Category Archives: Coworking

The Future of Work: A Manifesto

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A couple of years ago we hosted a workshop titled “The Future of Work” with Clay Spinuzzi from UT Austin and Gina Schmidt from Steelcase Furniture. Though poorly attended it brought out some good ideas about the environments that people would be working in.

@Maddie Grant at @SocialFish has written this post, “The Future of Work: A Manifesto“, that focuses on the “what” and “how” we will (or should) work in the future.

Here’s an excerpt from the introduction. The whole thing is well worth reading. (The boldface is her’s)

“Let’s talk about the things that human beings bring to the table in a work envir­onment. Let’s leverage our human attri­butes and make people and all of their whole selves the fuel that makes organ­izations and busin­esses grow and flourish. Let’s unleash our power as networked indiv­iduals. Let’s make Dilbertcartoons and The Office something we can enjoy as the relics of a past indus­trial, mecha­nical age. Let’s stop work from sucking. Let’s empower ourselves and each other to make our lives better, and thereby make our societies better.”

I’ve followed Maddie for years because of her work in association management. With her company Social Fish she has moved into social media strategy for the association sector. (If anyone could use social media strategy its associations!) She has always had smart and fresh ideas.

So what do you think? Has she hit it on the mark?

Can I Get Some Etiquette Here!

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Ah, those folks at Mashable always have cool stuff.

Since C4 Workspace is closed I find myself out in the Big Wide World, meandering from one coffee shop to another searching for a little coworking mojo. This article, “Entrepreneurs Guide to Coffee Shop Etiquette” covers the topic in Q & A format. I think it will come in handy for me. And maybe for you too. I’ve covered the highlights below.

How Much Should I Buy?

Short Answer: Buy something.

How Long Can I Stay?

Short Answer: All day, if you’d like, but get your tail out of there when the café closes.

Can I Take Business Calls?

Short Answer: It’s most polite to take calls outside, but short, quiet conversations are permissible.

Is It Ever Okay To Turn My Computer’s Sound On?

Short Answer: Sound = never appropriate. Use your headphones, n00b.

What If I Need Extra Seats for My Belongings?

Short Answer: You only get one seat. Put your stuff on the floor.

Is It Kosher To Ask Others To Watch My Stuff?

Short Answer: Certainly! They’ll watch your stuff, and you can watch theirs when they need it.

Are Group Meetings Welcome?

Short Answer: It depends on how many people the space can accommodate, but four is the magic number.

What Can I Do on the Wi-Fi?

Short Answer: Be considerate, and keep to the basics of browsing the web and checking email.

Designing for Collaboration

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I really like Shareable, “a nonprofit online magazine that tells the story of sharing.” They are part of my Google Reader list that I [try] to keep up with. They recently published an article that featured both coworking and the concept of co-design. I’ve included excerpts from the piece and the pictures. that were pretty cool.

I’d like to think that C4 Workspace embraced most of the principles the talk about. SO enjoy.

“The hell is not something that will be: if there is one, it is already here, the hell where we live every day, that we form staying together. There are two ways not to suffer from. The first one is easy for many people: accepting the hell and become part of it up to the point not to see it anymore. The second one is risky and requires attention and continuous learning: searching and being able to recognize who and what, into the hell, is not hell, and to make it last, and to give space to it.” -Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities

The nature of work is evolving, and with it the workplace. We know that. These changes offer incredible potential for development. Workspaces are the ones that connect diverse organizations and individuals, giving them the chance to collaborate, share knowledge and develop systemic solutions to the issues they are trying to address.

The Hub Oaxaca, photo via the Hub Bay Area blog

The co-design method requires a mixed and participatory approach involving people from different fields. This approach acknowledges complexity and seeks not to simplify process and outcome but to explore the set of unpredictable and surprising ideas that emerge from combining different ideas and points of view.

