Wall of Love

something I don't mention enough: freelancing is amazing in so many ways, but also reallllllllllly lonely sometimes. 🙇‍♀️ decisions you used to run by your boss or teammates? they're now talked through in an intense internal monologue. you're often the writer AND the editor of your work. I now segment these tasks on different days so I have time to switch my hat. those water cooler conversations and slack chats that kept you connected are few and far between. that's why community has become even more important to me as a freelancer. finding a community you resonate with is key. I'll be giving a shoutout to 2 communities this week: the first I absolutely love is Groove. this virtual coworking space allows you to work alongside other groovers around the world, share weekly goals, and stay accountable to your work. it gives you that team spirit and a bunch of true cheerleaders when you feel like you're on an island. super thankful to groove for having my back over the past few years! you can apply to join in the comments. hashtag #community hashtag #freelance hashtag #freelancers

I've been a fan of coworking since I learned it about it 2010. I've worked out of hundreds of spaces around the world. But with many of them, one major thing was usually missing. Community. When it came to virtual coworking, I never really got it until I learned about Groove from LaShonda Brown. I've really gotten in the Groove as they say because Groove: 💖 Has a genuinely awesome, supportive and creative community ✅ Is on demand. I can join or start Grooves at any time 📷 Is mostly camera off. Just a quick check in and a regroup. It couldn't be easier to Groove and it's a great 50 minute timeboxed working session. I now think about whether a task is one, two or three Grooves. Makes the to do list a whole lot easier and Groovers are always so encouraging. Plus, we have a community inside Groove for Low Energy Leads. Send me a message and I'll send you over info on how to join us!

Life's challenges are much easier to tackle when we have others by our side. In the world I'm striving to build, no one is struggling alone. ☀️ I've noticed a problem – passionate community builders create spaces for people to connect and grow, yet they often have a hard time getting the word out. On the other hand, people are facing their challenges alone and don't know where to turn for support. So, I've been exploring an idea, and I'd love your input! 🤔 I'm considering a weekly post series where we shine a spotlight on a few communities, helping more people find connection and belonging. To kick things off and narrow it down, today's post is dedicated to communities that create a fun and stress-free environment for making new friends. 🤗 Here are two of my personal favorites. They are both FREE to join: 🌍 Groove: On-demand digital coworking space for people daring to live life differently 🌿 Third Nature: Perfect for those seeking personal growth and reflection through insightful workshops and "Conscious Conversations" every Friday. 💡 Community TIP OF THE WEEK: Both Groove and Third Nature bring small groups of 3-4 people together for conversations. It's simple, but it makes a world of difference. Feeling seen, heard, and open to chatting becomes a breeze. So, if your community is facing challenges with low engagement, consider taking a page from their book and add ways for your members to connect in small groups. Now, let's help each other out! If you're looking for a community or have a favorite one to share, add it in the comments below. 👇Tag a friend, and let's help everyone find a place to belong. PS. Let me know what you think of the series, and if you have a community to include next week, send me a DM. We'll try to cover a wide range — from parenting, to entrepreneurship, sustainability, fashion, fitness, and more. 🌟

One of my favorite ways to work as a solopreneur is thanks to Groove, Taylor Harrington 🪩and the team! We get to co work with others, based on the idea of body doubling, for 50 minute sprints via a free app. I use it... daily. Even on the weekends. It's also one of my most lit communities that I participate in regularly in their Slack. If you're into getting things done with the added accountability from supporters, join me sometime: tinyurl.com/vikznook • On body doubling: lnkd.in/gSYzM_7x hashtag #solopreneur hashtag #bodydoubling hashtag #add hashtag #workfromhome

