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There are countless skills and tools to help you achieve your highest level of success. One tool that has been utilized for hundreds of years is often overlooked. Collaboration. Societies, tribes and various groups of people have been collaborating on small to large tasks and projects to create something wonderful in the end. Cоllаbоrаtіоn is all about working together. Trаdіtіоnаl business рrасtісеѕ were one led by the concept that there was not еnоugh buѕіnеѕѕ to go аrоund, so competition was healthy аnd considered thе nоrm. That mindset does not apply in the way we work today. Tоdау, buѕіnеѕѕ practice іѕ more еmbrасіng of the true dеfіnіtіоn of collaboration: the concept оf working tоgеthеr and the vаluе оf іntеrdереndеnсу. Have you heard the saying, “the whоle іѕ greater than thе ѕum of іtѕ раrts?” Collaboration іѕ a kеу еlеmеnt in tаkіng уоur buѕіnеѕѕ to thе next lеvеl. It іѕ a simple buѕіnеѕѕ-buіldіng tool — an often overlooked, yet еаѕу рrасtісе that рrоduсеѕ роwеrful rеѕultѕ. Effесtіvеlу putting together resources, energy, tаlеntѕ and gоаlѕ раvеѕ thе wау for thе ѕuссеѕѕ that you рlаn tоgеthеr, аѕ wеll аѕ mаnу unexpected benefits. As a Collaborative Business Community, we witness serendipitous collaborative sessions on a regular basis. While writing this blog post, there are multiple conversations currently happening in open coworking. Members from various industries are collaborating. One member thanked another for a referral to improve his personal brand through styling. Two members were discussing the best online tools they use in their industry. Another member just modeled in a photoshoot for a fellow members’ business. Whew! Talk about Grollaboration! Grollaboration is a word coined by our Founder, Tamara Payne. It’s the combination of two power words that are Ensemble values - growth + collaboration. The definition of grollaboration is experiencing personal or professional growth by creating and taking advantage of collaboration. Collaborative opportunities are all around you. The key is to be open to collaborate and to be willing to step in and create the opportunities to work together. Bring others into a conversation, seek help from coworkers or professional colleagues, resources or experts. Being open to others ideas and input is an important part of growth. Together we can achieve more. What are you going to do this month to be open to other’s ideas? How can you collaborate with someone new? To help you collaborate and get stuff done, we are offering Work Sprints. To find out more about this collaborative event and how you can be a part of it, click HERE! Ensemble is a collaborative business community and coworking space located just minutes from downtown Ft. Worth in the eclectic Near Southside. We offer busy entrepreneurs, small businesses and remote workers a warm and welcoming place to be productive. #collaboration #grollaboration #workingtogether #worksprint #growth

