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Kicking Off Summer

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We’re kicking off summer with our July community partner, SKY Soccer Club! Who also happen to be Ment members. 

SKY is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop great players and people and enhance the community they serve. They provide sports programs to roughly 2000 kids in southern Kentucky every year! Their services have been provided since 1976!

Talking to Keiliah

I talked with Keiliah Prater, the club administrator, about her time with the organization.  Four years ago she wasn’t even looking for a job when they offered her one. SKY was just what she needed with her background in sports.  She is driven by her lifetime of passion for sports and how they enhanced her childhood. Working at SKY has further developed her passion for sports and for this organization because of what it brings to the BG community.

 “Being able to provide the youth in our community a place to feel empowered, practice living a healthy and active lifestyle, encouragement to be good leaders and good people, and learn to work well with others, are just some of the reasons why I do what I do!” 

 

What’s happening right now

Youth sports play such an important role in physical, mental, and social development. Soccer, and all sports, are looking a little different right now. But SKY is working hard to make sure the youth of BG are still able to play! They have already kicked off the season and hosted a successful, socially distanced tryout for their Academy Select teams and are planning a full recreational season this fall.

Keiliah said that COVID-1 9 has really put their mission back into focus as they strive for players and families to have the best possible experience.  During Tim (director of operations) and Keiliah’s downtime over the last few months, they’ve really been basking in the kindness of their players and families, as well as, working on a new strategy for future success after taking a hit as a non-profit during COVID-19. 

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10 Places to Shop Local BG

As our state and community continue to reopen and things normalize, please continue to shop local to support our fellow small businesses that have suffered in recent months. Here are just a few options for small businesses that you can support in the Bowling Green area!

 

Spencer’s Coffee

 

Spencer’s is our neighbor and coffee supplier (we literally could not survive without the caffeine)! They are currently offering carryout and curbside pickup at their downtown location and drive-thru at their new location on the bypass. — My personal favorite is the honey badger latte and I love their breakfast bowl.

Downtown: 915 College St, Bowling Green, KY 42101 

Bypass: 1265 U.S. 31-W, Bowling Green, KY 42101 

 

Griff’s Deli 

 

Griff’s has everything! Sandwiches, paninis, salads, spuds, soups, cheesecakes, and so much more- one of my favorite menu items is their pasta salad. They’re open for dine-in, carry out, and delivery every day from 10:30 am- 9 pm.

1640 Scottsville Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42103

 

Great American Donut Shop (GADS) 

 

I’m pretty sure everyone in Bowling Green has heard of GADS and loves every single one of their donuts. However, if you’ve never been this is your sign to get in the car and go right now.  They are open 24/7 so you never have to wait a minute longer than you have to for your donut fix. ( I highly recommend blueberry cake!)

901 U.S. 31 W Bypass, Bowling Green, KY 42101

 

 Lisa’s 5th Street Diner

 

Lisa’s is the definition of a classic diner. Everything there is homemade and made with love. Their dining room is open again, but they are also offering pick up and delivery from 5 am- 2 pm every day!

430 Center St, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101

 

Kyoto Gardens

 

Kyoto is one of my personal favorites. They have a great selection of hibachi grilled meals and sushi. They’re open for limited dine-in and carryout Mon-Sat 11 am – 9 pm and Sunday 11 am – 4 pm.  (p.s. WKU students get 10% with your student ID)

760 Campbell Ln # 110, Bowling Green, KY 42104 

 

Stuck in the Kitchen 

 

Ashley Stuckey runs this business through her Instagram page. Every Sunday she makes a no-doubt delicious meal that you can pick up from her at Muse Apts. She makes something different every week, check her Instagram to see if she’s having a shrimp boil, BBQ, pasta, sandwiches, or anything else you could think of that Sunday.

 

Jules with the Flowers 

 

Jules is open for deliveries and in-store shopping. She makes the most beautiful bouquets, has great house plants, and always has fun trinkets in the shop. You can order a bouquet online, or keep up with her Instagram stories to see what new plants she has in!