I am finally starting to hear my own voice again—what I actually want to create and who I want to spend time with. It's so hard to hear those faint sounds above the shouting of what others think I should do or what they're doing or what's popular or what's marketable. It has taken me nearly 4 years into my business to get here but it's starting to feel like I'm getting somewhere. Here's a little about what this looks like right now ⏰ Spending more time with less people: I am focused on the success of my members, clients and partners. I have learned I actually love calls when the calls are fun and hopping in the passenger seat for their growth ride is super fun. It really helps that I'm off all social media except here this month. A lot less distraction and shiny objects in my day. 👋 Building in community: There's a reason I was drawn into the lean startup community all those years ago. I've found my way back there recently through reconnecting with people here and through places like Groove and Makerlog and slack communities like the ones run by Dana Publicover Tommy Geoco Frank Bach ☕ Creating an intentional network: I used to think I had to engage with anyone who wanted to engage with me and I also (like everyone else) once went after meeting as many people as possible. Instead, I have two lists: reconnect and wishlist. I've already met so many amazing people in my life, getting to know them better while building a few, new great relationships along the way is working. 🧠 Learning what lights up my brain: I get bored easily once I've figured something out. This has been a big challenge when you generally have to talk about something for years before others trust or find you. Finding recently the common threads that I have been talking about for years and breathing new life into them has been extremely rewarding internally and externally (see The Low Energy Leads Show and The Growth Gym) 💰Generating joyful revenue: One of my friends said "Lex, you know how to make money. You just choose not to." This year, I'm turning a brand new leaf on how to monetize what I actually love doing for people I actually love working with. I've always been lucky to have wonderful clients but I worked for many years in a profession I didn't really like. I sort of fell into design over 15 years ago and couldn't find my way out of that until last year. My life will never be about money but the freedom that comes with making money in fun ways I enjoy for people I want to see succeed is pretty damn rad. A lot more to come. This move back to Atlanta was a really eyeopening shift. Excited for what's next and always rooting for you to tap into what makes you feel free.

DIGITAL CO-WORKING? Yes, please! Those who know me, know I am 100% a Groove-kinda-gal. For the past 15 months, I've used Groove to "get sh*t done", daily. In more than 2400 Grooves, I've created content, written/published books, taken walks, made/eaten meals, decluttered/tidied, tackled some "to dos"...welp, pretty much anything and everything. More importantly, with Groove, I've found an amazing, diverse and global community from all walks of life. Finally, the accountability has been invaluable. I've even met some of my Groove buddies in person too! In fact, today I am meeting one or two! More on that later! If you need some accountability and focus - why not download the FREE app and Groove (with me): lnkd.in/e3Yq5J4b

Do you GROOVE? 🕺 I've recently added Groove to my productivity toolbox - after 3 weeks of using it, I love & I have to share it with you! ⚒ If you know Focusmate, it’s similar... but different. What makes GROOVE different (& better suited for my working style) is that you can start a groove at any moment, without scheduling it ahead of time. ( 💡 A groove is an on-demand 50-minute online coworking session with other people from around the world). I often don’t need to be in a GROOVE… but if I notice my head is all over and I need an extra something to get stuff done 🎇, with a few taps I find some awesome people to groove with and get back into my flow! Oh, and I say awesome people for a reason 💚 In the Groove’s I’ve already done, I’ve: 🎨 met their Chief Design Officer, who kindly showed me around the app (it was my first groove, and I loved seeing someone from the team around!) 🚶‍♀️ learned from another groover to include ‘’get up and move’’ as a task on my to-do! 🎯 met someone eager to learn how he can be more productive & focus better and we have a call this week to see if I can help with some advice! On every groove I meet interesting people & learn something from each of them! Wanna join? Link below ⬇️ hashtag #productivity hashtag #focusapp hashtag #grooveapp hashtag #onlinecommunity

I've got 3 freelancers hooked to this tool and need to yell louder about it. Groove ⭐️ It let's you create a virtual session with a maximum of 3 other people and co-work with them. You can create your to-do list within the session and check items off it as you go. It works like magic for someone like me who gets distracted easily. A 50-minute session keeps me engaged. I can also chat with my group about my progress throughout. It brings in accountability and the will to work alongside others (something I miss about full-time jobs). Seeing that countdown makes me want to work knowing I will run out of time soon and be ready to relax or get into another Groove (I do as I please!) If you're on your own, try Groove and see your productivity shoot up! This isn't sponsored, folks. This be real. I'm on your side.

