I own my own business. I have only owned the business for a year, and have struggled to no end with getting it off the ground. From general accounting and law related issues, to the alienation and frustration from working at home, I honestly was not enjoying my situation as much as I thought I would have. While I still own my own business, I also recently started working here at thinkspace.

Let me tell you folks, and this is straight from the heart: I had no idea how important it is for entrepreneurs to surround themselves with other entrepreneurs. My view and understanding of the way a sole business owner operates, and has the potential to operate has done a complete 180. I now feel like climbing the tallest mountain around, and yelling down to all of the entrepreneurs that are floundering about “YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORK THAT WAY ANYMORE”. At this point you are wondering what on earth I am talking about, what IS a community of entrepreneurs, and what is the big deal. OK, allow me to explain why my view of entrepreneurship has shifted so radically.

When Immersed in a Community of Entrepreneurs, you could:

• Have the ability to ask each other for help
• Have seemingly endless referral and networking opportunities
• Have focus, drive, and organization
• Be immersed in an energy and buzz that could never be found at home or in a coffee shop
• Have opportunities to partner and collaborate with each other
• Have access to intensive educational seminars by Industry superstars

I happen to know of a place like this… e’hem!

Honestly, this is not a sales-pitch for thinkspace (click HERE for information and to purchase office space from thinkspace) <– just kidding. No really, the boss doesn’t even know I am writing this. I just wanted to share this intense, real and amazing new energy surrounding me.

If you would like to know more about us, what we do, and why, please feel free to call or email any time. We would love to show you around or invite you to an event or party. We care about you, and want you to succeed [insert big thinkspace hug here].

This fall, Peter Chee, CEO of thinkspace, decided to start donating office space to The Redmond Foundation, which is being founded in honor of Redmond’s upcoming centennial in 2012. The Redmond Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a healthy, vibrant and engaged community in the city of Redmond.

I asked Peter a couple of questions as to why he chose to donate his space to The Redmond Foundation and he stated that their goals align with his. “The thing that resonated with me is the fact that our goals are similar. I am trying to build a vibrant community inside thinkspace. But, I feel that the Foundation will have the ability to reach a broader group,” said Peter Chee, CEO of thinkspace. “This is my way of supporting another organization that can reach out to more people in the Redmond area and getting them engaged.”

When I asked Jeni Craswell, at The Redmond Foundation, a couple of questions about The Redmond Foundation, she had some great things to say. “We are still in formation and working up to our launch. The thinkspace community is an example of why we exist, small businesses are really the backbone of Redmond-that’s what makes the Redmond community unique. It’s the entrepreneurial spirit-what makes us special.”

I really wanted to know ways that people in the Redmond Community or members of thinkspace could help get The Redmond Foundation on its way to its goal of continuing to build a engaged community in the city of Redmond. Jeni responded with an open invitation, “It’s important for us to know what people need and what people want. I would love to know what people would like to see improve in Redmond. In fact, have them email me their ideas at jeni@theredmondfoundation.org.”

There you have it, folks. We’ve got an organization that is coming up on their opening committed to creating a healthy, vibrant and engaged community in Redmond. A healthy and engaged community can only mean one thing to the business owners of the Redmond Community; more business.

I was searching UrbanSpoon.com looking for the best places to eat in Redmond, here’s what they ranked as being the top 10:

• Pomegranate Bistro
• Kanishka
• Ooba’s Mexican Grill
• Thai Ginger
• Malay Satay Hut (Redmond)
• Typhoon!
• Watercress Asian Bistro
• Silver Spoon
• The Coho Cafe
• Blazing Bagels

I would have to say my hands down favorite place for lunch is at Ooba’s Mexican Grill.  Many of these restaurants are walking distance or very close by to thinkspace.  When picking office space, I think you also need to take into account where is a good place to eat and is it walking distance.  Ooba’s is on the same street as us!

Victor’s Coffee Co. is a local favorite coffee shop right around the corner from us.  Everyone in Redmond or passes through knows about Victors.  In addition to great tasting coffee, they also have panini sandwiches for lunch.

The atmosphere inside Victors is much more pleasant than Starbucks and Tulleys.  One experience that I don’t think I would ever have at Starbucks is the time when I ordered food and a coffee for two but forgot to bring enough money to pay for it.  I thought I was going to be doing the dishes in the back for while but the store employee told me to not worry about it and come back tomorrow and pay.  Now, that’s trust and a treatment that I don’t think you’d find at other coffee shops!

On page 7 of the May 23-29, 2008 edition of the Puget Sound Business Journal, Thinkspace is highlighted as a new Eastside executive office suite.

The PSBJ commercial real estate reporter Jeanne Lang Jones tells the story of Thinkspace how we are seeking LEED silver certification, how we used HEPA filters to control dust during demolition and how we recycled 97.7% of our demolition debris.  She also mentions that we have energy efficient lighting and our goal of reducing our energy costs by about 30%.  She also states “Besides using nontoxic (low or no VOC) paints, recycled carpet and energy efficient lighting, Chee is also providing tenants with bike racks, a shower and changing room and a charging station for electric cars.”

I’m being quoted saying “It’s better space at the same price our competition charges.”  In the article, a tenant of Thinkspace is quoted, “It’s the nicest Class A space in downtown Redmond…An office with sustainable features like this is just not available to small businesses…For entrepreneurs, it is an affordable way to limit their carbon footprint.”

If you have a online subscription to the Puget Sound Business Journal, you can read the whole article here.  If you don’t, contact me.