Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Gasca.
Lori, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am the founder of The Grove, Creative Workspace, designed by women for women. For many years, I worked from home and have a very successful direct sales business from the little desk in my bedroom. I understand the beauty of working from home. I love the flexibility, BUT I do miss the interaction and collaboration with others… especially creative and smart women! So, The Grove was born.
I don’t know about you but when I work from home, I am often inefficient. In looking for a co-working space, I found it is VERY EXPENSIVE and often STUFFY and COLD! Most places were not conducive to a beautiful, comfortable and casual yet professional feel. I did not want to be back in my past executive corporate life. I want to be a part of a community of entrepreneurs who believe in living outside of the box and shattering the glass ceiling. I want energy and synergistic collaboration across all industries. I want to support and encourage each other because empowered women EMPOWER women! This is THE WOODLANDS GROVE!
Has it been a smooth road?
No, but nothing worth having ever is. We grow in the rough patches. One of the biggest obstacles for women in business is self-doubt. There were days I would just sit and question what in the world I was doing. How is this ever going to work? And, then confirmation would come in the most unexpected ways… a message from a friend, a post on FB, a scripture. The key is to not throw in the towel the second something gets hard. We had just started truly gaining momentum and then a pandemic… BOOM! Stand still. This is a time to PIVOT, RESET and start a FRESH BEGINNING. I really used the downtime to reflect on the past year and how The Grove had impacted so many lives and what I wanted the space to become. Good things always come from hard times IF we don’t quit. One of those is our new online conversations called “Soup to Nuts: Girl Boss Conversations with Lori”. We are beginning our second month of weekly powerful interviews with Girl Bosses covering everything from soup to nuts for business and personal development.
Please tell us about The Grove Workspace for Women.
By definition, The Grove is a shared workspace. But, in reality, it is so much more. It is a place of support, encouragement, training, collaboration and so much more for women and their businesses to soar!
When I began looking for an office space outside of my home for my business, nothing spoke to my soul but it sure tugged at my bank account. I knew what I wanted and it didn’t exist in our area. I thought if I need a workspace that is beautiful, warm, and professional, then other women probably do too. So, the journey toward The Grove began.
Why the name “The Grove”? A grove is a symbolically safe place to rest and recuperate. And, I loved the story my grandfather, who was a logger, used to tell. Landowners would often tell him to cut away all the trees around the Oak so it could be the star attraction. He would always warn them that the Oak wasn’t yet strong enough to stand alone and the first big storm would knock it down. It needed the other trees surrounding it until it became strong enough to weather the storms alone.
This is my heart’s desire for The Grove… to circle around women while their roots are growing deep and strong. This is the most crucial time for us to have power in numbers. Entrepreneurs tend to be alone. We tend to blaze our own trail and do it our way! This is not a bad thing but if we don’t have a support system, a place to rest and refresh, a place to gain strength, the next big storm could knock us over. Our Grove tribe is growing! Do you want to be a part of something great? Will you invest in you?
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Absolutely. We have everything any new business would need to succeed. Our community is diverse, close to major airports for easy business travel, teeming with business networking and so much more. We are a large city with a hometown feel.
Contact Info:
- Address: 26410 Oak Ridge Drive, Suite 101
The Woodlands, TX 77380 - Website: www.thewoodlandsgrove.com
- Phone: 9362322834
- Email: Thewoodlandsgrove@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewoodlandsgrove/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewoodlandsgrove/
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