Look Mom, I’m Coworking!

Look Mom, I’m Coworking!

Coworking. A few weeks ago I’d barely heard of the concept. Now, as I peer beyond my laptop screen here at my CoMotion On King surroundings, I’m doing it. And, man, it’s pretty cool.

Photo courtesy of Piranha Studios

For a tiny bit of context, I’m a copywriter who has vaulted out on a wing-spreading freelance adventure. I get to work on cool projects for cool people; and many of these projects and people just happen to be in downtown Hamilton — a city I’m not afraid to obnoxiously say I have a lot of heart for.

Another element worth mentioning is that I’ve spent much of my grown-up life in an ad agency. At times, this can be like working within the monkey enclosure at the zoo. Only less controlled. (And, I’ll happily take credit for my contributions to that circus-like atmosphere.) Some struggle with it, some feed off of it. I’m definitely part of the latter. In my world, this generates creativity. That’s not easy to replicate at your kitchen table.

Here’s where I push open the doors of CoMotion On King. A few fortunate conversations, a bit of guidance, and a couple o’ beers later, I morphed into a CoMotion member. The location, right in the heart of downtown Hamilton, couldn’t be better. This is where it’s all happening. The city’s resurgence we read about — it’s right here. Directly outside the window, as I write this, I can see the second phase of construction on The Royal Connaught. The condo-conversion of this historic and long-time-shuttered hotel has been seen as a pivotal piece to our downtown’s revitalization. There’s something inspirational about being in close proximity to this.

Photo courtesy of Piranha Studios

The building, and space that houses CoMotion, is a similar story. The old Hamilton Spectator building — again, spending years idle and slowly crumbling —  now, it’s an amazingly restored space that respects history while offering the functional comforts of a modern work space. At this very moment, I’m overhearing a conversation in the kitchen area; another new member, joining only days ago, is gushing about the space’s environment. A common theme among new and established members.

The energy, or the vibe, is what stands out for me. It’s the blend of all those exterior forces, the interior open-concept design, and, of course, the people. Bringing together a diverse group of people with a diverse set of skills and specialties is such an interesting dynamic. It’s different than your typical office where everyone is, ultimately, singing from the same song book. Here, an introduction can take you on an unpredictable adventure.

https://vimeo.com/174422184

Case in point, my last trip over to the kitchen for coffee where I met a juggler. A juggler!! And not just someone who’s pretty good at juggling and makes you laugh when you’re drunk at a party — an actual, paid, professional juggler! Yup, Lacey does all kinds of workshops and team-building exercises for companies; using juggling as a fun, interactive activity, while helping an organization’s employees reap the benefits of healthy minds and bodies.

Being connected by through location to someone like Lacey is a unique and unforeseen benefit of coworking at CoMotion. From a creative guy’s perspective, or anyone in the business of generating ideas, you draw on the stories and experiences of those around you. That’s the energy. It’s that slow-growing grin you get when you hear something unique, unexpected and different. So far I’ve had a lot of those since I’ve been here. I’m anticipating many more to come.