It’s amazing how quickly this year went by. Looking back at 2019, we’re feeling incredibly blessed. We continued building an amazing community of hardworking individuals. From business coaches to insurance brokers, building engineers to writers and a whole crew of recycling experts, our members hold an incredibly diverse wealth of skills and knowledge. Remote workers in many fields are in the majority here, seeking a place to be productive and make connections outside the isolating home office.
We tapped into that knowledge for our monthly Biz & Bites workshops, welcoming leaders from around Asheville to share their expertise with our members and guests.
Let’s look back at 2019’s highlight reel!
In February, Ursula Jorch led a workshop on strategy for small businesses. Her dynamic skills helped us focus on impact for the best results possible. Check out her Work Alchemy podcast for more.
March brought confidence personified, Barrie Barton. Her interactive session provided the tools to authentic connection via public speaking and presentations. She shares these skills via Stand and Deliver speaker’s labs on a regular basis.
It was Focal Point’s one-year anniversary April, and we celebrated with a great gathering of members and colleagues. As a newer business, we sure felt the love and support of our community.
We also hosted Mary O’Connor in April for a workshop on the biggest leaks in your business. Attendees left with a toolkit for creating boundaries and increasing value for their clients – and got to experience Mary’s inspirational personality firsthand!
May flowers bloomed and so did our entrepreneurial spirit. In honor of International Small Business Week, we held mini informational sessions with representatives from local small business resources. Thank you, Western Women’s Business Center, Mountain BizWorks, and Venture Asheville!
At our Biz & Bites, Jensen Gelfond broke down the mysteries of cybersecurity in a clear, approachable way. At Asheville Digital Lifestyle, he can help you with your tech needs.
Summer of Wellness
In June, we kicked off our Summer of Wellness with short yoga and meditation sessions. Members Cheryl Perry and Deb Beany led these peaceful interludes. Members took weekly walks with Tamsen, our community coordinator, and mindfulness breaks with adult coloring books and puzzles.
Val Ball’s workshop helped us recognize the symptoms of professional burn-out and how to deal with it. At Shadow Play Coaching, she continues to support her clients’ psyche and well-being.
July brought the heat at Jeffrey Crespo’s talk – he got us fired up to shift our business mindset to seek failure, embrace change and use it to our advantage. Check out his inspirational TedX talk for more.
August provided a well-deserved brain break. Larry & Linda Cammarata of Mindfulness Travels led us in a meditation workshop that fostered increased focus, reduced stress and calm minds throughout the coworking space. This was just what our members needed to reset.
Hello and Goodbye
Throughout the summer and fall, we said goodbye to some of our private office members who had been with us since we opened. We’re so proud of their growth and thankful for their support. It was great to welcome new executive members from The Assurance Group, The Castelloe Family Foundation, My Biz Bestie and more!
Fall is the season of change, and in September, Lisa Zahiya brought it. A Focal Point member and Asheville celebrity, her dance background shone as she showed us the habits and tactics to make it happen and get what we want in business and life.
Tamsen was the featured guest on Asheville Real Estate News’ podcast episode about coworking spaces in Asheville. Give it a listen!
We also got an amazing cooking lesson from Rising Moon Wellness. Susan and Marcia showed us how to make unique vegan tacos packed with flavor and nutrients.
In November, we gathered for our annual Thanksgiving potluck. The food was amazing and our members went all out with creative dishes and seasonal favorites. It was one of our best moments of 2019, taking time to gather and be grateful for those around us.
Now it’s December, and we’re simultaneously looking back at 2019 with pride and forward to 2020 with excitement. We’ve got some great workshops already planned, and our membership keeps growing. To join us as a member, tour our space, lead a workshop, or just check us out and say hi, drop us an email or stop on by! 2020 will be the best year yet.