Two days after graduation I began working for the consulting firm that I interned with during junior and senior year of college. Our main office is four hours away so I set up shop from home as the Twin Cities satellite.
Those of you who have worked from home for any period of time are familiar with the awkward dance between guilt and comfort that comes with the knowledge that those on the other end of the conference line have no idea that you are still in your pajamas (until now). Luckily, I grew out of the “pajama professional” phase after a few weeks, but I never managed to settle into a comfortable work space in my house or at a nearby coffee shop. My laptop, chargers, and files amoebaed their way across the various surfaces of our house: kitchen counter, desk in bedroom, desk in basement, sunroom couch, etc, without finding a comfortable or productive home.
About one month ago I put a request out to the Universe to find me an office – one with coworkers and windows. After posting Monday’s blog I indulged my curiosity – as instructed by my horoscope – and got in the car to visit CoCo, a coworking space I had heard about from a former colleague. As chance would have it, CoCo was also featured on the front page of the Business Insider section yesterday in the Star Tribune. My mom had highlighted the article for me and left it on the kitchen counter. I took this convergence as a sign and went to explore.
I parked my car near Mears Park and navigated the construction to the address that Google had texted me. I knew the minute I saw the bright red and yellow “Hello CoCo” sign on the outside of the building that my life was about to get more interesting. I rode the elevator to the fourth floor and when the doors open (queue birdsong) I was greeted by warm sunlight reflected off polished wood floors, the quiet cadence of XM radio, and the steady hum of minds at work. There was something else though, that grabbed my senses and made me feel oddly tranquil…is that falling water? I looked to my left and saw a fountain, or rather an art installment that involves water cascading from small copper tubes hanging from the ceiling into a clear tank filled with rocks and red plastic lobster. This place is magical.
From the elevator I meandered my way through the workspace –an entire wall of windows, score! I was quickly greeted by Don, one of CoCo’s coowners (everything is about collaboration here) who I recognized from the Star Trib article. He gave me the grand tour: conference rooms, quiet area, kitchen, printer and fax, etc. You can work for free the first time you visit CoCo so Don set me up with the Wifi password and I hung out for a couple hours at one of the library-style tables facing the windows. I introduced myself to one of my new coworkers, who kindly moved a few folders so that I could pull up a spot at his table. As I picked up my things to leave he said “see you tomorrow” and I realized what was missing from the domestic professional equation.
Today was my first day as coworking member at CoCo and I loved it. The adventure of working alone from home is over. Someday I will reflect on the lessons it taught me, sitting on one of our comfy couches, sipping the unlimited coffee, tea, or cocoa that comes with my CoCo membership. Until then I will enjoy the tea, the shared smiles that say “Can’t focus today? It’s okay, me too.”, and the plastic lobsters. We are social beings, we need one another.
See you tomorrow,
Anna
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