802 Broadway Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101

 

Back Down South Boutique 

 

Back Down South is an adorable boutique with trendy outfits and accessories nestled in Fountain Square Park. They are open Mon-Sat 11 am- 7 pm and Sun 12 pm- 4 pm. You can shop in person or have your orders shipped to you! (PS pets are always welcome in the store- our kind of people!)

433 Park Row, Bowling Green, KY 42101

 

Mellow Matt’s Music and More 

 

If you’re trying to build your vinyl collection, this is your place. You can find records and CD’s of famous artists like the Beatles, but also from local and regional musicians. And under normal circumstances, you might be able to find someone recording in there or even catch a live show!

1200 Smallhouse Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42104

 

Slow as Folk

 

Sarah Gust has always been a friend of Ment, and she makes the cutest polymer clay earrings and illustrations. Check out her website to add a new statement to your jewelry collection. She is offering a jewelry-making workshop right now in her studio so you can get her awesome earrings, but make them yourself!

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Intern from Home

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Hello there! Sarah the intern here. You may not remember me since I have been working a lot behind the scenes at Ment the last few months. Since we last {virtually} met, a few things have changed. As I finished out my semester as a Junior at WKU and doing what I like to call  “college-ing from home,” I said yes to staying on with Ment for another round of internship. So let me re-introduce myself…

Quick Refresher

I’ve been the strategic marketing intern for the last few months and loving it! I’m now a senior at WKU majoring in strategic marketing (I think that’s the first time I’ve actually said that I’m a senior which is very weird, exciting, and scary all at the same time). However now, I have transitioned into Hannah’s old shoes as the digital media intern.  For the next few months, I’ll be managing and assisting with all things media related which includes writing our blogs! 

What I have been up to (COVID Edition)

Even though absolutely nothing has gone according to plan for the last few months, quarantine has been a great lesson for me to take things day by day even when we aren’t in the middle of a pandemic. That’s a lesson hard to remember sometimes, because I am someone who always looks for structure and likes to have a plan for everything I do. My grandma always says, “It is what it is,” and boy has this been an example of that mindset.  

With all of the craziness, I have had to adjust to being an intern, school-ing, socializing, and even living at home. I am one of the lucky ones who has a family and a home to go to during this time. However, I never expected to reside in Taylorsville, KY this long again. All of the adjustments have been tough in their own way and even as someone of the “technological age,” being in a time of only technology is trying. I have felt so much more burnt out after so much screen time, I spent days on end alone with my laptop watching video lectures and attending the occasional Zoom meeting. Raise your hand if you can relate! Let’s just say it has been much easier to binge One Tree Hill on Hulu or play with my dog or go on a drive.  

We’re all in this together

This time has been hard for everyone. Most people have been way more affected than I have. But we’ve all been affected because this pandemic does not discriminate. Through my adjustments and coping, I’ve been thinking (and missing) a lot about my life in BG. So I have compiled a list of what I use to take for granted and what I can’t wait to do when I get back in the fall.

I can’t wait to.. 

  • Go on trips to Spencer’s Coffee pretending to study with my friends
  • Give campus tours to excited high schoolers 
  • Walk through Grise hall and either freeze or sweat to death (there is no in-between in that building) 
  • Pull all-nighters studying for finals in the Honors College 
  • Go on midnight GADS runs 
  • Be in the church 
  • To actually get my homework done in Ment’s lounge 

During this time I’ve especially been missing Ment. I miss the people I work with and of course, our mascot Stevie. Every day that I physically was working at Ment, I felt ten times more productive and the quality of my work was noticeably better. To sum up, I wish that I was writing this blog from within the walls of 911 College Street, Suite 203! But I’m still so excited to have the opportunity to continue learning about the coworking world and more about marketing, professional use of social media, branding, and more. As for right now though, I’ll settle for a summer of working from my couch as I cowork with my dog, Morgan.  

 

 

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Building a foundation for your business

Branding. It’s the foundation of your business. It’s the way your customers perceive your business and more importantly, how they perceive YOU. 

Everything from your website, logo, and the work you produce, to your personality, customer service, and mission, is a part of your brand. Without it, you have no direction – nothing to build off of. 

Why branding? 