I celebrated my 700th Groove this week! Groove is an app that provides on-demand 50-min co-working sessions with up to three other people who want accountability. That means I’ve checked off 35000 minutes of (mostly) focused work! A few reflections: Groove is a noun, a verb and an identity. You can do a groove. You can be grooving. You can be a Groover. I’ve discovered I can write about 500 words during a Groove, when I know what I want to write about. This was handy while I've been writing my book, especially as I’d broken it down into 250-word sections. If my calendar allows, my limit for grooving back-to-back is four grooves. After that I need to step away for a reset. I’ve mainly used Groove for writing my book, drafting proposals, brainstorming ideas, designing workshops, creating content or going through emails. But, I haven’t used Groove just for work. I’ve also used it for personal tasks such as making online orders, writing a health plan, painting my nails and making sure I eat breakfast. Time is never wasted in a Groove. Even if it takes longer to do something than I thought, I’m still 50 minutes further than I would have been if I hadn’t started. If you’d like to check it out, find it here: groove.ooo (not an affiliate link, but you might see a familiar face on the homepage) hashtag #productivity hashtag #coworking hashtag #deepwork

Gratitude is indeed a force, and I'm feeling it now. Thank you Kevin for sharing this and holding space, Alyssa Towns for tagging me in, and Shonté Jovan Taylor for dragging me into LinkedIn with a habit exercise. Grateful to Linda Olsen, Jowanna Daley, Thea Newcomb, Roger Coles, and Eleanor Dizon for grooving with me today. Big thanks to Joshua Greene, Sruli Rapps, Tova Safra, and Taylor Harrington for putting Groove out there and holding us together. I guess I’m back tomorrow? Fingers crossed!

Remote work can be lonely 😔 Remote + Self-employment can = exponential loneliness 😭 Add in #ADHD and you're a 🔥mess Unless you are super intentional with your #connection and accountability habits... Meet Groove 🥰 There is no single app that has made a more positive impact on my life in a short amount of time than Groove. What I ♥️ about Groove: - Connecting with rad humans organically - Built in accountabilibuddies - Dedicated focus time to keep my brain on track - Inviting friends to Groove so I see them more regularly like Eleanor Dizon, Kevin D. Monroe, Priyanka L., and of course Sara Schairer 💘 - Working with "coworkers" who are #community strategy peers I would love to work with and now they feel like coworkers as we Groove regularly. Go Groove with my favs Diana Hawk, Taylor Harrington 🪩, Brandy Cerne, Laura Zug, Carolyn Zick - I get more shit done and have fun doing it 🥳 Thank you Joshua Greene and team for building this impactful way of connecting. Congratulations on your launch Groove! Want to come Groove with me? If you want in, I have 3️⃣ 30-day free passes to give to friends so you don't need to apply to join. Just shoot me a DM.

If you’ve been feeling alone in your creative endeavors, it’s time to check out Groove. I learned about Groove a couple years ago from tech educator LaShonda Brown. LaShonda always shares excellent stuff so I jumped in right away and have been really impressed with the Groove experience all along the way. Groove is a virtual coworking and community app but those labels don’t do it justice. 👋🏻From the welcoming way Groovers support greet other 🎉To the thoughtful live planning and reflections 💌From the love letters Groove sends us ☕️To local connections they’re helping us make 🎙️From the podcast they host 📣To the way they shout out their members everywhere Groove is more than an app. It’s more than coworking. It’s a lifestyle and you can be living it! Congratulations on launching out of beta Team Groove 🎉 Psyched to see where you take us next Taylor Harrington 🪩 Joshua Greene Tova Safra Sruli Rapps

Groove has added so much to my working day - not only making sure I get my stuff done, which is of course super helpful , but it is the community within that has made it unique and one of my favourite apps to use. I have met such lovely people from all corners of the globe. The team have created something properly special and I look forward to watching it fly now it is properly out in the world! 🚀

When your virtual coworking crew gets to meet up in real life the conversations get deep, as do the laughs. Huge thank you to Groove for giving us the opportunity to meet up in person for a coffee in Chicago yesterday. Getting me meet Paul, Akua, and Sherita (and having them invite my husband to hang out with us) was absolutely beautiful. I'm still reflecting on our deep and meaningful conversations and all the laughs and real talk we shared. 💚 As a rural remote worker, having Groove to supplement my routine of meetings with companies I contract with is so helpful. It helps stave off isolation, keeps me focused, and offers me the opportunity to meet diverse and passionate folks from all over the world. It's not about the number of co-working sessions we complete, but rather the friends we make along the way. 😉 I cannot WAIT to hear the reflections Taylor Harrington 🪩 has about launching this multi-city irl meetup initiative for Groove users. If you want a masterclass in making virtual to in person events translate in a meaningful way, talk to Taylor!!

