BAY BUZZ
BAD COMPANY EST.2017
Working from home, like most people, began during a series of lockdowns and office changes, and one day, voila, I was a full-time work-from-home gal. A freshly painted office, a new desk, and chair. While most people upgrade their third bedroom for the arrival of a child or some other life-changing experience, I was doing it for my newfound WFH life.
I was remote for about six months, and during that time, it took me a while to figure out what I was missing. It might sound silly, but working from home offers all sorts of flexibility—the usual ones people mention; no hectic commute, working in any attire, rolling out of bed at 8:25 and being ready to start work at 8:30. My favourite, though, was stove top coffee and unlimited trips to the fridge, and therefore, unlimited cheese. But still, I was missing something. I never figured out what I was missing until I got it again—the people. After examining my credit card statement and noticing the increasing trend of meeting friends for dinner, at the pub, out for coffee, and sometimes daily trips to New World—anything that facilitated some kind of social interaction—the penny finally dropped, maybe the work-from-home life wasn’t for me. I was lonely. At this stage, I was living i Tauranga, and my friends were going to this office space called ‘Bad Company,’ so I went along too. Honestly, on the first day, I was nervous. What do I wear? Do they go for lunch, or should I bring my lunch? How many boiled eggs are too many? I have work calls, can I take those at my desk? At this stage, the boredom outweighed the first day-at-school anxiety, and off to Bad Company I went.
And I loved it. It was everything I was missing. You know that feeling at the gym when you’re breathless and you look around, and everyone is breathless but still going for it? That support you get from a crowd when you’re doing your own thing but all a little different. It was much easier to focus because everyone was focusing. Much easier to work because everyone was working. But not the hear-a-pin-drop silent kind of working, the intervals of focused work followed by some in-depth discussions about what we learned from the 2008 GFC, followed by more focused work and a conversation about how many millions Taylor Swift would bring in from her next concert. From Tauranga, I moved to the Bad Company in Wānaka. Within the week, my newfound friends were planning skiing adventures and following the avalanche reports daily. Prior to this, my work friends had predominantly been scientists, and while they’re fabulous, my molecule chat can only go so far. Here at Bad Company Wānaka, I’m sitting next to an engineer and someone working for the Government, and we were fast becoming great friends. Planning ski missions, Wednesday night trampoline club and some workplace chat. Who moves to a new town, solo, and has new friends within a week? Someone who found their tribe in a co-working space. As the snow disappeared and the days became longer, it was off to the next adventure.
Fast forward six months, guess what! Having secured a franchise agreement and a lease on a historic building, Bad Company Hawkes Bay fast becoming a reality. I had told people I was opening a co-working space as an elaborate way to make friends, although said with a bit of jest, it wasn’t a lie. At the time of writing this, we’ve been open for five months, and new friends, everyone has. From dog-walking groups on the weekend to a strong pub quiz team. This is where you come to find your flow, with work and with life.
For those of you still pondering - How many boiled eggs are one too many? Well, I’ll admit, I haven’t questioned my choices like this since I first crossed that threshold. Perhaps, it’s your cue to embrace change, venture into uncharted territories, and discover your potential through Bad Company."
Written by: Belinda Williams
Bad Company’s 1st Franchisee
Hastings, Hawkes Bay. 2023
