The Lightning Jar
  • Home
  • Space
    • Volunteering Opportunities
  • Start Up 802
  • Covid-19 /Virtual Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Something to Share

11/27/2018

0 Comments

 

Show & Tell with SYP

Posted by Joe Braim
Picture
To be honest, I wasn't confident I had anything worth sharing at last Friday's Show & Tell event coordinated by SYP and the Lightning Jar. As one of the youngest entrepreneurial minds at the event, I came unprepared to discuss a hobby or passion of my own. Quickly, I realized that was wrong..

Everyone has a small thing on the side that makes them cool. It's really just about being proactive. I didn't need anything visible to present, I could have simply spoken. I learned about unique ideas and passions from nearly a dozen people I never knew before. It's never too late or too early to start my professional network.

Even the start of the event was something different for me. I was used to beer, wine, and pizza options, but some smooth jazz set the mood while we chatted before the sharing started.

Matt Harrington of the Chamber got the sharing going by talking about motivation. Then a woman pursuing her passion for health and wellness told us about her new business as a health coach and how she helps others overcome food addiction and ditch sugar. Next, a gentlemen from Bennington showed us his website for his side gigs as a professional wedding and car photographer and videographer. His photos were great! Not only did he shoot these bizarre cliff- and road-side shots with tremendous views, each photo had a different car or truck in the shot.

The diversity of subjects throughout the night was really interesting. Later, I listened to a gentleman talk about his participation in hackathon events. In my head I said, "Well what the heck is a hackathon?" Come to find out, he tells me all about it! And I'm like, "Woah, this guy's smart." So he talks about what he did in these crazy 24 hour program and software development competitions called “hackathons.” They pop-up all over, and turns out he and his team came in second place in one. Learning about that experience was really interesting!

Switching fields completely, a lovely seamstress showed us her handmade puppet theaters that enhance kids' creativity at home or in a classroom! Seems like having your own characters to tell stories with would make story time fun again. To wrap things up, because there was a lot to share, we were able to hear a fellow member's entrepreneurial story. Achieving milestones after starting at home and getting his first office space at the Lightning Jar. After building his business, he moved on on his own and is still operating in town. All in all, I learned a lot. It was great to hear from so many people and get to know what they're passionate about. Maybe next time, I'll share something too.

0 Comments

Coworking Reciprocity

11/25/2018

3 Comments

 

A Season for Sharing

Posted by Michelle Marrocco
We're in it – it's officially the holiday season. So happy holidays! Did you enjoy your Thanksgiving? I hope you didn't get into too many political arguments and you were surrounded by people you love.

I'll admit it. I definitely spent some time working over the Thanksgiving break. I really believe in taking a break from screens whenever possible, so I tried to keep it to just reading and writing. If you're anything like most of the people I know, you probably checked your email too.

Thinking about the next month of parties, holidays, and travel (oh, the travel), I'm already planning how to get everything done. Last year, we drove the three hours to Boston for Christmas Eve then two hours to Connecticut for Christmas day, and then three hours back home the day after! Meanwhile, I'm trying to do whatever work I can in the car whenever I'm not the driver. It was overly ambitious.
Picture
This year, I'm excited to share that there are better options than working in the car. I recently learned about the Vermont Pass network – a partnership of seven coworking spaces across the state that offer reciprocal membership. (And yes, Lightning Jar is one of them.) That means if you're traveling to Woodstock or Stowe this holiday season (or ever), you can use your Lightning Jar membership to get in and do some work. That is, when you're not skiing.

We have partner coworking space in Bradford, Burlington, Montpelier, Stowe, Waitsfield, and Woodstock. Assuming the weather cooperates in early December, I'll be doing a state-wide tour of coworking and makerspaces. More on that to come.

For those heading to New Hampshire, we're also partnering with the Hannah Grimes Center in Keene. First of all, I was there in September and the Hannah Grimes Center is super cool! The Hive at the Hannah Grimes Center is specifically their coworking space. Next time you're in the area, bring you Lighting Jar badge and sign in at the desk. (I also suggest walking across the street and grabbing a smoothie at the co-op if you get hungry.)
Picture
The Hive Co-Workign at Hannah Grimes in Keene, NH. (Photo courtesy of the Hannah Grimes Center)
In case you can't tell, I've got feelings about this. One, I'm just really excited to be able to share these opportunities with our members. Two, the folks I'm meeting are amazing! I love meeting people and learning what they get excited about. Collaboration is my jam, and all these folks that run coworking spaces and innovation centers and incubators really embrace that. So stop in and let's collaborate. With the new year approaching, it's a great time to start working on that passion project or learn how you can help someone else with theirs. It is the season of giving after all.

About the Author(s)

Michelle started as the Director of the Lightning Jar in July 2018. Before that, she worked on regional community and economic development in Bennington County. She uses the skills and connections she made from that work to connect others to the resources, skills, and people they need to build successful businesses and careers.

3 Comments

Finding Startup Capital

11/2/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Almost everyone I know has a great business idea, but they don't all have great businesses. Most don't even have a business! There seems to be this in between place, like a purgatory for good ideas, where folks think they need more money before they can start. In general, I challenge people on that assumption, but sometimes a bit of startup capital goes a long way.

That's when loans come in. I get it. Taking on more debt is scary – especially if you bought a car or a house or went to college in the last twenty years (or ever). But if it meant you could finally launch or expand your business, would it be worth it? At the very least, understanding your options can help you answer that question.

Not all loans are the same. If you're interested in learning about those differences and how to choose the best one for you and your business, we want to help. Join us on Wednesday, November 7 at the Lightning Jar for a panel discussion moderated by the US Small Business Administration. The panel begins at noon and registration, at 11:30am. Get here early so you can meet the lenders one-on-one!

​Find more information HERE.

0 Comments

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Categories

    All
    Events
    Networking
    Professional Development

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to our email list

    * indicates required

    The Lightning Jar

    Bennington's first collaborative coworking space for entrepreneurs, students, and professionals.

Copyright © 2015 - 2020 The Lightning Jar, Inc. - 194 North Street, Bennington, VT 05201
Subscribe