Work on your business, not in it. We’ve all heard that phrase many times before. So, if you aren’t working hard, then how do you get all the work done? Delegate Tasks First, you don’t do all the work yourself. It’s important to be clear on the tasks that only you can do and the ones that are best outsourced to others. This might cost you a little money but your time is valuable and if you are wasting time doing tasks that are not your skill set than you are wasting more money than you would spend if you hire an expert to do it. A virtual assistant is great for menial tasks that need to be accomplished that often times you think you must do but in reality can be handed off to someone else. For type A personalities, this is a challenge but it can be done. “Hard workers want all the possible work to be done, while smart workers don’t bother with most of the work they should do. Instead, they brutally focus themselves only on the tasks that bring the biggest long-term impact, and those are all the tasks connected with creating, delivering and capturing as much value as possible.” Blaz Kos Schedule Tasks Each task has an amount of time it will take to complete if you focus on that task alone and nothing else. Put it on your calendar, block the allotted time and do nothing but that task during that time. When you don’t block time and you say to yourself that you’ve got the whole day to do it, you end up extending that task for hours and hours. Give everything a schedule and schedule everything. “Remember Parkinson’s Law: Tasks expand to the time allotted. If you have all day to write a blog post, it will take you all day. If you have all day to make sales calls, they will take all day...you get the idea!” Mary Kathryn Johnson Execute Vision in 90 Day Increments Just as your schedule your daily or weekly tasks, looking at your vision for the year in 90 day increments will help you take back control of your days, increase your income, balance priorities in your life, lower your stress and accomplish your goals in record time. It’s basically chunking your year’s goals into 90 days bites. Sticking with a New Year’s Resolution for the next 364 days is bound to fail. Most of us struggle with focusing on anything for that long. By working in smaller chunks, goals and visions are easier to reach. To help you execute your vision in 90 day increments, we highly encourage you to read 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington. “What differentiates truly great performers and organizations from mediocre ones is an ability to effectively execute on what they know. There is a gap for most of us between what we know we should do, and what we are actually willing to do. The knowing-doing gap is what keeps most people and most companies from accomplishing what they are capable of. The 12 Week Year incorporates the proven disciplines and principles of effective execution into the context of 12-week execution cycles." Snippet from inside left book jacket. Hopefully you’ve got a vision for 2019 and a few tools to help you with execution. Start by implementing the 12 Week Year. Good luck! Ensemble is a collaborative business community and coworking space located just minutes from downtown Ft. Worth in the eclectic Near Southside. We offer busy entrepreneurs, small businesses and remote workers a warm and welcoming place to be productive. #vision #execution #productivity #12WeekYear #Tasks

Do we all see colors the same? Scientists do believe that people see colors differently and have thought this for hundreds of years. Just like our vision of colors, vision for business looks differently to each person. There is no “one size fits all” vision for a company, owner, employee or team. Yearly planners comes in many shapes and sizes. From digital to daily and everything in between, the key is choosing the one that will help you execute your vision for the year. To help you with these, we’ve provided a selection of planners to review. Hopefully, you can find one that works best for you. The Productivity Planner A personal favorite, and being used to write this email. Do you often find yourself busy, while more important tasks get procrastinated on? The Productivity Planner helps you prioritize and accomplish the vital few tasks that make your day satisfying. Quality over quantity. Combined with the Pomodoro Technique to help you avoid distractions, the Productivity Planner assists you to get better work done in less time. My Next 90 Days Savor Life planner Live your best life with "the planner that changed my life." (Daily Worth) Be more productive, stay organized, and incorporate daily self-care with a simple 5-step system. The Savor Life Planner helps you to design a "nourish to flourish" lifestyle with four pillars: I. "Savor Life" Lists: Easy-to-access tabbed list to remind you of what's important II. 90-Day Vision: Create a #mynext90days goal that is more achievable than a New Year's resolution III. Weekly + Daily Rituals: Simplify, edit, and savor the essentials IV. Organize Your "Gorgeous Chaos": Extra space for you to use for projects, client meetings, meal planning, and more. The Original Franklin Covey Daily Planner Need we say more? This is a classic that will never go out of style. Almost all of us have used this planner at one point or another in our lives. The Bullet Journal The Bullet Journal is great because it can be done in any journal you choose. A clean black front, or fun florals that bring joy to your day; pick a journal and get started. It is simple and easy to learn and pick up. Click the link in the title to learn how. The Legacy Planner This one comes from a long-time friend of Ensemble and was created with deep consideration to create intentional days, mark things off your list and be focused. It was created and is available to buy from MLJS Legacy with Lisa Marie Graves. It comes in many colors and can be personalized. Momentum Planners This one stands out because it for 3 months, 12 weeks, at a time. Breaking your vision down into execution based on a 12 week cycle is hugely successful. This is available as a digital download. We hope this helps you better execute on your vision for this year and moving forward. Now, get out there and make it happen. Ensemble is a collaborative business community and coworking space located just minutes from downtown Ft. Worth in the eclectic Near Southside. We offer busy entrepreneurs, small businesses and remote workers a warm and welcoming place to be productive. #vision #execution #direction #goals