Creation demands a higher level of reasoning and draws connections between cause and effect. The best rules are never permanent, but always naturally evolving. A good collaborative space it needs to be:

1. People-centered

Hub Oaxaca co-design workshop run by Andrea Paoletti

2. Luminous

Cliff Bar Emeryville’s glass walls and meeting room, designed by ZGF Architects

3. Simple

Square San Francisco’s Informal gathering areas, designed by Studio O+A

4. Diverse

Hub Milano’s open collaborative environment, designed by Andrea Paoletti, Marta Pietroboni and Roberto Siena

5. Randomizing

Skype Palo Alto’s contemplation areas, designed by Design Blitz

6. Fluid

Milano Curved-edged furniture, designed by Andrea Paoletti, Marta Pietroboni and Roberto Siena

7. Adaptive

Rovereto paradoxical furniture with unconventional materials, designed by Andrea Paoletti and Rosso Scuro Design

8. Ethical

Hub San Francisco inspiration steps, designed by Andrea Paoletti

9. Flexible

D-school Stanford’s rolling white board and table on wheels, designed byScott Witthoft and Scott Doorley

10. Open-ended

Hub Oaxaca co-design workshop run by Andrea Paoletti

Co-design the space to feed the soul of the people and give them a sense of accomplishment. This cross-fertilization makes the space more human, spontaneous and flexible, making people more creative and fostering discussions that play an essential part in the development process, bringing down walls and inspiring collaboration.

C4 Workspace Bon Voyage Party

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It has been an interesting ride but it’s time to say goodbye to San Antonio’s only coworking space. But rather than say goodbye let’s say “Bon Voyage!” because it has been a good ride and we’re on to new adventures.

Come ready to party and give the space a good sendoff. We’ll have beer, wine, some Twisted Tea and perhaps a blender will make an appearance.

You’ll have your chance to say goodbye on video and share your memories and success stories from your coworking experience.

And there will be a Garage Sale of sorts as we sell off excess furniture and stuff in the continuing saga of paying off our bills.

In the spirirt of an Irsh wake come celebrate C4 Workspace. It may be the end of coworking “place” in San Antonio but not the end of the coworking “concept” here. That will continue on in some form and perhaps pop up in spot near you!

C4 Workspace, Part Deux

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It’s time to move on into a new “permanent” location. We must vacate our current Alamo Street location by September 30. We owe a debt of gratitude to our King William neighbors Gina and Joey from Madhatters for letting us crash at their corner spot. It’s been great for visibility, great for creating some coworking coziness but for meetings and events, not so much. So, we’re on to C4 Workspace, Part Deux. Or maybe not.

Let’s talk

C4 Workspace in San Antonio has been on the ropes for quite a while. Debbie, Perla and I have personally supported it for as long as we were able. This summer has allowed us to get some bills paid off but there are still others to take care of. We are very thankful to all those who supported us with donations over the winter. What is really needed is community support.

We’ll be hosting a lunch next week to get your input on the next location. We have some prospects lined up but will need an upfront financial commitment from about 10 people to make it fly.

Yes, the Economy Sucks

Crappy time to be asking for a financial commitment from you, huh? But the world is what it is. Chaos and change is constant. We know that coworking works locally as well as across the U.S. and around the world. Austin is at 10 coworking spaces, Dallas has 4 or 5, Houston 2 or 3 and there are more than 400 nationwide.

Connections and relationships have been created in the short time, and with a relatively small number of people, that C4 Workspace been open. Big ideas (like TEDxSanAntonio) have been been born and nurtured. These are things that have long term gain and (sometimes) no short term gratification.

So we’re asking for a commitment, an investment, in a concept that creates and builds a better living and working community for San Antonio.

Laid Out for All to See

Here’s the breakdown of the expenses necessary and the revenues required to make C4 Workspace viable.

Expenses
Rent $ 2000.00
Electric $ 300.00
Internet $ 200.00
Alarm $ 100.00
Telephone $ 75.00
Supplies $ 100.00
Groceries $ 200.00
Insurance $ 200.00
Cleaning $ 100.00
Debt Service $ 500.00
Investment Service $ 500.00
$ 4,275.00
Revenue
Resident Desks (Five @ $250.00/month) $ 1,250.00
Coworker Desks (Ten @ $150.00/month) $ 1,500.00
Offices (Two @ $600.00) $ 1,200.00
Hourly Desks (Forty hours @ $5.00/hour) $ 200.00
Conference Room/Event Rental $ 200.00
$ 4,350.00 

At the moment we have One Resident Desk, One Coworker Desk and One Office spoken for. That’s $1,000.00 of revenue. Do the math.

Location. Location! Location?

We love Downtown. We think it’s the Big Opportunity for San Antonio. Many people feel as we do. Many (have told us they) feel it’s really cool, but it’s too far to drive to and parking is a hassle. So, let’s talk location.