Identity. It’s as simple as that. You have to know who you are, what you stand for, and what you will bring to the table if you expect to bring people in your doors (or to your website). Once you know, others will know and they will start to recognize it. 

Uniqueness. Set yourself apart from others! You are the only one who can do what you’re doing the way you do it. Whether you’re running a photography business (in the day and age where seemingly everyone seems to be doing it) and want people to know why they should choose you or you’re an underwater basket weaver (trust me you’re gonna need to be “branded” for that too!) the point is that you are YOUnique. Is that cheesy? Oh well, it’s true! So why not have a brand that represents that? 

Direction. A brand is truly a road map of sorts. Be intentional and set clear goals for who you are, what you stand for and how you plan to achieve that. Consistency is key and it helps you and/or your employees gain better insight to provide the best service and let your customers know what to expect. 

*Bonus points if you know what all three of these equal? Answer: Shared Values

That’s right, it all brings us back to those good ole things called values. It’s a part of your -wait for it – BRAND. 

Say it louder Leona! Our community partner Leona Morelock knows all about this. 

“You don’t just buy the product, you buy the person.” 

What does that mean? It’s about more than what you offer, it’s about what you stand for and what you’re representing. Make connections with your audience. Be that person that people choose time and time again. Be that business that is picked out of a lineup. 

 

Example

So let’s put this into perspective for ya: At Ment, you are not just buying office space. Yes – that’s what brought you through the doors, but you are also buying an experience, a community, peace of mind so to speak. You are entering a space where you are not just a customer but a member. Your coming into a place of collaboration and support. 

A place that gives you the freedom to choose the option best fit for you to work and give you the resources to succeed. I know, I know, it didn’t say all of that on your member sign-up form but to be honest, we probably wouldn’t be able to fit everything on there if we told you all about us.

Our story: Let’s just say we knew it was ‘Ment to be’ from the start. 

If you think you don’t have a brand, think again. Chances are you’ve already been asked (and answered the question) time and time again. When someone says “tell me about yourself” or “what is your business?” they might as well be saying “Describe your brand to me.” 

You already know who you are – now go show it to everyone else! 

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Shopping Local – Now is the Time

Shopping local has always been important, but now more than ever, these small businesses need our help. It’s up to us as citizens of Bowling Green, to step and do our part. 

There are so many ways that you can contribute to the continuation of your local businesses. We are offering encouragement to our fellow local companies and doing our part here at Ment to give back to those who have done so much for us. 

WHY

Did you know that shopping local helps fund more money back into your city? 

Reports show that $68 dollars of every $100 spent locally stays in your community. Local businesses tend to purchase from other local businesses, farms and service providers. This means that there is more of a financial return is being made and improving the local tax base. Environmental impacts are also reduced because less transportation, fuel and packaging is needed.  

More jobs opportunities, more choices, unique products with a personal touch, and quality customer service. Local. Is. The. Key. 

HOW

The effects of the COVID-19 and government regulations have forced many businesses to get creative with their practices and adapt to the current situations by creating new ways of offering their services and products. So how are they doing this and how can we help? 

Order out. Many restaurants and food services have closed their doors but are still offering carry out services and/or delivery. Services like DoorDash and GrubHub have seen a huge increase in business and many of these food providers not already on board with delivery, are now partnering with them. Some food organizations are keeping their drive-thru options open and taking extra precautions. 

Online shopping. Those businesses offering products such as clothing or gifts, have switched to online formats where customers can still shop and are pushing their online sales. We’d be fooling ourselves if we said we aren’t going to be at home shopping online so we might as well just embrace it and check-out some styles from our favorite local stores. 

Gift cards and gift certificates have become a popular option for many. For some, this is an additional option, but for others, it may be their only source of income at the moment. Besides, you really can’t go wrong with gift cards! Set aside some of that money that you already know will be going towards that favorite boutique of yours and treat yourself when they open back up. This is also a perfect option for gifting those special people in our lives who may have a birthday or special occasion coming up. 

Make donations. For some of our friends offering services, these times can be especially trying as options may be even more limited. It’s important to show our support and let them know that we haven’t forgotten about them. This may mean sending them a small gift or donation to let them know that you still support them. After all, giving back to them means they will be more inclined to return the favor when circumstances change. 

