Edition #4: Jeff Joerling

Here at GCUC we are immensely fortunate to cross paths and work with so many amazing people. Through our work, we’ve cultivated a global community of people we think you should know about. 

Community of Cultivators is a new blog series to introduce you to coworking game changers and connectors. Each month, we’ll release new interviews that we hope inform and inspire you.

We also visited with Jeff Jeorling, Founder of Solve and Formativ. Jeff got his start in the industry while working at steelcase- he is now in the process of opening his own coworking space in a mixed use complex in Denver Colorado. On to Jeff…

Name: Jeff Joerling
Company and title: Formativ, Founder

What in your life are you most proud of cultivating or creating? Why?

Stay tuned…

Where do you personally feel the most sense of community?

Since “at a coworking space” seems a little on the nose, for me, it’s on the mountain. On a powder day. With ski buddies. When everyone is in the flow. Exhausted and energized at the same time. I like this as an analogy of work…each individual pushing themselves so the whole group wins. The rush when you’re firing on all cylinders and the team is clicking, pushing each other. No one has looked at the clock in hours.

What podcast would you recommend to others and why?

Not a particular one but judge a book by its cover. Like literally. I like to pick something on a whim that catches my eye and try it. I found myself in this rut of reading/listening to just those serious business books and industry podcasts. Which are great, but it feels like there is a new one you “have to check out” every week. But then I started letting myself go down the Audible rabbit hole. Clicking on something that just seemed interesting in the moment. Usually short and on topics I know little about. From the politics of the national weather service, to the story of why Johnny Cash played Folsom Prison, to the mysterious death of a famous porn star. I found by mixing it up I am more focused and get more out of the things I listen to that are “for work”.

What is one piece of advice you give everyone that works with and/or for you?

The same advice I have to keep reminding myself of: Take them on the journey with you. It takes a long time to craft an idea or strategy but too often I find myself sharing the solution first. I’m excited to share, and just jump to the point. But when I take the time to walk folks thru the problem and describe the thinking process I used to get to the solution, folks rally behind it, strongly.

If you had $500 to spend- what would you buy?

Ticket to GCUC UK, September 23-24, 2019 of course.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming an entrepreneur?

To quote the late ski film pioneer Warren Miller, “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be one year older when you do.”

What is the best habit you ever started? What habit do you want to start but haven’t yet?

Making the bed. Because, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” Said Admiral William McRaven in a commencement address to his Alma Mater, the University of Texas. “If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right. And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.”

Thats all for today. Another two will be coming your way next month!