Because I joined the Hub…

Thursday 4th February marked my 1 year anniversary since I first set foot in Impact Hub Brixton. It prompted me to look back on 10 changes that have happened in my life because of it.

So, because I joined the Hub…

1….my productivity levels have gone through the roof

I was originally very reluctant to join a co-working space.

Pay for a desk? I had a table at home that did just fine, thank you. And countless cafes I could hang out in. I wasn’t exactly rolling in it either; it just wasn’t a priority.

But I also wasn’t being very productive. I had about 3 different projects on the go – I was overwhelmed with the enormity of the task and the possible next steps I could take every day, or which project to focus on. Very often I slept in late, to avoid having to think about what I would spend my time on, and then spend the rest of the day filling time replying to unnecessary emails, jamming half-heartedly on the uke and making endless cups of tea. I got to the end of each day and felt like I had made less than a tiny dent in my ‘business’ – whatever that meant.

On my first day at the Hub I got through everything on my to do list for the first time in my entire life. I mean, that never happens, does it? I don’t know what’s in the air in that place: being surrounded by others working, or the fact that you’re more conscious of how many cups of tea you’re making (can I get away with another refill…?), but I get so much more done.

2. …I’ve met other people who understood what it means to be freelance!

‘What do you do?’ -ugh, that dreaded question which throws freelancers into a pit of identity crisis fuelled despair. ‘Where do I start? How can I explain? Why why why why why?!! I must apply to work in a bank FIRST THING TOMORROW!’

I remember walking through those doors for the first time and feeling like I had come home.

Impact Hub Brixton does tea and cakes every Wednesday afternoon where all the members mingle. Within seconds on that first day I was having stimulating conversations and meeting like minded souls. One lady, Kate starting telling me how when she first began working for herself she felt like she was ”unemployed”. And I realised I felt the same. The days I wasn’t at my office job I called ‘my days off’. I let other people’s agendas engulf them. I didn’t respect that time I’d put aside.I felt like I was slacking because I wasn’t in an office doing a 9-5 any more.

It was such a revelation for me to meet others who too had different financial situation from month to month, who also avoided their Tax Returns, who had skills and ideas that they were developing but weren’t yet getting paid for, who were experiencing a range of emotions from guilt to giddyness to frustration to freelance freedom on an hourly basis. It was only when I met these people, that I realised how alone in the journey I’d really been.

3. …I suddenly had a wealth of knowledge at my fingertips

The Hub is like a REAL LIFE peopleperhour.com.

Whereas before I would be googling, paying for coaching sessions, trekking across London to have meetings with people… now, pretty much any skill you need is at the hub. With 100 members you know you’ll find someone who can give you advice on marketing, sales, even just to have a quick 5 minute brainstorm with.

Once Ben put aside an entire afternoon to make my very crowded one-pager look a million times more professional, Alex helped me plan the content for my website and gave me top tips on increasing my YouTube viewings, Meera and Ollie gave me expert advice on which platform to use. In turn I’ve helped people plan their events, plan a fundraising campaign to fund the trip of their dreams, and coached them through the next stage of their business. [And obviously helping someone else brainstorm their vision, helps you get clarity on yours too.]

4. …I had the courage to stop doing a project I wasn’t enjoying, and focus on one I was

When I joined the hub, I was still working on my Latin American project, but an amazing coaching session (again, impromptu at Tea and Cake time) made me realise it was okay to call it day. And Bex very generously re-inducted me to work on Power of Uke (yes, every new member gets a 1:1 induction to get to know you and your business, and think about who they can connect you with – you are VERY well looked after).

5… I was able to take part in FREE 3 month business accelerator

This is probably  one of my highlights of joining the hub – the Hatch programme organised by One Planet Ventures, which was 3 months of weekly workshops and mentoring for entrepreneurs in Lambeth.

Hatch took Power of Uke from a ‘something I’d like to do’ to a fully functioning business with a website, business cards, clients and even stickers! It motivated me to make progress, taught me a huge range of new skills from sales, to legal to accounting, to storytelling. I worked with some really inspiring other entrepreneurs, some of who are now my closest friends. We got to pitch our ideas to a board of judges which won me £400 for my business. And we even had an extravagant closing part on floor 33 of J.P Morgan, overlooking the entire city… Not bad, huh?

6. And because I did Hatch….

…One of the facilitators invited me to run a workshop at the Happy Start Up Summer camp –  a really life changing experience all about putting purpose before profits. Once again I was exposed to an incredible network of passionate entrepreneurs who in turn have become another huge source of support and inspiration.

Some of the conversations I had at that weekend were game-changers for me, including one which prompted me to evaluate my relationship with money and get some coaching on it. To raise money for this I reached out  to my closest friends and family to ask them to help – a vulnerable step which in turn strengthened my relationships with people and encouraged a wider dialogue among my friends and family about money.

7. …I’ve made some amazing friends!

I’ve heard more than one person say recently that they find it hard to meet new ‘friends’ in London. The hub has been a treasure chest of friendships who’ve become drinking buddies, fellow festival goers, key dancers at my 30th, yoga teachers, morning ravers and people to call in a crisis. I’ve also encouraged some of my own friends to come and join the hub, which means I get to see them even more.

The Happy Start up School, Sunday Assembly, 5 Rhythms, Makerhood, Before I Die Network,Library of Things, South London Cares… so many cool things going on that I would never have known about before.

9. …I’ve been able to give my businesses lots of exposure

From performing at the hub 1st birthday with a ukulele group, running 2 taster sessions with hub members, having a spot to run a fortnightly ukulele meet-up, being asked to perform at two Christmas parties and to team up with other hub members to do events.

The Yammer platform has also given me a space to promote my comedy nights and Creative Retreats – and quite a few hub members have attended both of these!

I’ve lived here for nearly 2 years but didn’t really know the area, or feel part of it. Community is so important to me, so it’s been great to spend more time in Brixton, see the same people regularly, find out about causes that are going on locally.

So, thank you, Impact Hub Brixton – you’ve been a real game changer these past 12 months.