Word of mouth. If all other options are not possible or your finances won’t allow you to do so, simply spreading the word about your favorite local businesses and letting others know, can go a long way. Leave them a good review, share their social posts, or simply give them a call and check to see how they’re doing. Maybe there are other ways you can help. 

WHO

They are everywhere! You won’t have to look far to figure out where or who to go to during these times. 

Our community partner is just one of the many who are still offering services in their own creative ways. You can place orders from Jules With The Flowers and pre-pay online or over the phone at 502-303-4050. Orders will be delivered by door drop-offs or as Jules calls it “ding dong ditch style,” or by running orders out to your car. Jules Sandlin and her business can be found on social media for additional news and changes. 

Flowers are the perfect way to liven up with all of the doom and gloom that we’ve been feeling lately (and still allow us to do our part in “Going Green”). Most of Jules’ items and products are perishable so it’s especially important that if you’re wanting some fresh florals, to CALL NOW. Remember our friends and family members with birthdays and events that are now cancelled? This is another awesome way to gift them and show your love!

“During this weird time, it is our responsibility to do our part to combat the spread of COVID-19 within our team and to our patrons,” Sandlin said. However, “Flowers and plants sure do liven things up during doomsday,” she also states. 

Community Businesses

We have compiled a list of some of your local businesses that are still open (in one way or another) and some of the options they are offering: 

  • Spencer’s Coffee – Takeout orders only. Delivery and online orders coming soon. E-Gift Cards 10% off $50 or more. 270- 393-7060.
  • Chainey’s Dairy Barn. Curbside and window walk-up service available. Call ahead orders.Buy a $25 Chaney’s gift card for only $20. 270-843-5567.
  • Beet Box. Delivery options still available to Bowling Green/Warren County, Glasgow & Franklin areas. Visit website for additional info. Curbside Pickup available during daily store hours. 270-418-9735. 
  • Zest – Juice for Life.  Pre-order and in-store pickup available. Call ahead, website or social media orders. 270-791-8235. 
  • Bowling Green Backyard Bootcamp. New online fitness classes program. 270-791-5312. 
  • GADS Doughnuts. Delivery and drive-thru options available. 270-842-7155.
  • White Squirrel Brewery. Curbside pickup and delivery options available 4-7 p.m. daily. 15% off all to go orders. 270-904-1573. 
  • Grant’s Farm Produce. Open regular business hours with produce readily available. 270-202-4036. 5960 Louisville Road Bowling Green, KY 42101.
  • Community Farmers Market. Tuesdays 2:00-6:00 pm, and Saturdays 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Open air markets taking place outside. 
  • Steel Mill & Co.. Revised hours of 9-5 p.m. daily with curbside order pickups available and online shopping with free shipping. 270-904-7970. 

For more details on resources and local operating businesses, check Buy Local Bowling Green for daily updates and business changes or WBKO for a full list of open restaurants. 

Bowling Green is one of the many communities that is fighting during these times, but like many, we are standing strong and showing support for the place that we call home. Now that you’re stalked up on toilet paper, go buy from our local friends and give your community some love! 

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International Coworking Day 2019

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If you didn’t know, August 9 is a big day in the coworking industry: International Coworking Day! Spaces from all over the globe are gearing up for this day that celebrates everything about the industry and how far it has come with each passing year. Coworking is not about competition, but rather collaboration and it is this fact that makes this day so important and special. International Coworking Day shows that each space is bigger than themselves, part of a greater global movement.

Coworking as an industry has been around for ten years and only continues to grow as each new year passes. The industry is changing the way people all around the world think about working and is changing societal views of the overall work-life balance.

These stats from GCUC from 2018 (a big coworking conference that we have mentioned before- check them out!) are astounding, and I am going to let these numbers speak for themselves. 

