One of the best ways to grow as an entrepreneur is to learn new things and continuously improve your business skills. Who doesn’t want to be better educated about marketing, increasing sales, and all those other things that makes our business better.
We often look to others for inspiration in areas where we may need help. One person we can always count on within our community here at CoMerge is Maureen Orey of Workplace Learning & Performance Group, a management consulting and training firm (aka WLP Group).
Last year we partnered with Maureen to develop a program of business workshops to help our members keep those creative juices flowing and offer ideas on how to take your business to the next level. Past workshops consisted of topics such as How to Use Social Media for Business, How to Become CEO of Your Life, Defining Your Leadership Voice, and more.
The idea of being able to work from home while raising three young children was one of the main reasons Maureen ventured away from the “9-5″. Although she had worked from home for other companies, it wasn’t until January 2009 that WLP Group was officially launched as a full-time business.
But like many entrepreneurs, Maureen soon learned that working from home had its own set of challenges. Family distractions and household responsibilities prevented her from staying focused on her business. When she found out about CoMerge, she was thrilled to be able to work in a place that was not a coffee shop.
When asked about what she likes most about coworking, Maureen said, “My favorite part about coworking is being able to get out of the home office. I’m able to focus more. It’s a great, professional environment, and I can focus on what I need to get done because I know I have a limited amount of time to do it. The chance to collaborate and meet other entrepreneurs has been fabulous.”
Maureen goes on to talk about how coworking has helped her business grow: “Coworking has helped my business because it has allowed me to step it up a notch in my professionalism. When I have client meetings and workshops, having an environment and a venue for these workshops has created a professional appearance and more of a professional mindset as well. Coworking has also helped me feel more connected to the business community, whereas when you’re home alone in your home office, you’re not as connected to the community on a face-to-face level.”
For more information about Maureen Orey, Workplace Learning and Performance Group, and the weekly professional development workshops here at CoMerge, visit: www.wlpgroup.com
