380. How James Westbrook Transformed Commercial Property into a Thriving Coworking Business
Release Date: 03/05/2025
405. From Antiques to Coworking: Carol DiGiovanni’s Journey to Building onFlume Coworking
Everything Coworking
What do antiques and coworking have in common? For Carol DiGiovanni, more than you’d think. Carol never set out to run a coworking space. With a degree in material culture and a long career as an accredited antiques appraiser, she loved researching the stories behind old treasures—not managing HVAC contractors or setting up a member portal. But when the pandemic hit, Carol and her husband—owners of a full city block of office space in downtown Chico, California—knew they’d need to pivot. In this episode, Carol shares her journey from antique expert to community builder, and how...
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404. When It's Time to Hire a Business Coach
Everything Coworking
In this episode, Jamie dives deep into how to choose the right business coach for where you are in your coworking journey — whether you’re just dreaming about opening your first space or you’re years in and ready to grow profitably. She shares personal stories from her own coaching experiences, from mindset breakthroughs to painful early mistakes that could’ve been avoided with coworking-specific guidance. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why the type of coach you choose depends on your stage of business The difference between general business coaching and industry-specific...
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403. What Every Coworking Operator Should Track (and How Often)
Everything Coworking
Most coworking operators didn’t open their doors because they love spreadsheets — but the truth is, what gets focus gets results. In this episode, Jamie Russo breaks down the essential rhythm every coworking business needs for reviewing its numbers. You’ll learn what to track weekly, monthly, and quarterly so you can make better decisions, spot opportunities early, and grow profit with intention. No spreadsheets, no overwhelm — just a practical framework that helps you stay connected to your business and confident in your next move. In This Episode: Why your numbers aren’t...
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402. Gut Feel Isn’t a Strategy: How to Make Smarter Decisions With Data
Everything Coworking
Most coworking operators make decisions based on instinct — pricing, marketing spend, staffing, space allocation — all guided by gut feel. But when you dig into the data, it often tells a completely different story. In this episode, Jamie shares examples of how metrics can reveal blind spots that gut feel misses — like when vacant offices aren’t the real problem, or when ad spend is working but lead follow-up isn’t. You’ll learn why the right data brings confidence and clarity to your decision-making and helps you prioritize what will actually move the needle. If you’re ready to...
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401. The Small-City Strategy: How Jeff Goronkin, CEO of Urban Co-Works, Builds Thriving Coworking Hubs
Everything Coworking
Ever wondered how to build a successful coworking business in smaller markets that the big players ignore? Jeff Goronkin cracked the code by targeting overlooked cities and mastering the art of community-first growth. Key Topics Covered: How Jeff leveraged a "sandbox period" to learn coworking before committing to major investments Why targeting smaller markets (populations 50-70k) can be more profitable than competing in saturated metros The power of revenue-share lease agreements and how to negotiate them with landlords Building relationships with economic development offices to secure...
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400. Should I Copy the Switchyards Model?
Everything Coworking
Switchyards has become one of the most talked-about concepts in the coworking world, a self-described “neighborhood work club” that blends the feel of a coffee shop, library, and boutique hotel lobby. The model looks simple, affordable, and wildly attractive. But is it really as easy and profitable as it seems? In this episode, I sit down with Kane Willmott, CEO of IQ Offices, to reverse-engineer the Switchyards model. We walk through their pricing, staffing, buildout approach, and growth strategy to uncover what works, what’s risky, and whether this is a concept you should try at home....
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399. What Boutique Gyms and Play Cafes Can Teach Us About Coworking Revenue
Everything Coworking
Coworking operators often assume that flex desks and memberships will drive the business model, but what if that’s not actually true? In this episode, I share insights from boutique gyms and play cafes that reveal how different business models generate sustainable revenue. These parallels highlight why private offices, events, and other add-ons are often the true engines of coworking profitability. What we cover: Why flex desks are often overestimated in pro formas, and why they rarely drive long-term revenue. The boutique fitness analogy: why high-value services (like private offices)...
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398. Creating Space for Parents: Megan Donovan on Coworking + Childcare
Everything Coworking
Balancing career and parenthood isn’t easy, and for many parents, traditional childcare options just don’t fit. Megan Donovan, founder of Shift Work and Play, set out to change that. After leaving a career in policy and advocacy, Megan built a coworking model that offers parents dedicated work time while their kids enjoy structured play sessions, filling a gap most childcare and coworking models miss. In this episode, Megan shares her journey, the challenges of running a coworking + childcare business, and why her members say the model has been life-changing. We cover: Megan’s...
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397. Creating Access + Community for Private Practice Professionals: Samantha Barash on The Practice Collective
Everything Coworking
What happens when a dietitian starts a private practice, sees a gap in support for clinicians, and decides to fix it herself? You get The Practice Collective - a coworking model built specifically for practitioners in nutrition, wellness, and mental health. In this episode, Samantha Barash shares how she went from running her own nutrition practice to creating a thriving coworking community for private practice professionals. Her story shows how powerful niche coworking can be, and how keeping things simple and community-focused leads to strong growth. We cover: How Samantha’s nutrition...
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396. The Hidden Cost of Settling: How to Handle a Team Member Who’s Not a Fit
Everything Coworking
One of the toughest parts of running a coworking space is managing people. What do you do when your community manager—or any team member—isn’t living up to expectations? Do you settle, or is it time to make a transition? In this episode of the Everything Coworking Podcast, Jamie Russo walks through the signs that your team member may not be a fit, what to check before you make a change, and how to confidently prepare for a transition without losing your sanity—or your members’ trust. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The common symptoms of underperformance (SOPs ignored, leads...
info_outlineWhat happens when a seasoned real estate investor decides to dive into coworking? James Westbrook, co-owner of Magnolia Woods, shares his journey from corporate sales to running two successful coworking spaces in the Houston suburbs. We talk about the challenges of expansion, why office-heavy coworking models work in his market, and the strategies that keep his spaces full.
In this episode:
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How James transitioned from real estate investing to launching coworking spaces
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The pros and cons of owning vs. leasing coworking properties
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Why private offices are the key revenue driver in his suburban market
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Marketing and lead generation strategies that actually work (including what didn’t)
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The power of community in coworking—without forcing happy hours
If you’re an operator thinking about expansion or a real estate investor eyeing coworking, this episode is packed with insights!
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off - https://na.gcuc.co/
Everything Coworking Featured Resources:
Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space