One of the ways to start the new year off on the right foot is by addressing mindset issues that arose in this year. By implementing the right tools you will more easily bridge the gap between 2018 work and 2019 goals. First and foremost is to have the right attitude. You've heard the phrase, attitude is everything. A positive attitude will is the foundation for your hard work to fall in line easily. Expect the best to happen. But attitude isn't just about being positive. It's about being better prepared to handle the bumps and challenges that will inevitably happen. Choose a clear direction. Knowing where you are going is a starting point. Knowing where you want to end keeps you on track. Picking a direction doesn't mean that you are stuck on that path forever. Be open and prepared to pivot and change paths along the way but remember to keep the end in mind always. If the change in the path doesn't help you get to the end, then maybe it's not the right direction. Start a journal. Looking back provides insights and time to reflect on past decisions. Journaling on a regular basis can improve your mindset and increase mental clarity. Be selective in your ideas. Trying to do too many things is a recipe for mediocrity. Choose a few things and commit to doing those well. You can't be everything to all people and you don't want to. The entrepreneur bug can be contagious, but being selective in your pursuits will pay off in the end. Find love and passion in all that you do. Working in a business that you love will fuel your passion. Some days will still feel like work, but most days will be more enjoyable. #mindset #attitude #journal #direction

More than just your waistline suffers during the busy holiday season. All of the extra parties, gatherings, shopping and more make it difficult to keep a strong work mindset. Starting now, we encourage you to work on mastering a more mindful mindset, which will bring more success. 1. Have a contingency plan What happens when everything hits the fan all at once? How do you handle the unexpected bumps in the road in a calm, cool and collected manner? Decide ahead of time what you are going to do when these situations arise. Although it is counterintuitive, stopping everything during a maelstrom to meditate and take a few deep breaths prepares you to handle any situation with more finesse and clarity. 2. Find an accountability partner Ask a friend to keep you accountable. This can be about fitness, work, diet, or something else. Find a friend whose goals align with yours, and text each other to keep the other accountable. Ensemble is a great community of like-minded individuals who are always doing this for each other. 3. Chunk Everything Chunk your time into sections that are more manageable with breaks in between. Chunk large projects into smaller, mini-projects that are easier to envision and complete. Chunk your worries and fears into the trash! Chunk everything that needs to be chunked. 4. Plan your Progress Plan ahead for everything. Plan on what your goals are and how you will achieve them. Look forward to know what is coming. Set deadlines for important tasks and keep yourself accountable for them. Use the chunking and accountability advice above to enhance your planning and execution. #mindset #planning #accountability #progress #master

That's a little dramatic but we caught your attention. The end of 2018 is now only 5 weeks away. Forget Christmas, what are your doing to prepare for 2019? Ugh! How many of you hate that question? No matter who you are or what you do for a living, this time of year forces all of us to get planning for the new year. It can sometimes be dreadful. Before you plan for next year, stop and take a moment to look at what you have accomplished in 2018. Forget what you didn't get done and focus on what you did do, from the smallest items to a major achievement. Write them all down and take time to soak in what you've done. Simply ask yourself a few questions: What am I most proud of in 2018? What one thing did I accomplish that brought the greatest results? What do I need to finish up to close out 2018 strong? How did I make a difference in the lives of my clients, colleagues, friends & family? How am I going to celebrate & pat myself on the back for 21018? Now that you've taken time to think back on 2018, let's look forward. See more after the calendar of events. Looking Forward… Every minute you spend planning saves 10 minutes in execution; this gives you a thousand percent Return on Energy! ~ Brian Tracy Planning is a necessary evil. A goal without a plan is just a wish. We’ve all heard that at one point or another. To look forward into 2019, you need to have a vision and then a plan to execute that vision. The key thing is to just do it. It will never be perfect, never be exactly right, so just do it. Be prepared to alter, adjust or pivot your plan along the way. Your goals may shift and the vision might change a little so you will have to adjust your plan. Hold tight during those times. It will feel uneasy but you will get through it. When you begin to look forward ask yourself these questions: What one thing do I need to do to launch 2019 powerfully? What do I need to learn or improve in a particular area of my professional life or business? What is most important to accomplish in the first quarter? When are the leanest times of the year for your business and then what can you do differently to make up for the lean times? (add a line of service or product, reduce costs, etc.) What adjustments do I need to make in my customer experience to create loyal, raving fans? Who will help me be accountable to my planning? (It’s easy to let ourselves fall short) Who are the people who support me and are champions for my business? At the end of this year, what do I want to have achieved? (no more than 5 big things) How will I get this all done? What help do I need? (hire someone, contractor) How will I celebrate my successes at the end of 2019? Yes, take time to plan your celebration at the end of 2019. Visualize the party, what you will reward yourself with when you fly through 2019 and hit all your marks, make a big splash, and make a difference in the world. Keep looking up…’cuz that’s where it all is! ~ Kidd Kraddick #planning #goals

