Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Lott.
Hi Amber, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I moved to Georgia from Utah when I was 21 to go to school at the University of Georgia, I knew 1 person and I’d never lived anywhere outside of my comfortable bubble state of being. I would say I’ve always had a lack of fear when it comes to trying new things, which as an entrepreneur, came in handy in order for me to push past my fears of the unknown and uncertainty to trying something that was not in the industry I had been in for nearly two decades. Like many people that eventually take control of their own destiny by starting their own business, I had worked in the corporate world for many years. My background was in brand management and distribution for Red Bull Energy Drink and beer, liquor, and wine sales for 18 years. I had no experience in the co-working world, or running my own business. I was also a mother of 3 kids (9, 6 and 3) and my husband worked in a very demanding corporate job. But as my 40th birthday approached, I found myself sitting on the beach on vacation in Mexico one night, asking a God I hadn’t talked to in about two decades to give me some direction as to what I was supposed to be doing with my life. It made no sense to my logical brain. I loved my job and the people I worked with, but it turns out my soul felt unfulfilled and unchallenged apparently.
Upon my arrival back to the office from my vacation, I was called into my manager’s office to go over the end-of-year presentation I had been preparing, but instead he told me that I had to transition into another position the following month, not because of my performance, but because they could get someone to do my job for less. He told me that it wasn’t personal, it was just how corporations worked. I was devastated. I had spent the past 14 years building an unknown brand called Red Bull Energy Drink in the bar, restaurant, and hotel industry. I had began at a small distributor cold calling, sampling, and handwriting 1-2 case invoices for a very expensive mixer in a category that didn’t exist, and became the Red Bull Brand Manager working with one of the largest beverage distributors in Georgia. My identity was tied to my job. I didn’t want to take another position at the company, but I took it because that’s what you do when you are blindsided and have three young kids and bills to pay. It took that jolt to have me really think about what I wanted my life to look like and what I was really interested in. Once I thought about opening a co-working space, it just felt right. I started to do the research and tried to figure out financially how it was going to happen.
Countless things started to line up that looking back, could’ve only been a God thing. I won’t go into details, but I have an amazingly supportive husband who although thought I was crazy at the time and didn’t understand why I didn’t just stay in my industry and find another management position, allowed me to pursue my dream. So, my story of how I got here is like countless others. I went through a hard time, had to do things I didn’t want to do and persevered to get to the reward. It was not an overnight success, it still has challenges and good and bad days, but I now know what it feels like to create your own destiny and manifest your dreams. I’m learning that life is about experiencing the life you picture yourself living, and I’m blessed every day by the people I’ve encountered and have been able to help on their dream journey.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
For anyone to say that starting their business was a smooth road, I would say unless you are independently wealthy, it is a financially stressful time. I think that if I had believed the statistics of how many businesses that start fail within the first two years, or if I had thought that I wasn’t the exception to the rule that most people don’t make money for the first 2-3 years of opening a business, I wouldn’t have ever dared to open a business. I didn’t fail; THANK YOU JESUS! But I also was not the exception to the rule of not making money for the first few years of opening the business. I had all this debt to make up from the costs of starting the business, then I had left a corporate job and no longer had a paycheck, but still had the same personal expenses and new business expenses.
Along with the financial stress, there was also the unique challenge of opening the business right before COVID-19 made its debut. People weren’t leaving their houses or having in-person meetings or events, so it was a very painful start the first year we were open. I also didn’t qualify for any of the small business government assistance because I had no employees and hadn’t made any money to pay myself. Another challenge I still face today is many people not really knowing what a co-working business is and having to teach them about the offerings and benefits of using one.
We’ve been impressed with Paradigm Workhub, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a modern designed co-working space that specializes in providing small business owners access to an office outside of their homes to work and meet with clients and employees or hold meetings or trainings. We offer virtual mailboxes for those businesses that want to have a real business address, not a PO box or their home address for their business, and to get Google verified as being in a business building. We also rent the entire space for filming and small events in the evenings and on the weekends. What sets us apart from others is that I’m the owner, operator, coffee, and snack supplier, non-licensed therapist (LOL), and friend to my members. We’re not a big corporation. I pride my brand on it feeling like a place where you want to come into the office, because the people here although not in the same businesses, feel like coworkers that are rooting for your success. This doesn’t just happen in most co-working places I spend a lot of time cultivating relationships by introducing people to each other and seeing how we can connect and help each other grow. We seem to be a solution for trade companies (HVAC, plumbing, electricians, roofers, general contractors) that work out of their trucks and have got rid of their offices and meet here instead with their administrators and staff on an as needed basis.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
People may be surprised to know that I was painfully shy as a child and my worst nightmare was to have to do public speaking. My face still turns red and my voice gets choked up when I have to stand up in a crowd or networking event to talk about myself.
Pricing:
- $30/mo. Virtual Mailbox/Address
- $60-$200/mo. Co-working Membership
- $350-$450/mo. Dedicated Desk
- $25-$70/hr Meeting Rooms
- $150-$200/hr Filming/Event rental
Contact Info:
- Website: www.paradigmworkhub.com
- Instagram: paradigmworkhub
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Paradigmworkhub
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paradigm-workhub-70597b196/
Image Credits
Michele Zakeri Photography (headshot)
