Again I'd like to say an enormous THANK YOU to everyone who left lovely and supportive comments on my blog post last week where I explained the changes Pat and I have been going through. It's completely overwhelming, knowing just how many e-friends have our backs!
Many of you requested that I keep you updated on how being self-employed pans out. My first real move has been to literally move. I'm now time-sharing a desk space at the fabulous Super+Super HQ with my equally fabulous home-girl Kirstin (pictured above with me on Sunday when we moved in some of our belongings). Kirstin will be using the space to make her fabulous range of hand-drawn jewellery, which you can find in her Etsy shop. And me? Well, it's not yet clear what all my activities will entail, but some of the time I will be writing blog posts such as this one!
Super+Super HQ is a creative hub close to the seafront in Brighton. You may have read about it in Mollie Makes, issue 15, in the article written by sewer and journalist Len of the Seamless blog fame. The have a fantastic schedule of crafty and creative classes and events taking place on the ground floor (pictured above). I hope to be teaching a class or two of my own here before long. They also host crafty hen parties (including my own this Saturday!). The top two floors contain desk spaces for self-employed people including illustrators, textile designers, jewellery makers, e-commerce peops and so on.
In the picture above, the one on the right is ours! It doesn't look empty or at all neat any more. I chose to get desk space rather than working full-time from home, even though it incurs an extra expense at a time when funds are thin on the ground. Pat is now working from home almost all the time from our small, one bedroom flat. I couldn't see how both of us working and living in the same limited space 24/7 would be healthy, for either our businesses or our relationship!
So far so good, I'll update again in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, if anyone has any tips on how to structure your own working day, how to decide what activities should have time spent on them, and so on, I'd love to hear!
29 comments:
Exciting!
Can't say I know anything about successful working myself but maybe Tilly's day in the life posts have some day-planning gold in them?
I will send you a list of some great reads on start ups darling. Just give me a bit of time to organise my self( finish my dissertation due in 3 weeks)
Wow, it's a gorgeous space you're renting and inspiring to boot...I'm sure it'll get all those creative juices you have flowing fast ;o) It's definitely the right move considering Pat's working from home...wouldn't want to go falling out so close to the wedding eh ;o) Hehe! I'm so excited to be following your journey so closely and I'm sure it'll all pan out perfectly for you in the end!
Yay! I love that space. Sure you're going to feel very creative being surrounded by other creative folk!
Beautiful space. Looks like a great fit for you. Good luck with this new chapter of your life, and have fun at your hen party!
looks like a great space. will be fab to hear what you end up doing. good luck!
This is great news! Congrats! I too have just signed up for a desk share this morning at Super+Super (you might have seen me this morning with Tracey?) I'm desk sharing with Tracey and will be in Wed and Thurs - so I look forward to meeting you properly and having a good chin wag about future adventures! I'm slightly terrified of having a desk share as it makes it all so real (well maybe it already felt a bit real when people started paying my invoices!)
Super+Super felt very much like me which is why I chose it over some of the other co working spaces.
Here's to self employment!
Looks like a lovely place to work from! My two top tips are: 1) Use the Pomodoro technique, and 2) Read every Biz Ladies article on designsponge.com. LOTS of great info! :-) Good luck!
How exciting for you! And your friend makes some really cute stuff
That desk-sharing thing looks like a fab idea, can't wait to see how you get on :)
Ahaaa! I was wondering if you'd end up with the Super+Super ladies. Curiously, one of my first articles today was about a coworking project starting in my patch. So it seems crafting, anti-Tesco and coworking stories are going to follow me!
Bets of luck on your journey, I'm so excited for what you come up with in your lovely space :D
What an amazing workspace! Congratulations!
I worked from home for over a year. By the end, the most important things I'd learned were to get dressed and keep fairly regular hours (as if I were going into an office), and to plan my day so that I had uninterrupted creative time when I was at my best and did administrative tasks (emails, etc) when I was less focused.
