The Surprising Power of a Simple Meetup  

Aloma
Screenshot of Antiques Lyon

A few weeks ago, I hesitated before stepping out the door. I had signed up for a bi-weekly coworking meetup in Lyon, a gathering of digital nomads I found through the Meetup app.

But as the first session approached, doubt kicked in.
Would I have anything to say?
Would people be friendly?
Would it even be worth it?

I almost didn’t go. But I’m glad I did—because, honestly, it changed everything.

The Reluctance: Why It’s Hard to Show Up

I’ve always worked best alone. Or at least, that’s what I thought.
Solopreneur, indie dev, antique seller—it’s easy to stay in my own bubble.

But the problem with working alone is that sometimes… nothing gets done.
For weeks, I had been putting off finishing my husband’s website. I kept telling myself I’d do it “soon.” Except soon never came.

Then, I showed up at this meetup.

The Unexpected Push of Coworking

At first, it was just nice to be around other people working. The quiet focus, the sound of typing, the occasional conversation—it was a good energy.

But something weird happened: I started feeling accountable.
Not in a stressful way, but in a good way.

I saw people working hard on their own projects, sharing ideas, making progress. And suddenly, I felt this unspoken pressure—
If they’re doing it, why am I not?

So I opened up my laptop.
I started working on the website I had been avoiding.
And before I knew it? It was done.

Just showing up, sitting with other motivated people, and absorbing the energy was enough to snap me out of procrastination.

More Than Just Productivity—New Ideas

The effects didn’t stop there.
Since I had already finished the website, I had no excuse not to work on my own project—the one I’ve been slowly shaping in my head.

But here’s the thing: I thought I had everything figured out.
Turns out, I didn’t.

Talking to people at the meetup helped me see things I had completely missed.

  • They asked questions I hadn’t thought about.
  • They pointed out potential challenges.
  • They even suggested ideas that made my system design way better.

It was the kind of input you can’t get when you’re just thinking alone.

From Meetup to AI Discussions

With these fresh perspectives, I went back to brainstorming—with AI.
I started breaking down the design using tools like ChatGPT and Grok-3, refining ideas I wouldn’t have even considered before.

And now?

  • My system design is almost done.
  • I’ve started doing UI/UX research and already have a simple direction.
  • I’m preparing to build the first prototype soon.

Would any of this have happened if I hadn’t gone to that first meetup?
Honestly, probably not.

Final Thoughts

I never expected something as simple as a coworking meetup to make such a difference.
But now, every two weeks, I show up.
Not because I have to, but because I want to.

It’s the perfect mix of motivation, inspiration, and accountability—just enough pressure to keep me moving forward.

So if you’ve ever felt stuck, or if you’re working alone and struggling to push through—find a meetup.
Show up once.
See what happens.

It might just change everything. 🚀