When I moved to the Seattle area, I didn't immediately find spaces that felt welcoming. I wanted somewhere I could work alongside like-minded folks, work through a problem, and leave feeling accomplished with my cup filled up.
So last January, I started that room myself.
Coworking with other entrepreneurs naturally sounded like fun to me. If you know the concept of body-doubling—engaging in a task around others to increase energy and workflow—it's pretty fantastic for us remote and hybrid workers.
A Place Plus an Invitation Plus a Reason to Return
The formula is simple. A place + an invitation + a reason to return = a room that grows.
That's it. You don't need a budget. You don't need a venue sponsor. You need a table, a date, and the willingness to show up even when nobody else does.
Find a Table and Invite People to It
Pick a date and place. I use Luma to share my events and collect names, emails, and industries, but you can use WhatsApp, a group chat, or whatever your people already use. Tell everyone about it. If someone says no or can't come, invite the next person. It's not about how many people are in the room. Just that you keep showing up.
The room you're in matters more than the strategy you bring to it. Skilled people sharing space generates ideas and momentum that working alone cannot replicate.
Make the Time Useful With Timed Work Blocks
Start with quick intros. Everyone shares what they're working on, what they want accountability for, and one problem the group might help solve in five minutes or less.
Then spend at least 90 minutes in timed work blocks. It's body doubling: we each work on our own thing, together. End with a debrief and time to hang out.
Keep Opening the Room Even When It's Empty
Sometimes I was the only person there. Sometimes it was full. Eventually, a consistent group began showing up.
Friendships formed. Problems got solved faster. Collaborations happened. And each time I opened the room, I got better at showing up for myself. This is what building the room instead of waiting for an invitation looks like in practice.
The Room You Want Might Begin With You
Can't find the room you wish existed? Steal this formula and make it. Body-doubling works because we each work on our own thing while drawing energy from the presence of others.
You don't need permission. You don't need a perfect venue. You need one table and one invitation.
Start the room yourself and see who shows up.
