We’re bringing you interviews with real-life FLOWN members who use our online coworking sessions (we call Flocks) to get things done.
Focus, ritual and accountability – these members now couldn’t imagine their working lives without the perks of FLOWN’s virtual coworking community. So, be inspired by their stories and discover the magic of deep work!
Jo Gifford is a writer, author, designer and content strategist who brings her marketing brilliance to clients from global brands to emerging entrepreneurs.
Flying solo since 2006 and wearing a multitude of hats – as well as working in marketing, business development and copywriting, she’s lectured at universities, blogged, podcasted, written several books, and is a wild-swimming mother to twins … phew! – Jo knows the meaning of multitasking.
So what does FLOWN’s virtual coworking community do for Jo?
Put simply: we help her juggle!
“FLOWN helps me to show up better for my clients,” Jo says. “I am focused, on track, and a far more organized and productive team member.”
And being more organised at work has helped Jo to achieve some much needed rest and play.
“FLOWN has also really helped me to enjoy my time off,” she says. “I schedule in 'Flock' sessions, build in gym and family time around them, and know that I will really plough through my work and enjoy some intentional time off.”
How Flocks work
Let’s zoom through Jo’s FLOWN journey …
Tell us about your work set up.
I work from home pretty much full time, as all my clients are remote. Occasionally I love to go to coworking spaces and to find cafés and interesting setups to work from.
I split my time between my own clients, and as part of several remote teams as a content marketing, copywriting and project management resource. I love the mixture of working solo and as part of a team.
How do you use FLOWN in your life?
I discovered FLOWN through an Instagram ad, and was immediately drawn to the idea of having facilitated space for both morning pages meditation and deep work.
When I work as part of a team, morning standups are the part of the day that I love the most, and FLOWN’s Take-Offs let me have that every day. After the first session, I was hooked!
I tend to use Deep Dive sessions for client work, so that I can focus and meet deadlines with ease. But I also use them for things like getting my taxes and my paperwork done, and for things that I normally don't like doing, admin-wise.
I really enjoy putting on some music, showing up to a Power Hour or a Deep Dive session, and knowing that I will get things done.
After the first session, I was hooked... I really enjoy putting on some music, showing up to a Power Hour or a Deep Dive session, and knowing that I will get things done.
Why do you love virtual coworking with FLOWN?
Like many women my age, I am often overwhelmed with the juggle between family, aging parents and my work.
FLOWN has been incredibly useful for me.
My ability to focus has increased exponentially. The sessions are key in helping me to find my flow state and to achieve as much work as possible. Now, even when I'm not on a Deep Dive, accessing a deep work state and focusing happens far more quickly.
Learn more about virtual coworking
What’s your biggest FLOWN success story?
Using FLOWN, I've managed to achieve taking most Fridays off work!
I've also written a new book, a collection of poems about the transformative power of wild swimming. A book project can be quite overwhelming to say the least – but the Flocks have helped me to break down the tasks and to stay on track.
Have you connected with FLOWN’s virtual coworking community?
I love the effortless networking that happens naturally just by checking in to the deep dives and the breakout rooms. I’ve met a fantastic network of people already just in the few months I've been a Flownie, and I've already started to plant the seeds of collaborations and meetups.
Knowing that I have those check in points with other lovely human beings in the day if I need or would like to – as well as the opportunity to really focus on my work – has really impacted my working life.
Being part of FLOWN has increased my learning as well, as I'm being introduced to new books, podcasts, resources, habits and tools every day.
I love the effortless networking that happens naturally
What’s next?
I love to process things through writing. What really lights me up is using my words to reach others and to help to create change.
I’m working with some really prestigious London agencies as part of their content marketing teams, and I also continue to develop my skills and to express my creative side with my own work – which is currently based around Writing Wild, and how writing helps us to move through the wildness of life.
Find Jo here:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thejogifford/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejogifford/
Books on leadership and productivity https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jo-Gifford/e/B00HQONR3A
Wild swimming poetry https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/wild-currents-poems-on-the-transformative-power-of-water-in-turbulent-times-191359050X
