WHAT WE DO NEXT
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO COVID
RIP OFFICE CULTURE! PERHAPS NOT?....
There are some parts of "Office Culture" I will never miss. Like the impending anxiety of being stuck on a train and wondering how many times before your boss fires you. Ex-bosses if you're reading this YES I know I was never on time, but you still loved me. From home, so much can get done and relatively distraction free. I say relative because NO ONE can resist the almighty PET BELLY RUBS! My experience with "Office Culture" was somewhat toxic in the beginning of my career, but the Pandemic reminded me that it was never all bad and I miss the good.
Belly!
BELLY!!
MORE BELLY!!!
BYOC - BUILD YOUR OWN CULTURE
The Zoom landscape can be somewhat depressing, and isolating. It's hard not to crave the real social interaction we used to have. Midway into 2021, I began feeling more and more like I didn't want to bring the stress and BS of work into my home and let it blend into my life. I stick my middle finger to work life balance! There is work, and there is life. I don't like blending them because then you wake up one day and realize your whole life is revolving around work, and your family with it. Works stays outside where I watch TV and eat horrible for you things.
I decided that I wanted to build my own "Office Culture", but at the same time I was turning what I've been doing since Middle School into a business. I started to market myself as a Portrait Photographer, and I invested in a studio space. That was August / September of 2021. Since then my little scrappy side hustle has gained so much momentum its kind of ridiculous. Now in April 2022, I had to upgrade to a bigger space. Luckily I have an awesome landlord that made this happen SO FAST it was ridiculous. Same building, same property, just different room. More on that guy later...
That's Mai, the Landlord!
IN THE HEART OF CHINATOWN
Rests a beautiful little home grown co-working space named The Courtyard! On the 6th Floor of 68 Harrison is a nest of startups, and scrappy individuals including myself who are creating a new way forward after 2020 tried to shut us all off. This place has become my little professional sanctuary, and this man is a huge part of making that happen. He takes really good care of this place, and has really helped me stay within my budget in starting, what I can only describe as, "The most expensive venture I've ever embarked on"! Seriously all this "follow your dreams" motivational speak leaves the $$$ out of the story. Yet, here we are! I have a Studio that I'm actually succeeding at building up, and this man named Mai Lou has really been a huge help along the way being an amazing landlord.
If you're in the Market, here is the info! --> Courtyard Website
WHAT WE DO NEXT MATTERS
GERMINATING AND FINDING THE SUNLIGHT
Like most things that grow, it takes time. A seed doesn't just magically turn into a full grown plant overnight. I knew that when I started out on this venture, and gave myself very realistic targets to hit. I'm so thankful to have found this place that has allowed me to stick to those targets and focus on doing what I need to do to get this plant making some fruit. If you're in Boston and looking for a space to work or start making your dream business bare fruit, check out this place. Also what's better than having a Photographer in the same building when you need photos taken. I've had a few people in the building just walk in and become some of my best customers.
