When John and I started up our company there were several resources and tools that helped us through the entire process. One of those resources was Small Business BC online and in Waterfront Station. We got forms, advice, and flipped through micro-fiche listings of business names before we settled on sixty4media.

Next month Small Business BC is hosting the Successful You Business Awards and we’ve been invited to check it out.

The event will announce the winners of the Successful You Awards and provide a unique opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs and the media to network with over 350 local business professionals and successful small businesses. Keynote speakers, Larry Finnson and Chris Emery, founders of Clodhoppers Candy, will share their success story of making Grandma’s candy recipe into a recognizable worldwide brand. [Small Business BC]

Where Birks Flagship Store, 698 Hastings Street
When Thursday June 10th from 5:00pm – 8:00pm

If you’re a small business and aren’t familiar with the services offered by Small Business BC I highly recommend checking them out or at least coming by the event. Tickets for the awards event are currently on sale starting at $36 (early bird) and $60 (then $70 at the door).

As of this afternoon, sixty4media has been listed on Automattic’s official list of WordPress consultants. What this means is that the creators of WordPress themselves thought us worthy to list in their directory of WordPress shops, which is pretty great.

I’ve also been getting numerous emails asking what exactly it is that sixty4media does, what services we offer and how we can help put a social media strategy together for individuals and businesses. Here’s a quick list of our offerings and should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

WordPress

Social Media Consulting

It’s been just over three months since I dove into the deep end of self-employment and I’m having a blast so far. So much so, that I thought Wednesday was Friday – either I accomplished enough work in 3 workdays to make my body think it was Friday or I’ve been so buried by projects I haven’t noticed what day it is on the calendar. Either way, I’m really excited about what sixty4media has been doing; we have clients across North America, my freelance writing is going strong, and I’ve had the time to speak at events like Ideas on Tap and plan the successful Food Bank food drive we just had at Third Tuesday.

The only snag I’ve encountered is the need for a meeting place when I collaborate with clients or do interviews. Since I work out of the home I suppose I could enlist the services of Workspace (I hear they have amazing coffee) or The Network Hub, however I have just been heading to coffee shops for this purpose.

A few weeks ago I hit four seperate coffee shops across town (for four different meetings/interviews), and seeing as how I make sure to purchase something at every location, I was pretty buzzed on coffee (or peanut butter cookies) by the time the afternoon rolled around – I recommend switching to water on days like those.

So what do I look for when I want to pick a coffee shop? The most important item is wifi, and the most extensive listing of internet-juiced venues around can be found on this site. You can also check the FreeTheNet map and browse by neighbourhood downtown.

Next, they need to have a good atmosphere; perhaps some couches or loungers along with tables and chairs that offer enough of a buffer between you and the other patrons. Also be sure to find a spot away from the barista as bubbling steamy coffee-making noises can be rather loud at times.

Note to coffee shops, if you’re going to offer and advertise free wifi, please make sure you have enough power outlets as well (I know my friend Raul would appreciate that one).

Working with friends occasionally is also highly recommended (especially if you miss having an office crew). I know, it sounds terribly geeky but if I meet up with a friend in a coffee shop we not only get to have a treat and catch up, we can also plug in and work on our various projects. It allows for instant feedback or help should we need any problem solving or comments about a new post or idea.

A few spots that I can recommend downtown (that may also have other stores around the Lower Mainland) include Waves, Blenz, and Raging Bean in Yaletown. Take 5 Cafes also have wifi, and if you need a full breakfast or lunch on the go, there’s always Cactus Club or The Templeton on Granville as well.

It’s only been just over a year since I started blogging remotely (on my lunch break while working a 9-5 job). Now that I’m free to be wherever I want, whenever I want, I actually do miss office camaraderie and in all honesty (in some strange way) I actually love cubicles. But being able to wake up early, head to the gym, come home, put on a pot of coffee and accomplish a ton of work before 9am is still pretty awesome.

I love being my own boss although I think the only drawback is that I can get burnt out easily since my projects, events, and commitments could have me out several evenings a week – on top of the work I do all day. Mandatory down-time is recommended, which is why you may notice me blogging less over the weekends on my personal site.

As sixty4media grows, I look forward to meeting more people, getting out and about, and expanding our operation. Until that time I’m enjoying all the city has to offer a young business like us, especially great remote working spaces (and coffee).