Tag Archives: Vision

A Coworking Manifesto

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Here’s a page out of the Coworking playbook. Actually it’s the Manifesto page off the Gangplank Coworking website in Chandler, AZ.

It’s a brilliant definition for C4 Workspace or any coworking space. What do you think?

(The bold emphasis is mine.)

We are a group of connected individuals and small businesses creating an economy of innovation and creativity in the Valley. We envision a new economic engine comprised of collaboration and community, in contrast to the silos and secrecy left by the dependence on tourism and land development.

We have the talent. We just need to work together. Different environments need to overlap, to connect and to interact in order to transform our culture. In order to create a sustainable community based on trust, we value:

  • collaboration over competition
  • community over agendas
  • participation over observation
  • doing over saying
  • friendship over formality
  • boldness over assurance
  • learning over expertise
  • people over personalities

This new economy cannot thrive without engaging the larger business, creative, entrepreneurial, governmental, and technical communities together.

We believe that innovation breeds innovation. We will transform the Valley culture into one supportive of the entrepreneurial spirit, of risk taking, of pioneering into the unknown territories as the founders of our municipalities once did. This requires education, entrepreneurship and creative workspaces.

Success = Achieving a Vision

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I found this summary repost, “Measuring the Success of a Coworking Community”, at WebWorker Daily but I think that going to the original, “Measuring success“, at the Urban Workspace site would be a better use of your time.

The author, Mark Harrison, from Melbourne, Australia, is in the start up phase of a coworking location. (His site hasn’t been updated since April soooo…either he’s DEEP in the start up phase or is on hold.)

Either way, I was struck by the notes Marc hit with his post. If you’ve heard me talk about C4 Workspace (or read some of our press) you’ll definitely hear me singing harmony with Marc.

Here are Marc’s key vision statements. (And that’s me singing baritone.)

  • [Members] They would rather come into the space than stay at home.
  • Every year I would like to see at least a couple of businesses outgrow our space
  • [Members] want to leave their job and start the small business they?ve been dreaming about?
  • Every business can confidently say that they are getting 10%, 20%, even 30% or more of their revenue from clients that they have met through our community
  • Every year at least one completely new business is formed based upon relationships that have started within the space.
  • Businesses that invite their clients in for a meeting in the space will see a higher conversion rate
  • [Members take] great pleasure in telling people about things they have learned and ways they have improved their business just by being surrounded by great people every day.
  • Many social groups start up within the space
  • Corporate employees start asking their bosses if they can work from our space for a day or two each month
  • Members don?t rush to get home every afternoon
  • We attract people from a wide range of industries
  • Members are regularly telling our investors that they are getting great value from being a member

Thanks Marc! Couldn’t have said it better myself!