The following blog post was written by long-time 100state member, Olivia Barrow.
When I quit my job in 2016 to launch my SEO strategy and content creation business, I was excited to become a solopreneur digital nomad, meaning I could perform my job from anywhere. For the first nine months, I did just that. I bounced around between a dozen different coffee shops in Madison, my partner’s apartment, my parents’ house in North Carolina, and the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, until I decided to really embrace the digital nomad stereotype and bought a ticket to Bangkok. I spent nine weeks backpacking around South East Asia, fitting my work in between rock climbing days and sightseeing days.
While I had a wonderful time in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia and will never forget the experiences I had there, when I got home from the trip, I was desperately craving something that I’d had a hard time finding ever since I quit my job: community.
Before the jet lag even wore off, I started touring coworking spaces in Madison, looking not just for a quiet space to focus but a place where I would feel grounded in routine and community. I wanted a place to belong. After evaluating five or six different options around the city, I landed at 100state, and I’ve been here ever since.
100state stands out in the Madison coworking scene for several reasons. As one of the only nonprofit coworking spaces in the area, the rates are very affordable. Secondly, it’s an active art gallery, with a rotating selection of art from dozens of Madison-based artists hanging on the walls year round. It adds so much color to the space, and when I’m in need of inspiration, sometimes I gaze at one of my favorite paintings and let my mind wander. But in my opinion, the most important way 100state stands out is the community. The community at 100state is one of the most vibrant I’ve ever experienced in a coworking space (and I’ve been a member at two others during some other extended periods of travel). At 100state, the regulars know each other by name. Our lunch room is one of the first things you see off the elevator, which makes it a natural gathering place. We chat, share food and snacks, and recently, thanks to community manager Kelly Pagac, we’ve even been practicing yoga and mediation together.
But the community isn’t the only thing I love about 100state and about coworking in general. I’ve broken it down into three reasons I love coworking.
1. Networking with Other Business Owners
As a solopreneur business owner, maintaining a membership at 100state has provided excellent networking opportunities, even when I wasn’t looking for them. I’m an extrovert, so I’m always making an effort to get to know other members, whether they are remote workers, artists, grad students, interns, or entrepreneurs like me. And throughout the years, these efforts have frequently turned into opportunities for my business. The affordable month-to-month membership fee attracts many entrepreneurs who are still in the early stages of their business, and through the years I’ve helped a few business owners create foundational content for their websites. I’ve also gotten excellent referrals to some long-term clients from connections I made over the lunch table at 100state.
2. Personal and Professional Development Opportunities
100state has always been a place for knowledge sharing. In the early years, it was known for hosting community-wide brainstorming and problem-solving sessions. Through the years the types of events have changed, but there have been dozens of free educational events, workshops, panels about topics ranging from how to get a business loan and other challenges entrepreneurs face to workshops about mindfulness, creativity, and personal finance. One cool knowledge-sharing opportunity that Kelly recently launched is what we’re calling “AV Club,” a support group and cheering squad for anybody who wants to dabble in short-form video marketing. Before the club launched, I hadn’t been seriously thinking about doing any video marketing for my business. But now, knowing I’ll have peers to bounce ideas off of, learn logistical tips and tricks from, and get feedback from, I’m excited to dive into a project that might just be transformative for my business.
3. A Home Base in Downtown Madison
I love that 100state is located in the heart of downtown Madison. I live a few miles east of downtown, so it takes me about 20 minutes to commute to the office. In the winter, I enjoy reading a book on my quiet commute on the bus, and when the weather warms up, I ride my bike for more flexibility (although, if I’m honest, I miss the built-in reading time on the bus!). But whether I’m biking or busing, the commute helps me mentally and emotionally separate my work life from my personal life.
We have a secure indoor bike garage on the first floor, which makes it really easy to bike in. And on days where big events are happening downtown, like Concerts on the Square, it’s a big perk to not fight for a bike parking spot (much less a car parking spot!). If I want to go for a bike ride on a nice evening after work, I feel comfortable leaving my stuff for a few hours in the office and using my 24/7 keycard to get back in later — so I can maximize the daylight hours instead of losing time commuting.
If you’re craving community, routine, and a quiet place free from the distractions that can arise at home, check out a membership at 100state!
