ebook.html">What Matters Now</a></em>   - This free 82-page eBook from Seth Godin is a collection of thoughts and quotes from well-known bloggers and thinkers on important topics. Each topic is about a page long. Use this book for inspiration.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/ebooks/coworkers">Coworking: How Freelancers Escape the Coffee Shop Office</a> - </em>The only book written specifically for coworkers by coworkers, this is your guide to the who, what, where, why, and how of coworking. Featuring tips for finding and participating in a local coworking community, and personal stories from coworkers around the world.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/12/03/time-management-for-creative-people-free-e-book/">Time Management for Creative People</a></em>  by Mark McGuinness from Wishful Thinking &#8211; Do you struggle to find enough time to get everything done? This book is here to help. Over 30 pages on how to manage your time better.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/the-best-books-for-freelancers/">How to be a Rockstar Freelancer</a></em>  &#8211; Written by the creators of Freelance Switch, this ebook goes far beyond the creative aspects of the business, giving practical advice on the difficult situations a new freelancer can face: from managing your budget on a freelancer’s changing income to balancing work from multiple clients.</p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.petershallard.com/downloads/SeekAndDestroy.pdf">Seek and Destroy</a></em>  by Peter Shallard &#8211; This 61-page eBook discusses some of the common obstacles entrepreneurs face and explains how to overcome them. If your business is stuck and you can’t figure out why, Peter may have the answer</p>
<p><strong>What do you want Santa to bring you?</strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #888888;"><em>Image Credit: Flickr &#8211; <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/photogaby/5328553127/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #888888;">_Fidelio_</span></a></em></span></p>

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		<title>Coworking Increases Profit: A Cohere Case Study</title>
		<link>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/coworking-increases-profit-a-cohere-case-study</link>
		<comments>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/coworking-increases-profit-a-cohere-case-study#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:58:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Benefits of Coworking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coworking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[case study]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[productivity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[profit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://coherecommunity.com/?p=3888</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While chatting with a fairly new Cohere member the other day, I decided to see if this legend of "profitability" holds true in our own community. Here's how the conversation panned out.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/piggy-bank-profit.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3889" style="margin: 4px;" title="piggy-bank-profit" src="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/piggy-bank-profit.jpg" alt="Piggy Bank" width="322" height="480" /></a> We have lots of anecdotal proof and <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/what-the-2nd-global-coworking-survey-says-about-you">some quantitative evidence</a> that coworking helps freelancers and small business owners become more profitable.</p>
<p>Coworking provides an instant referral network, motivation, cost-free feedback, and <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/want-to-support-the-99-occupy-your-local-coworking-space">an overall magical environment</a> in which people tend to come up with money-making ideas (ok maybe it&#8217;s not &#8220;magical&#8221; but it&#8217;s definitely more special than a coffee shop).</p>
<p>Lots of freelancers claim that they can&#8217;t afford to try coworking, but I would argue that <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/3-reasons-you-cant-afford-to-live-without-coworking">you can&#8217;t afford not to</a>. So while chatting with a fairly new Cohere member the other day, I decided to see if this legend of &#8220;profitability&#8221; holds true in our own community. Here&#8217;s how the conversation panned out. <em>(Names have been removed to protect the now slightly more wealthy).</em></p>
<p><strong>Angel:</strong> Do you have an estimate of how many $$ of work Cohere has brought your way since joining?</p>
<p><em><strong>Member:</strong></em> Give me a sec&#8230;its pretty convoluted since connections lead to connections.</p>
<p><strong>Angel:</strong> isn&#8217;t that how everything works?</p>
<p><em><strong>Member:</strong></em> okay, this is kind of awesome. When I account for jobs for coherians, and jobs that came about as referrals from them and referrals from those referrals, its over $5000!</p>
<p><strong>Angel:</strong> holy sh*t. pardon my french. how long have you been a member?</p>
<p><em><strong>Member:</strong></em> 4 or 5 months.</p>
<p><strong>Angel:</strong> damns. that&#8217;s freeaking awesome!</p>
<p><em><strong>Member:</strong></em> It is&#8230;kinda shocking to me to actually figure that out!</p>
<p><strong>Angel:</strong> I&#8217;m beaming right now. Cohere works. Period.</p>