At the core of any city or town, no matter the size, are small businesses and entrepreneurial ventures. These businesses come in many forms, from the local gas stations to marketing companies, from the pizza shop to manufacturing. Micro businesses are critical to the economy and are often overlooked in economic development efforts. That's why they deserve a recognition even more so this time of year. This month, we encourage you to say thanks to the micro businesses that make a huge difference in your life. Here are a few ways to show your thankfulness this month. Drop a handwritten note in the mail, and for an extra special touch, add a $25 gift card to a local coffee shop. Pop in with a goody basket filled with snack items like breakfast bars, muffins, or candy (especially chocolate). Throw a small appreciation party for 3-4 businesses at another local business. This can be simple with a few treats and refreshments. Promote it as a way of connecting with fellow local businesses. Write a review on their Facebook or Google page. Send a review to them via email. Drop off a carton of copy paper (always useful). Offer to volunteer for a day in an administrative role. Give them a shout out on social media with a photo of your last visit. Ask to meet the owner of the business. Make it personal. Tell them how great they are doing. Pick up the phone and call them directly and say thanks for all they do for you personally and the community. You'd be surprised by the power of a small thank you and the acknowledgment of the hard work small business owners perform day in and day out. We'd love to hear your creative ideas on how you will show thanks this month to the businesses that serve you on a daily basis. Drop us an email with your story: connect@ensemblecoworking.com. #thanks #microbusiness #smallbusiness #gratitude

So many of us desire the power to choose the life we want, to work in the job of our dreams for only the hours of our choosing, and to choose the company we keep. Aren’t you glad that you live in a country that gives you that freedom? I know I am. When I started my business 17 years ago, I can’t say that I did it to create the life of my dreams. Back then, I really didn’t think about what that life could look like. I know I chose to become self-employed because I wanted freedom. I wanted the freedom to work long hours one day, so I didn’t have to work much the next. I did not want to have to answer to anyone (I’m not good at that). I wanted to be a leader, let my visionary soul fly, and to set my dreams free. All these years later, I’ve experienced freedom and so much more. I’ve had great joy in making a difference in the lives of many people. I’ve mentored more than I can count, made a lot of mistakes, worked more hours in a week than I thought I could, and experienced extreme lows and super highs. I have been blessed by meeting incredible people, who have mentored me, hugged me when I needed it, made me laugh so hard that I cried and others who have inspired me to stay the course and keep. I have this freedom because I live in the United States of America, a country where anything is possible if you set your mind to it. I am proud to be an American. I cry at all things patriotic, and I wholeheartedly support our military. My father is a Marine and served in Viet Nam. My 2 brothers are marines and I have multiple cousins and extended family that served and are still serving. I have a daughter that strongly desires to serve our country in the military or intelligence of some sort. This time of year, I ask that you take a moment to reflect on the freedom you have to make the choices you have made for your life. We are blessed as Americans to have freedom to make our lives what we want no matter your circumstances. Enjoy the freedom of working for yourself or for someone else. If you don’t like where you are, then change it. Only you have the power to change your life through choices. If you want to work for someone else, then do it. If you want to own a business, take the leap. Do it now! Don’t wait! There has never been a better time to leap from employee to entrepreneur. Opportunities abound, and freedom awaits you! #freedom #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #choice

