Anywired - Wired self-employment tips.

I was recently given the opportunity to interview someone who runs a stylish co-working environment in Montreal, Quebec: Station C.

Patrick is one-half of the partnership who founded the workspace. In this interview he discusses why you might choose to co-work over working from home and how you can make the most of your co-working experience.

Could you introduce Station C to Anywired readers?

Station C is a coworking space opened two months ago in Montréal, Canada. It’s an open loft space with 16 (soon to be 18) desks, 2 meeting rooms, a “lounge” area and a small kitchen.

We have resident members who have full time access and a reserved desk as well as Flex members who buy bundles of points that they use at their leisure over 6 months. (We just switched to that format to better fit demand).

Why do you think co-working beats working from home?

It provides a better separation between life and work. It’s also a great way to get some social interaction, to work alongside cool people you can collaborate with, have a coffee with or have a quick talk to take a break.

You don’t get as many distractions or, when you do, they are from other people working and being creative, not the cat jumping on the keyboard. For a lot of people it’s a much more dynamic, creative environment.

What should self-employed people be looking for in a co-working environment?

Like minded people. It’s important to know what existing members have in mind, how they use the space. If you can’t work at all with noise around you and every other member enjoys the occasional chat and many use the space to collaborate, it might not be the best fit. When it’s a good fit though coworking places can be a fantastic place to work from.

What kind of work goes into running and maintaining Station C?

We haven’t been open for that long and we have had quite a bit of media coverage so we’ve spent a bunch of time showing the place around to visitors. In recent weeks we’ve also had 5 events so that takes time to organize. Normally though, it’s keeping the place clean, invoicing members and receiving payments as well as answering the phone (people need to buzz in and the buzzer rings on our phone).

It’s not time per se but, like almost all coworking spaces, we couldn’t make ends meet if we paid someone to open the space so Dan (my business partner) and I split the days to open for Flex members and it’s been an adjustment to be there at 9 most morning vs the “no schedule” schedule I was on.

Why did you decide to start Station C?

Because we needed it. We needed a place to work from, a place to meet clients that was calmer than cafes and we saw a number of opportunities for small events and needed a space to hold them in.

But really, it’s the office aspect we needed most and a good way to collaborate and work alongside all the interesting freelancers we’ve been meeting around town.

Do you have any tips for successful co-working?

Bring headphones. As fun as it is to have a lively place, you need to be able to tune out the noise for the couple of times a day where there’s more action and you need to concentrate.

Use the occasion to try and separate work from life. Use the commute to “turn the lights off” on work. Not only is it healthier overall, it’s also a good way to enjoy coworking because if you enjoy your work, the coworking space becomes where you “get” to work and home is where you get to relax.

The first time you see someone new, introduce yourself. As per tip one, most people have headphones on but when they get up to make an espresso or wave when you come in, walk up to them and introduce yourself. Makes for nice encounters and for a friendlier place.

Thank you to Patrick from Station C for agreeing to be interviewed!

Photo by b_d_solis.