<p><em><strong>Member:</strong></em> I was thinking to myself that ALMOST every time I am in there I make a connection that leads to work.</p>
<p><strong>Angel:</strong> This is like an early xmas present to me and my fledgling little business!</p>
<p><em><strong>Member:</strong></em> talk about a strong ROI..</p>
<p><strong>Angel:</strong> It also helps that you&#8217;re a gifted person  and super awesome to work with!</p>
<p><em><strong>Member:</strong></em> looks like we need to give each other some testimonials for our respective sites!</p>
<p><strong>Angel:</strong> Yes.</p>
<p><em><strong>Member:</strong></em> you can tell prospective members that within about a week of joining I got a quick and simple job straight from you that effectively covered 3 months of membership. I met Nick thru an event at Cohere and that resulted in numerous jobs&#8230;and that is an arrangement that continues to be beneficial&#8230;Referrals from him got me additional clients that then referred me to other people (some in CA) who now use me as a referral for THEIR clients. It is an interconnected web of awesome. I now have had clients on both coasts&#8230;that can trace back to Cohere. Its like 6 degrees of Cohere Magic.</p>
<p>This conversation has been reproduced in its original entirety. This is really what it&#8217;s like to exist in the Cohere coworking community. All the exclamation points and reciprocity are genuine.</p>
<p>Now, I&#8217;m not guaranteeing that 4 months of membership will put $5k of pure profit in your pocket, but there&#8217;s a darn good chance that you WILL get new clients as a result of working here. All it takes is an open mind, a sharing personality, and the desire to build your business.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/membership/free-day-pass">a free day pass</a> to check it out in person doesn&#8217;t hurt either.</p>
<p><span style="color: #888888;"><em>Image Credit: Flickr &#8211; <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/4243823745/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #888888;">Nina Matthews Photography</span></a></em></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

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		<title>I&#8217;m Loyal Block Party: Coworking, Coffee and Books</title>
		<link>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/im-loyal-block-party-coworking-coffee-and-books</link>
		<comments>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/im-loyal-block-party-coworking-coffee-and-books#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:02:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Coworking]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://coherecommunity.com/?p=3883</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Loyalty-Card-01.jpg"></a>A close-knit local community has long been a source of Fort Collins pride. For years, the community’s engagement has been the driving force for local businesses. In celebration of this symbiotic spirit, several small businesses in Old Town have taken local... <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/im-loyal-block-party-coworking-coffee-and-books">Read More</a></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Loyalty-Card-01.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3835" title="Loyalty Card-01" src="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Loyalty-Card-01-300x179.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="179" /></a>A close-knit local community has long been a source of Fort Collins pride. For years, the community’s engagement has been the driving force for local businesses. In celebration of this symbiotic spirit, several small businesses in Old Town have taken local promotion into their own hands, collaborating on a hyper-local shopping campaign for the holiday season.</p>
<p>The “I’m Loyal Block Party” program is a collaborative effort that celebrates local independent businesses. <strong>Cohere Community, Café Ardour, and Old Firehouse Books</strong> &#8211; three businesses that reside on the same downtown block &#8211; have teamed up to develop a Loyal Locations punch card program. The I’m Loyal Block Party was mobilized by creative spirit Angel Kwiatkowski (owner of Cohere) to encourage shoppers to keep their holiday spending local.</p>
<p>“For Cohere, buying in to other local programs and coupon deals has been cost prohibitive so we decided to launch our own. With donated design and discounted printing, we were able to rapidly deploy (idea to launch was 14 days) our own loyalty card for about 1/10 the cost of other programs. We all frequent each others’ businesses based on location so we think customers will shop similarly.”</p>
<p>The three participating businesses are conveniently located on the same block between Jefferson, Linden and Walnut streets in Old Town Fort Collins. Beginning Nov. 25, Café Ardour and Old Firehouse Books will be handing out 2,500 free “I’m Loyal Block Party” cards to customers. Customers will receive a punch on their “I’m Loyal Block Party” cards for each Loyal Location at which they spend $25 or more. If customers spend $25 at each of the three shops between Dec. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011, they can redeem the punch card for a $10 gift card for any one of the three locations.</p>
<p>“It’s a block party!,”  said Maggie Davis, owner of Café Ardour. “What better way to support your community than to team up with the local businesses surrounding you?”</p>