  • There are more than 14,000 spaces in the world
  • There are 1 million members in said spaces 
  • Independently owned and operated spaces account for 93% of the industry 
  • 89% of people who work in a coworking space report being happier as a product of working in a shared space
  • 84% are more engaged and motivated 
  • 73% say that they maintain their sanity throughout the work day 
  • 83% report they feel less lonely 

Coworking as a whole is changing societal pressures surrounding the typical 9-to-5 job. If you consider yourself a “workaholic,” you can benefit just as much from working in a shared space as someone who may only work a few hours a day. The culture of a coworking space is palpable. The industry unites people who come from traditional office settings, those who work from home who are longing to get out of the house and find something different, freelancers and more to create what is known as coworking. Simply put, coworking is changing lives. 

We here at Ment Cowork are celebrating International Coworking Day, too! On Friday from 12:30 until 2, we are going to be out in front of 911 College Street bringing coworking to you. Find our sign (the one in the picture) and come see us. Tell us your -ment word, which is a word that describes you that has our suffix in it. Think empower-ment, commit-ment, enjoy-ment, you name it. Take a picture of your word at our sign and post it on your Instagram story to be entered into a GIVEAWAY for a Ment tee shirt and mug! Who doesn’t love free stuff? Come celebrate International Coworking Day with us, we can’t wait! 

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Getting Zesty – Interview with Emma Napier

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Happy August! Each month for the rest of the year, Ment is partnering with a local business on our blog and social media accounts. This month is Zest Juice for Life, owned by Emma Napier: a 24-year-old from Bowling Green, Kentucky. The local juice shop located in the heart of the downtown scene has many flavors of tasty, healthy juice and they promote a healthy lifestyle in everything they do. 

Emma Napier, a graduate from Western Kentucky University, got her start working in an office for a national company in a corporate office. She was teaching spinning at The Spot next door to what would be her future business as well. She loved her coworkers and the work she was doing but disliked the stuffy and strict culture that was in her cubicle-filled office. “I soon realized that sitting at a desk was not for me,” she recalls.  

                             

Emma knew the previous owner of Zest from her job at The Spot and soon became friends with her. From this friendship, she fell in love with juice. She would drive all the way across town to get juice from the original Zest, the home of the former owner. The owner mentioned selling the business and asked if she knew of anyone who was interested. Emma knew instantly that this was the perfect opportunity to transition out of the cubicle and bought Zest Juice for Life. 

One of Emma’s favorite things about owning Zest is the amazing small business community located in Bowling Green. While she is a fairly new business owner, owners from all over town have offered to help her. “Bowling Green has such a thriving community of small business owners and truly want to see each other succeed,” she notes. She says learning a lot from so many people who have been in the same shoes as her. She has gotten to work with and collaborate with some of them and says they have helped her create her space, the logo, the menu boards, and more. 

  

Of course, I had to ask Emma what her -ment word was, which is a little something we do here at Ment by picking your favorite word with -ment as the subject and having it describe you, such as experiment, achievement, nourishment. Emma said her word was encourage-ment. She aims to be a smiling face to anyone who walks through the doors of Zest, and hopes her encouraging spirit keeps people coming back for years to come. 

Emma’s favorite juice she sells is kickin’ carrot, a juice that contains apple, ginger, and the star: carrots. Other juices you can find at Zest include Kale Yeah!, Jolly Green, Happy Beet, or my favorite, Hula Hooch. 

Check Emma and the rest of the Zest team out on their Instagram: @zestjuiceforlife! 

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Failing Forward

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Some amazing things have been created through what seems like “failure”: chocolate chip cookies, Penicillin, microwaves, fireworks, and more. Steve Jobs was fired from Apple, The Beatles were rejected by their first record label, and even more successful people have been knocked down a few times. 

Call it what you want—I am going to call it failing forward—it happens to the best of us, maybe when we least expect it to. It is bound to happen in any setting, but it could not be worse at work. You might have had a big presentation and completely bombed it, or a meeting did not go your way, or you overslept and missed a meeting with a potential client. Whatever the case may be, it happens to the best of us. 

Failing forward at work, school, in life, happens. While it is unavoidable, it is important to not let mistakes consume you. Big or small, it can affect our day to day lives. However, with the right mindset and attitude, you can turn a misstep into a success in the blink of an eye. 