In case you didn’t notice by our membership level names and the names of our conference rooms, we have chosen music as our theme. Ensemble has 2 definitions: A group of musicians, actors or dancers who perform together. A group of items viewed as a whole rather than individually. (often refers to a clothing ensemble) Ensemble Coworking is the coming together of people from all walks of life, different backgrounds, various industries, men & women of all ages and with varied interests but working towards the same thing(s). We are driven individuals, growth minded, focused on getting work done efficiently and effectively so we can have more time to connect and have a fun while we work. A groupie is someone who is an enthusiastic follower. This can often be tied back to extreme fans of a band or a music group. Our members are raving, loyal fans, and they make up the Ensemble community, the tribe, the family. If you’ve ever worked for yourself, then you know it can be lonely, frustrating and very rewarding. You work harder than ever before, face challenges you didn’t expect and want to quit it all many times over. Being connected to a family of like-minded individuals and surrounded by a tribe of people who know what you are experiencing makes the good and bad times much easier to go through. It’s an ever-changing community. Groupies come and go. People move on as their companies grow and their space and their needs change. We welcome newbies, say goodbye to those passing through, adapt, change and support each other along the way. Groupies are the community at Ensemble and we are grateful for every one that has been a part of the family. They are always with us no matter where they are. If you are working from home, executive suites, coffee shops or restaurants, you might be experiencing distractions, lack of inspiration, loneliness and lack of growth. If that’s not you, maybe you know someone who fits that description. Come down to Ensemble, take a tour and enjoy 3 free coworking days on us. If you’ve never tried it, why not? What have you got to lose? Nothing. You will only gain from becoming a member of a coworking space. You will have coworkers without corporate headaches. Think about it. Don’t you want to be a Groupie, to belong, be part of something? #groupies #ensemble #collaboration #groupie #together

I am frequently accused of being able to talk to anyone, anything - myself especially. While I'd like to say it comes natural all the time, the reality is that I have to work at it, just like many people. Some days I am "on" and connecting comes easy. Other days, I have to remind myself how to do it, to pump myself up before I go into a meeting, networking or any other kind of event. One thing for sure is that I believe in the power of relationships. I thrive on people and being connected to others. I don't discriminate either. By this I mean, anyone is a good connection, even if they don't need my services. I believe that your next best connection is right around the corner and...it's not about selling to them but creating a relationship that builds trust and could lead to potential mutual referrals. Sometimes, a connection becomes a best friend, a mentor or someone who needs mentoring. I am open when I meet someone. I try not to judge (not perfect at this) and to learn about who they are, not just what they do. Leil Lowndes wrote a short and sweet book called, How to Talk to Anyone; 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships. BestSummaries.com created a great summary of the book that includes: Part 1: How to Intrigue Everyone Without Saying a Word: You Only Have Ten Seconds to Show You're a Somebody Part 2: How to Know What to Say After You Say "Hi" Part 3: How to Talk Like a VIP Part 4: How to Be an Insider in Any Crowd; What Are They Talking About? Part 5: How to Sound Like You're Peas in a Pod: "Why, We're Just Alike!" Part 6: How to Differentiate the Power of Praise from the Folly of Flattery Part 7: How to Direct Dial Their Hearts Part 8: How to Work a Party Like a Politician Works a Room; The Politician's Six-Point Party Checklist Part 9: How to Break the Most Treacherous Glass Ceiling of All: Sometimes People Are Tigers Download the full summary here. About Me: I am the Chief Connector and Co-Founder at Ensemble Coworking. I am proud to be one half of a dynamite team committed to making a difference in the entrepreneurial community in Fort Worth. I am also a communications trainer and coach, helping business owners and professionals speak more clearly and concisely whether in person, on stage or online. If you long to own the room during a 60 second commercial or in front of an audience, then let's connect. Please connect with me online: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email #networking #communication #talking #tips #smallbusiness #booksummary #connections #relationships