<p>The I’m Loyal card program is meant to extend beyond this one promotion. We hope to bring loyal Fort Collins shoppers individual cards tailored to culinary foodies, breakfast enthusiasts and bar crawlers in early 2012.</p>
<p><em><strong>Want to participate in our next Block Party? <a href="mailto: fccoworking@gmail.com">Drop us an email.</a></strong></em></p>

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		<title>3 Reasons You Can&#8217;t Afford To Live Without Coworking</title>
		<link>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/3-reasons-you-cant-afford-to-live-without-coworking</link>
		<comments>http://coherecommunity.com/blog/3-reasons-you-cant-afford-to-live-without-coworking#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:59:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Angel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advice/Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Benefits of Coworking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coworking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business owners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneurs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://coherecommunity.com/?p=3875</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you're a mobile worker with a dream, you can't afford to NOT be coworking. Here's why.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/coworking-for-your-dreams.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3876" title="coworking-for-your-dreams" src="http://coherecommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/coworking-for-your-dreams.jpg" alt="Coworking For Your Dreams" width="500" height="332" /></a></p>
<p>The first time a freelancer hears about coworking, their initial response is something to the effect of, &#8220;that sounds great but I just can&#8217;t afford it right now.&#8221;</p>
<p>There&#8217;s no denying that the economy sucks right now, and as independent professionals, we live without the illusion of security that our jobs will always be there. At the same time, we can&#8217;t be fired. And when life makes it necessary to increase income, it&#8217;s far easier for a freelancer to find a new client than for a traditional employee to get a raise.</p>
<p>But I digress.</p>
<p>The truth is, if you&#8217;re a mobile worker with a dream, you can&#8217;t afford to NOT be coworking. Consider this: the lightest level of membership at Cohere is $38/month. That&#8217;s 10 lattes. And I doubt the coffee shop is doing much for your professional image. Here are 3 more reasons you need to be coworking.</p>
<p><strong>1. Pain-free Networking</strong></p>
<p>Let&#8217;s be real: <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/two-quick-fixes-for-the-worst-networking-events">networking events are the worst</a>. People standing stiffly against the wall, juggling a tiny plate of appetizers and a stack of business cards. Name tags. Elevator pitches. It&#8217;s not pretty, and most people get nothing from it.</p>
<p>Coworking allows you to network without the pain and humiliation. Your fellow coworking members are some of the most talented, successful professionals in town. And you get to sit next to them every day! Instead of 5 minutes of small talk, you&#8217;ll have real, meaningful conversations with people who can and will refer you work.</p>
<p><strong>2. An Elevated Reputation</strong></p>
<p>Joining a coworking space might seem like a big jump for your career. Maybe you&#8217;re just starting out, and profits are still tight. That&#8217;s fine, we&#8217;ve all been there. Even though you may starting a business out of your garage, that&#8217;s not the best place to meet potential clients. <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/3-ways-coworking-makes-you-a-better-professional">Coworking provides the professional image you can&#8217;t yet afford</a>. A conference room with presentation equipment, quiet areas to take important phone calls, work space for brain storming sessions, etc. You&#8217;ll also get a business mailing address and someone to sign for your packages while you&#8217;re at lunch. For no extra charge! (P.O. boxes alone can cost more than $20 a month).</p>
<p><strong>3. A Tribe </strong></p>
<p>Are you looking to grow your business? Want to avoid those first-time freelancer mistakes? Need constructive feedback on a project from someone other than your mother? <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/blog/5-reasons-coworking-could-save-your-small-business">These are the intangibles provided by your coworking tribe</a>. For about a dollar a day, you&#8217;ll have access to some of the brightest minds in the business. People who have been there and lived to tell the tale. Professionals who can give you advice, sympathize with your failures, and rejoice in your victories. Coworkers share their knowledge freely, knowing that strong small businesses are the backbone of our larger community. We participate to help each other become better.</p>
<p>Where else are you gonna get that for $38?</p>
<p><strong>Want to give coworking a try? Claim your obligation-free <a href="http://coherecommunity.com/membership/free-day-pass" target="_blank">day pass to Cohere Community</a> right now!</strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #888888;"><em>Image Credit: Flickr &#8211; <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mindaugasdanys/5869641537/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #888888;">mdanys</span></a>/Hub Vilnius</em></span></p>

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