Your work environment looks fabulous! It looks like a place that would just breed creativity!! Good luck!!
The work space looks lovely. Good luck with your new venture.
What a great space! I'm sure it will help having a place to go to work! I'm jealous that you will get to teach classes!
I've been following your blog for awhile and am loving it. I'm self-employed and you can do it!
That's great news Zo. I think you do need your own space and being such a creative environment is going to help you develop your 'thing'.
Stay focussed and I can see you're having the time of your life too.
I'm going to agree w/ Crab. It's important to get dressed, just like you were going into the office and try to keep regular hours... I started my business (accounting) about 15 months ago and it is fabulous!!!!! It was scary at first, but now I can't imagine working a "regular" job again....Best of luck to you!!!!!
That space sounds great! I haven't ever really worked from home other than writing a thesis, so I don't have much to offer except trying to get into a routine, at least in working hours
How exciting! Best of luck and kick ass :-)
Definitely a good idea to have your own work-space, and it sounds like a great place! Very best of luck with the new venture.
ah look at you gals! Those smiles say I've got a bright future starting right now :) So pleased for you both and I can't wait to read all about it. As a freelancer too I thoroughly concur having a desk space that you have to put on clothes and walk too is a very good thing and gets you in the mind set of I'm going to work today. That said I have a pair of slippers for the office too ;-)
xxx
Oh Zo, I remember you taking your job and being sooooooooooooo amazed you'll be working with your passion... All the best to you both and I know amazing people fall on their feet. My Husbie was made redundant last October, the same week our dog died and we picked up the keys to our newly bought house. How the FREAKING hell would we pay the mortgage. Then we got pregz while he was setting up the Freelancing Biz, and whoa... it's amazing, and daunting and freaking scary... but you'll do it because you've got each other. I'll have a little think about really good ways to set up stuff for you guys. But first, make sure you don't stay in your pyjamas all day, it's a trap for productivity!
xoxoxo Might mail you soon xoxoxo
Oh Zo, I remember you taking your job and being sooooooooooooo amazed you'll be working with your passion... All the best to you both and I know amazing people fall on their feet. My Husbie was made redundant last October, the same week our dog died and we picked up the keys to our newly bought house. How the FREAKING hell would we pay the mortgage. Then we got pregz while he was setting up the Freelancing Biz, and whoa... it's amazing, and daunting and freaking scary... but you'll do it because you've got each other. I'll have a little think about really good ways to set up stuff for you guys. But first, make sure you don't stay in your pyjamas all day, it's a trap for productivity!
xoxoxo Might mail you soon xoxoxo
Blimey Zoe just catching up on your news - what big changes you guys have been going through. I am keeping all my fingers and toes crossed for you and wish you the absolute best of luck in your new ventures. I predict great things!
good luck with your new ventures - it will be so exciting so I hope it goes well. I think you have done so much for the sustainable side of sewing with your blog and putting it out there about what we all do as individuals can affect our planet . I admire your principles . It is sad though about your previous job closing because it was so worthy - I hope somehow it can continue in some way.
Self-employment can be tough. But despite those days when you hate your boss/self it is ultimately really satisfying! I wish you all the best on your new endeavours and look forward to continuing to read your posts. The best thing I ever did for my business was to get it out of the house and rent a space (inside a vintage store which has been a great partnership).
Yay Zo!!!
What a great space. I sort of wish I could do the same, but for now, I'll be working out of my home.
Tips:
Each night write out the top three most important things to do the next day on a new piece of paper. Then start there the next morning.
This keeps me focused, anyway.
Also. Do accounting stuff each week/month - don't let it wait until you have to report VAT.
What an amazing work space. I think this is going to be one very exciting journey for you and I can't wait to follow along!
Looks like a great place and it will surely inspire you to do something great. So sorry to hear about your Job, but i know you'll be great at it! Let us know
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