Ruby left Canada and her former job as a lawyer to study in Europe. What started out as a short winter break to escape the cold and gray of the European north, turned into a course changing long term stay in Spain. During her 3 month stay with Sun and Co. Ruby became increasingly inspired to start a new chapter in her life.
A lot of people were asking me:
– Ruby –
“Why don’t you just create something on your own?”
And I thought: “No! I can’t do that right now. I don’t have enough experience. I cannot do this!”, and then eventually I ran out of excuses and decided to just go for it. I feel like that’s a philosophy that I usually take with me in my life: Just go for it!
Ruby, you’ve been here for quite a while and you’re leaving tomorrow: How do you feel?
It feels really weird! I’ve watched everyone else check out for the last three months, and now it’s my turn. I definitely feel like I’m leaving on a good note and I’m going to miss the community here! But I think it’s really refreshing. I’m really glad to be able to start a new chapter of my life, so I feel ready.
For everyone who doesn’t know you, could you give us a brief introduction?
My name is Ruby and I’m a lawyer from Canada. I used to work for a big law firm and also for the UN in corporate and business law. A year ago I left to travel and did my master’s degree in Sweden. After my studies, I found myself wondering what I should do next. And so I came here to Sun and Co.
Currently I run my own business. It’s called My Legal Coach; you can find us at www.mylegalcoach.xyz and @mylegalcoach on Instagram. We provide legal coaching services on Canadian law. There are two components to my business: The first component is a business law component where I provide basic corporate law advice to start-ups and small businesses. The second part is, what I would call my passion project, legal coaching to self-represented litigants.
Telling from my professional and traveling experience, many different people will run, at some point in their life, into legal questions or issues. And I found that help in the legal world isn’t very readily accessible. But I believe that people should be able to get the answers they need easily and quickly.
What was your plan after your master in Sweden? Did you have in mind to start your own business for a while?
It was by accident! I actually was thinking of settling down here in Sun and Co. for about a month or two to avoid the cold, dark weather in Sweden. Then I ended up staying here for three months because I loved it so much! When I first came here, I thought I was going to just chill a little bit, apply for jobs and enjoy the beach weather. But eventually I saw what people around me were doing and I got really inspired to start my own business.
A lot of people were asking me: “Why don’t you just create something on your own?”
And I thought: “No! I can’t do that right now. I don’t have enough experience. I cannot do this!”, and then eventually I ran out of excuses and decided to just go for it. I feel like that’s a philosophy that I usually take with me in my life: Just go for it!
How did you actually find Sun and Co. and how long did you intend to stay originally?
At the beginning, I planned to stay for about a month. I found Sun and Co. simply by googling coliving. Before coming here I stayed in a coliving space in Stockholm and I loved the community there, because I met so many good friends. I really wanted a place where I could feel at home and what I really like about coliving spaces specifically is that you really benefit from the people around you! They come from so many different backgrounds and different professions, so I feel like I’ve grown in my time here personally and professionally just by being around the community.
And your plans changed over time. Could you tell us a little bit about that? What exactly happened and how many times did you extend your stay?
I think we lost track, haha! After the first month I found myself going to the team and asking if I could extend one more time and then another time and then another time… Simply because I felt like there was just so much to learn and I wasn’t ready to leave yet.
There were a lot of new friends that I kept meeting and people have helped me with so many different things, with marketing, with my website, with business development and honestly, I feel like it’s been such a privilege and I feel so fortunate to be able to have met all the people that I’ve met here!
What would you say about your stay at Sun and Co.?
I’m gonna be really honest: When I first became a lawyer, I thought that I would go down a very traditional path of practicing in a firm somewhere in an office with a view of the city – the very traditional lawyer lifestyle.
At Sun and Co. I’ve met different people who come from so many different fields and lead such untraditional lifestyles. I felt really inspired to take this very traditional field and blend it with a more innovative endeavor, which is to start my own virtual law firm.
I can say that it’s given me courage and inspiration to be able to start something on my own from the little heart of Javea.
What are some of your most favorite memories or moments during your time here?
Family dinners are something really special at Sun and Co. As someone who’s been part of the community for a while, something that I really valued and what I look forward to every week is the family dinners where you get to share a meal with everyone.
I feel like food is a very good way to connect with different people and cultures, because you can see how people prepare food, you can cook with them, you can eat with them, and the process is very, very personal. Through the family dinners, you’re able to have a lot of really good conversations and you’re just able to do something together as a team. And cooking is something that I really love!
This is definitely one of the more simple things that we’ve done here in the community, but it’s something that I really like.
Do you have any message for the people reading this article or for your fellow colivers?
I’d say to just go and do it, because oftentimes once you start, then you just keep going. And starting is the hardest part!
Sometimes when you don’t know where to go, you just need to go somewhere and that’s something that I’ve taken with me, although … I haven’t been going anywhere in the last three months because I’ve been here!
But I think that mentally my mind has gone to many different places, because there are so many different people coming here with so many different ideas. Every day can bring a new perspective, and that’s something that I really appreciate and value.
So beyond “just do it” I also say thank you so much for the community, the people that I’ve met and all the skills that I’ve learned. I really am very grateful and can’t wait to come back here again.
Let’s connect!