We love our military. Our great nation would not be what it is without those that have served and are still serving. Many veterans choose to start a business after the end of their service. To help veterans launch and grow a business, Ensemble offers a 50% discount on open coworking memberships for the first 6 months and then 10% moving forward in perpetuity for any level membership. Veterans need to apply in person and provide their military ID to receive the discount. Thank you, to all who have served. Veteran and non-profit consultant, Jennifer Kready, is enjoying her first 6 months at 50% off. #veteran #discounts #veteranbusinessowners #smallbusiness #collaboration

FORT WORTH, Texas. - Ensemble Coworking's goal is simple; to provide a comfortable yet productive workplace for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses. The owners of the two-year-old collaborative business community and shared office space are now winners of Fort Worth Inc.'s 2018 Supporter of Entrepreneurship Award. Tamara Payne and Dawn Shannon accepted the honor Thursday, January 11 at an awards banquet in Fort Worth. The recognition is part of the FW Inc. Entrepreneur of Excellence Awards program honoring entrepreneurial owners of private companies in the Greater Fort Worth area. Thirty-three finalists in eleven categories were chosen from a pool of nearly 300 nominees by an independent panel of judges. The winners are leaders that set the standard for entrepreneurial excellence in their respective industry categories, distinguishing themselves with exceptional sales and profit growth, ethical business practices, innovation, perseverance and community involvement. "Our mission is growing businesses and investing in people through collaboration, connections and community," Payne said after receiving the award. "This award recognizes our hard work to make that mission a reality for our members and all the businesses that Ensemble touches. It's quite simply that our business is supporting entrepreneurship." Payne and Shannon have made a mark in Fort Worth by being involved in a variety of organizations, staying connected in the community and sharing input with city leaders, including Fort Worth's Economic Development director Rob Sturns. "The work that Tamara Payne and Dawn Shannon have done in creating Ensemble Coworking has been vital to the enhancement of our entrepreneurial ecosystem," Sturns said. "From continuing the growth of 1 Million Cups Fort Worth to creating an inclusive, welcoming environment, they have been a great addition to our community." "This is a tremendous honor," Shannon said. "We are smashing stereotypes, for women business owners and for leaders with a heart to serve their community. We are leading by example, showing our members that we are serious business owners with a desire to make a difference and experience growth ourselves. We've enjoyed watching several of our members, who we call Groupies, grow their businesses from the ground up simply by being in a space where more work gets done in one day than an entire week working from home." Ensemble offers private offices, dedicated desks, open coworking spaces, meeting rooms and a training room at its facility located at 1617 Park Place Avenue, Suite 110, off 8th Ave in the medical district. "We are more than a space to work. We provide classes and programming to assist businesses in becoming profitable and scalable. We are launching our first signature growth event for entrepreneurs in April of 2018," Payne said. The businesses calling Ensemble Coworking home include a 10-year old internationally-known data storage analyses company, two public relations operations, an urban planner with corporate offices in Houston, an 8-year old CPA firm whose focus is on small business tax accounting and non-profit audits, an agriculture investing firm, and more than 50 others in a variety of industries. "One of the greatest things about being a member of Ensemble is working with so many different people and their diverse businesses," CPA Raymond Best said. The chairman of the board for Mental Health America Tarrant County not only has a thriving business based within Ensemble, he also represents many of his fellow members at the coworking facility. #entrepreneurship #award #supporterofentrepreneurship #pressrelease #winning #coworking #FWInc #entrepreneur