Tatum Johnson and her sister created The Foundry so they could move their business, Intrigue Ink, out of their garage. Somewhat unexpectedly, they found a community. I spoke with her about the benefits of co-working spaces for creatives.

Born of Necessity

Like many innovations, The Foundry was born of necessity. Tatum had grown tired of working out of her garage and migrating from one coffee shop to the next in order to meet with people. Off-the-shelf real estate was either too expensive or inappropriate. So, The Foundry was born as a way to give Intrigue Ink the space it required and the downtown location Tatum desired in a manner that allowed for costs to be shared with others.

Stimulation and Accountability

It's not too surprising that working alongside other creative entrepreneurs can be stimulating. Somewhat unexpectedly, Tatum has found that co-working fosters a sense of accountability. It may be that working in plain site amounts to a public declaration of our intentions, which makes it more likely that we'll follow-through.

Walking the Walk

In her own life, Tatum found that it's easy to "talk the talk" of being a creative, but she found that she really wasn't "walking the walk." Because of The Foundry, Tatum finds herself in the midst of a support network that enables her to be more productive and enhances her sense of accomplishment.