The pandemic-era company Groove is still a favorite among solo entrepreneurs who say it helps them stave off isolation and add structure to their days.

Being around people who actually make shit happen is so important to me. I’M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS (watch this video for proof 😂). It’s SUCH an energy boost 💥 It makes ME wanna bring those projects to life that have been sitting on my to-dos or dreams that the little voice in my head says, “hey maybe save that for later”. Check out these three projects I’ve seen come to life in the Groove community. Patrick Smith 🎸 Fences, Frames, and Alleys Dustin Staiger, PMP 📚 Blame This Book Claire Hueg ✍️ Ripe for the Clicking newsletter There’s a community of doers out there…in Groove. If you want to be surrounded by them, DM me for a special free pass.

Absolutely! Surrounding oneself with a supportive community like Groove can amplify personal growth and happiness. Excited to explore more!

I'm hungry for social (adult) connection since I'm a mom and entrepreneur who works from home! Thanks for creating such a special place Taylor Harrington 🪩, Joshua Greene, & team Groove!

I think part of my ability to get done as much as I do is the use of Groove. I'm currently in a groove with people from Florida and Ohio. We have each set an expectation on what we want to get done and in 12 mins we'll group for 1 to 2 minutes to check-in on what we got done and what is next. We're supportive and offer advice and build relationships.

I love so many things about Groove and how much it helps someone like myself with ADHD from a productivity standpoint, but there's even more magic to be found in the opportunities it provides for connecting with and helping others you wouldn't normally meet. I can't count the number of times I hopped on a Groove and ended up having a conversation that massively helped me personally or professionally! No joke. I think Hansen Hunt nailed it when he said the following: "There is no single app that has made a more positive impact on my life in a short amount of time than Groove. What I ♥️ about Groove: - Connecting with rad humans organically - Built in accountabilibuddies - Dedicated focus time to keep my brain on track - Inviting friends to Groove so I see them more regularly💘 - Working with "coworkers" who are hashtag #community strategy peers I would love to work with and now they feel like coworkers as we Groove regularly. - I get more shit done and have fun doing it 🥳"

@andruyeung I’m passionate about this space and starting to build something that brings people together. As a customer, I can’t speak highly enough about the positive impact that both @GrooveCoworking and heylo.co have had on my social health in a short amount of time.

Groove is a great safety net if you find yourself languishing. I'll jump on Grooves when I notice that I'm aimlessly scrolling around, in part because talking to other people helps me to refocus. Same if I'm feeling lonely, jumping on a Groove gives me a bit of human connection that sparks me into action.

Groove has added so much to my working day - not only making sure I get my stuff done, which is of course super helpful, but it is the community within that has made it unique and one of my favourite apps to use. I have met such lovely people from all corners of the globe. The team have created something properly special and I look forward to watching it fly now it is properly out in the world! 🚀

Love Groove! 🪩 I highly recommend to anyone who struggles to get work done (aka everybody lol) since the body doubling accountability works wonders! Plus it's fun to make new friends and connections 👩🏽‍💻🧑🏼‍💻👨🏿‍💻👩🏻‍💻

I've done well over 3000 Grooves (!) and can attest to its usefulness. I've made friends, got client leads and opportunities, and found support and that "human connection".

Twitter friends: What are your favorite tools/ platforms for freelancers and self-employed people? I know we love @revolancercom, @GrooveCoworking, @pollen_careers and @MeetHarlow. Any other favs?

This week on Freelance Things: ⬙ How to build an independent design practice · @joindiveclub / @kevintwohy ⬖ @GrooveCoworking · Co-working sessions with other business owners ⬗ Freelance Wrapped 2023 · @graceongrid ⬘ How to write AI prompts · @NotionHQ (Michael Krantz)

As a freelancer, I can go days without talking to someone outside of my family or friends. I don’t have many client meetings and, like most freelancers, I don’t have any co-workers. That means most days are spent by myself, behind my computer, with no one to bounce ideas off of… x.com/i/web/status/1719087849394393344

Productivity app at it’s finest. I feel like this app was made for me! 😍 twitter.com/GrooveCoworking/status/1673433591152246784