  1. Own up to it. 

While it may be hard to take the blame for something that goes wrong, it will help you in the long run to be honest about your mistakes. Don’t provide endless excuses or cast the blame on another employee. Explain the scenarios of what went wrong, ensure it will not happen again, and figure out how to move forward. 

  1. Figure out your next course of action. 

After a mistake happens, it is hard to bounce back sometimes. Find a solution to your mistake and fix the problem at hand. Make things right. This is what failing forward is all about!

  1. Shift your mindset. 

I know, personally, when I mess up, I feel like that is all I am capable of from then on. If you fail once, it doesn’t mean you are going to continue to fail. Find something you know you are good at and focus on it for a little bit while you manage to get your groove back.

  1. Find the good. 

If you look closely, there is a silver lining in just about everything, especially your failures. There is a lesson buried in there: a way to grow. Find it and hold on tight; let it motivate you!  

  1. Take on your next big project—and succeed. 

I know it may be hard to get back on the horse, but when you do and you excel, you will feel even better. Make sure you really put the work into it to come out on the other side successful. Your “failure” will soon fade into memory. 

  1. You aren’t alone. 

You may feel like you are the only one going through a workplace mistake. That couldn’t be further from the truth! I would just about guarantee that most of your coworkers have made one mistake or another at their job, and if they haven’t, they aren’t learning. 

Don’t go out looking to make mistakes, but know when they inevitably occur, know that you can take them and grow from them. Take these tips into consideration when you feel down and out after failing forward at work, and you might just create the next greatest thing! 

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Coworking and Your Mental Health

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It is no secret that the coworking industry is flourishing. People are flocking to spaces that offer flexible work hours, a community aspect and in-house perks in droves. What is the secret of coworking? How can this industry be doing so well? 

Mental health is a taboo subject in our society. We are taught from an early age to bottle our feelings up, leaving them unaddressed and us unfulfilled. Maybe it stems from being in a society where we are taught to conceal our feelings and push them aside. We have lost touch with expressing our emotions that they can cause us detriment down the road. There is a stigma surrounding mental health. The World Health Organization reports approximately 450 million people worldwide have a mental illness. Coworking, while not a sure-fire way to address and tackle mental health, is a step in the right direction. 

The coworking industry, through GCUC, strives to do more in this fight against the stigma of mental health. They have created the #CheckYoMate initiative, which is a movement that inspires you to check up on those around you: in your coworking spaces and your life in general. It is all about “dismantling loneliness and destigmatizing mental illness in the coworking community.” While it is important to check up on your coworkers, make sure you are doing the same for your friends, family members, neighbors, and whoever else you come in contact with. 

One of the best things about working in a coworking space is the community, there is no doubt. According to Global Coworking Unconference Conference, “Coworking is creating communities of happier, healthier, more productive, more connected professionals.” These communities are improving the lives and the mental health of every single person that walks through the door. 

A major component of working in a coworking space is the ability to make your own hours. Maybe you just cannot take working in a cubicle 40 hours a week and it is affecting your mental health. Sitting in such a small space makes you feel small. Your surroundings affect your mental health more than you realize. A coworking space is an alternative that promotes flexibility and freedom. Coworking can alleviate stress in a number of other ways. A space takes care of all the logistics of running an office for you: changing light bulbs, heating and air-conditioning, keeping the refrigerator stocked with snacks, and a myriad of others. All you have to do is sit down and get to work. 

Coworking was introduced as an alternative to working from home. When working from home, you might feel isolated, trapped, and you may slip into bouts of unproductivity as you slump down on the couch with your bowl of popcorn in the middle of the day. Aside from fueling procrastination, large periods of isolation at home just isn’t healthy for us. Humans crave interaction, simple as that. The alternative in a coworking space is the community. Working with others in a space that is not your home helps you separate your work life from your personal life, giving you some peace of mind. You are surrounded by people every single day. There are members all across the space doing their own thing, but you know they are there. You know you are not alone. 

It is unfortunate to think about, but millions of people suffer from some sort of mental health issue every single day. You do not know what is going on in someone’s life. That is what makes the coworking industry so unique. It provides ways for people to connect on an individual level, creating bonds and helping each other become successful in what they do. 