Downtown has the most affordable rents in the city. And it provides the greatest access and connection to the community and all that can offer. But maybe close to Downtown offers that as well? We’ve looked at some spots north of Downtown, as far north as Olmos Park. But once we get outside 410 the opportunities dwindle. The rents are higher, the spaces less connected (except by car) to the area around them and the options are limited to office parks and suites or strip center retail.

So what will work? You need to speak up.

Not Just a Shared Office

Coworking is not about sharing the expenses of an office. Yes, there is that advantage but it’s really about making a connection with people, pooling ideas and resources, commiserating over clients and celebrating successes. Together.

So let’s meet for lunch next week. Breakfast if that’s better. Watch for an invite and bring your ideas, comments…and your checkbook. It’s time to put up or shut up.

You Know Someone Has Been Coworking When…

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Here’s a cool post, “9 Ways to Tell Someone Has Been Coworking“,  that we picked up from the coworking network. It came from Facebook via Link Coworking in Austin who got it from the Coworking Blog authored by the intern at Cohere in Fort Collins, CO.

This is just the highlights. Go read the full post for more explanation…if that’s even necessary.

So here goes!

You know someone has been coworking when…

  • They set deadlines around bizarre daily rituals.
  • They’ve already had a warm up before they get to the office and are ready to dive into their work immediately.
  • They’ve conquered social media.
  • They all of the sudden develop new tastes and interests almost every week.
  • They’ve forgotten what “wasting time” even looked like.
  • They tend to shout out urgent questions while staring at their computer, expecting someone around them to be knowledgeable.
  • They’ve become experts at giving their “elevator speech” without sounding like a salesman.
  • Their spirits have been mended from being in the mainstream business world, and they tend to smile throughout the day.
  • They’ve become amateur meteorologists in planning their weekly schedule.

(Not sure about that last one.)

How do you know that YOU are a coworker? Leave a comment!

Coworking and the Future of Work

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To begin, don’t confuse this title with the workshop we did back in February with Steelcase and Clay Spinuzzi, although that was excellent.

Here’s a an excerpt from a Shareable blog entry titled “How Coworking Fits Into The Future Of Work“.

It’s an excerpt from a report by David Bollier called The Future of Work: What It Means for Individuals, Businesses, Markets and Governments (PDF).

The sections of Bollier’s report discussed … a few dense problems:

  • The old work model is outdated, inefficient, and lacks a value structure that today’s professionals want and need.
  • The old organizational structure is slow moving and mired in hierarchy, making it hard to adopt and adapt to new technology.
  • They old system of harnessing people “through full-time, exclusive employment relationships where people are paid for the amount of time they spend at a common location” harms organizations and limits their access to the right talented individuals.

It might seem overly simple, but I think coworking provides solutions to all three (and more) of these problems:

  • Coworking spaces are modern, uber efficient, and based on a core set of values, just like the location-independent workers that fill them.
  • Coworkers, most of whom are freelancers, tech nomads, or small business owners, thrive, if not depend, on new technologies that make it possible to market themselves and connect with customers and clients (and compete with much larger companies).
  • The collaborative nature of the coworking community embraces a project-based work model. The physical density of coworking spaces allows talented professionals to come together in mutually beneficial ways, and often spawns startups that bring this sharing mindset to the new global economy.

Not overly simple at all. And what’s wrong with simple anyway?

What do you think? Leave a comment!

Parallel Play and Coworking

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This came from Angel Kwiatkowski at Cohere n Fort Collins, Colorado. She was responding to a discussion on the Coworking Google Groups titled “psych and coworking.” We thought we’d share.

Clyde Robinson, Ph.D., a professor of human development at Brigham Young University, discovered a few years ago that preschoolers use parallel play to ease into a group. Say a few kids are stacking blocks into a rocket ship, and a newcomer wants to join in. First he’ll inspect the group. Then he’ll pick up some blocks, not interacting but still keeping tabs on the kids. Are they friendly? Smiling? If the cues look good, he’ll transition from parallel to cooperative play, perhaps by asking, “Can I put a block on top?” “Parallel play is a bridge between onlooker and cooperative play,” says Robinson. “It’s a safe haven.”  (http://wondertime.go.com/learning/article/baby-parallel-play.html)

We’re all kids at heart, right? What do you think?