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While coworking can be broadly defined by a handful of terms and principles - community, collaboration, and workspace, to name a few - the combination of these values, and the emphasis placed on each, varies from space to space. And as the community evolves, so too will the ethos of a space. Finding an ethos - or set of values - reflective of an ever-changing community is a challenge all coworking space operators face.
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The more hours you put in, the better the result right? Wrong. In fact, most people would agree that it’s not the quantity of hours that determines success, it’s the quality of work produced. Long hours don’t necessarily produce the best work. Especially when a project requires inspiration, creativity and high levels of concentration, breaks are a much-needed part of the process.
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Brainstorming is a widely used, powerful tool for creative problem solving and breaks away from rigid, process-driven thinking. However, there are some important lessons to learn before you dive into your first brainstorming session. Although using colored markers and over-sized pieces of paper can be fun, it’s important to be prepared and organized.
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Serial entrepreneur and creator of ICQ, Yossi Vardi, knows startups. He became the founding investor of Mirabilis, the creator of ICQ, the first Internet-wide Instant Messaging system which sold to AOL for 400 million dollars just 19 months after it launched. Since then, Vardi has helped build over 70 more tech companies in the software, energy, internet and mobile fields, to name a few, and has a firm grasp on the fluid startup ecology, and what it takes to be successful within it.
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There are endless articles, guides and websites dedicated to advising entrepreneurs on how to write a solid business plan. But we wanted to hear some real advice first hand, from the people who know it best – the entrepreneurs themselves. We sat down to talk with several young start-ups to gain unique insight into the do’s and don’ts of writing a business plan.
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For most coworking devotees, advocates and members coworking has changed their lives for the better. While most coworkers remain committed to their coworking spaces, not everyone finds their ideal coworking arrangement on the first try, and not everyone can stay at their preferred coworking space indefinitely. This article offers some ideas on how to tell whether it is time to dig your heels in and fix what is broken or whether it has simply time to move on.
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So, you have taken a slightly riskier, but potentially more enriching decision to become a freelancer. You have a great skill set and the motivation to make it - but when it comes down to negotiating your contract - how do you know you're getting paid what you're worth?
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The foundation of all coworking spaces are their community, which are built on the basis of respect and trust. Breaches of trust are thus a rarity in such work spaces, and coworkers sentiments reflect these statistics, with most coworking space members feeling comfortable leaving their belongings unattended. But a coworking space - like any other space - must have rules and regulations to protect the facility and its community.
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Color is a communication tool which also works for coworking spaces. It can stimulate, calm, appetize or depress. Color and decor play important functions in creating an environment conducive to work, but also conducive to communication, and positive thinking. Investing time and energy into the design a workspace that inspires these qualities.
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Yes, it’s summer. At least in some parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Thankfully for those of us who aren’t in the warm spots, it’s not hard to travel to different places with more agreeable climates. Here are seven apps that are made for vacationing, that can be used with or without an internet connection.
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One of the common complaints of coworkers, or potential coworkers, is the noise level of a workspace. Noise, we figure, is negative, and distracts us from our tasks at hand. But according to a recent study on the effects of noise on creativity, this element of disruption is not necessarily a bad thing.
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While the coworking community as a whole can concede that there is no textbook approach to starting and operating a coworking space, there are several good reasons to start with community. Here are some reasons to why community building pre-opening is a good idea, and nine - sometimes contradictory, but nonetheless insightful - community building strategies which are tried and tested by coworking space operators.
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Why aren’t coworking spaces called ‘cohuman spaces’, if it’s all about the people in them? Simply because the space revolves around people’s needs to work - and coworking enables and simplifies the means for people to do so. Here are seven tips to make daily work life in coworking spaces easier and more comfortable.
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If anything was clear in the last “Coworking Spain Conference” it’s that coworking is not just about work, it’s a lifestyle. Nowadays, when it is so clear that our economic system is no longer sustainable, alternatives must be sought. Coworking, as most will agree, is not about the people who work in it. But how do we create a space that reflects this?
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The crowdfunding market quadrupled last year alone, where ordinary people found other ordinary people to finance their projects. There is an art to the crowdfunding venture, and as many have already noted, it is not always simple to master.
As the name suggests, without a crowd, there is no funding.
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Many coworking members join their spaces in Spring, marking the first season of many for most of the freelancers and entrepreneurs who make the switch. But what does that first week feel like? We met Lasse, a Danish expat living in San Francisco who was a newbie to the world of coworking... until he joined his space. Here, Lasse shares his experience of his first week, and offers tips for those who are not yet familiar with the concept.
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A coworking space is a gathering point for a wide variety of creative and motivated and individuals. Several spaces around the world are experimenting with ways to turn this diverse pool of talent into a collective brain. In Vancouver and Melbourne, spaces invite members to consult on projects for outside bodies. Engaging coworkers as consultants may be a way for spaces worldwide to draw out the most valuable aspect of their communities.
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As most freelancers and startups begrudgingly acknowledge, self-promotion and targeted marketing are important parts of running a successful business, but often require lots of time and resources. Here are 10 free (or low-cost) tips for self-promotion, that won't take long to execute.
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On our recent Coworking Space Ship tour around the US and Canada, we saw a lot of great innovations that can be replicated anywhere. Tech tools, practical fixes and quirky toys can help make a space function better and become more welcoming. Here’s a couple we’ve spotted in coworking spaces around the world.