Here are some mental health resources if you are seeking help: 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

MentalHealth.gov 

Mental Health America 

Bowling Green Mental Health Resources 

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The Power of Empower-Ment

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Written by Pare and Flourish Co-Founders, Katie Butler and Skylar Wooden

When asked what our “-ment” word was, it was obvious. Empowerment.

From the start of Pare and Flourish, we had one mission in mind: to empower others. Through articles. Through close-knit conversations. Through panel discussions.  

And though it’s taken different forms, our mission has always been the same.

Carrying that vision forward, we’ve chosen Ment Cowork as the location for our second Flourishing Females event on June 1st. [This event includes a panel discussion about finding your niche, a workshop on grabbing your audience’s attention, and lots of food, drinks, and networking.]

Ment is leading the charge for coworking in Bowling Green, bringing with them a culture of uplifting collaboration—perfect for a day of learning, growing, and connecting with local female entrepreneurs. Perfect for empowerment.

>> Interested in checking it out? Information and tickets for the event are available here.

In honor of this event being at Ment, we’ve reflected on the ways we’ve set out to empower women in our community, and what empowerment means to us.

Empowering Our Readers

Whether it gives you the power to network without fear or to ask for that raise, a blog article speaks to a part in us that needs development. Parts of us that we know are there, but need a push to be put into motion.

That’s how we started—writing blog articles on topics we struggled through and learned from, in hopes of empowering someone else to jump the hurdle. We shared our advice in the most genuine, authentic way we could.

Here’s a snippet from our very first post, setting the tone for Pare and Flourish:

“It is a personal mission of ours not to romanticize our lives, as is so often done in the age of social media.

So here we have a safe space. A space for the real, the authentic, and the genuine.

In this blog, you can expect first-hand accounts of our daily life struggles, how we’ve learned (so far) to become happy with the choices that we’ve made, and pieces of advice that we would like to have learned earlier on. You’ll find that we’ve made mistakes. You will also find what we’ve made of those mistakes. We hope that you apply our retrospection to your life, and come out ahead.”

Read the rest of this article here.

Empowering Our Peers

When blog articles didn’t feel like enough—like we weren’t reaching enough people, like we weren’t making a big enough impact—we transitioned to events.

Our first foray into events was the Flourish Roundtable. Roundtables are small group discussions, promoting authenticity and empowerment.

We wanted more than screen engagement. We wanted real, deep connection based on topics that are relevant to all of our lives. To provide a place where women could look around and see that there are other women feeling similar emotions, having similar thoughts.

Roundtables are a place for thoughtful engagement, advice, support, and all the good feels.

Recounting a Roundtable experience, this is what we wrote:

“If you’ve ever wanted to be a part of something bigger than yourself, something that makes you feel connected to someone based on more than your common interests, but on your common beliefs and feelings, this is the place for you. A Flourish Roundtable event creates that connection. And we are honored to facilitate that connection.”

Read the rest of this article here.

Empowering Our Flourishing Females

When Roundtables weren’t enough, we widened our audience. Flourishing Females Panel + Workshops became a way to do more than gather.  

We widened our net to any woman who owns her own business, or aspires to. No matter the situation, there’s something to gain from this event.

Networking with like-minded women.

Learning from established entrepreneurs and leaders about their own challenges and advice.

Engaging in workshops to collaborate and motivate.

 

After our first Flourishing Females event, as always, we wrote about it.

“We created this Panel + Workshop as a way to expand our reach, and include a wider point of view from our panelists in their respective industries. Without knowing what shape it would take, we started putting together a panel, planning a workshop, and connecting everything in between.

We were overwhelmed with the number of people who were willing to jump in and make this happen. It confirmed something we already knew about Bowling Green: everyone wants to see each other succeed.”

Read the rest of this article here.

Join us at our second Flourishing Females Panel + Workshop to feel the empowerment first hand. Maybe you’re starting a business and need a network. Maybe you have a business and feel alone in it. Maybe you have a great idea and you need the courage to put it out there.

No matter what, and no matter what you do, this event is for you.  

Don’t forget to register!

 

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