On Coworking
I had a whole other post prepared as a followup to my last post, one that basically offered some ideas to make Citizen Desk a more attractive prospect. But as I discussed it more and more with others, it came back to this:
It’s an artificial group.
Creatives, especially the web-oriented sort, travel in packs. We have our core group of friends or colleagues that we use as a sounding board for ideas and a resource for solving problems. Most importantly, when there’s a project that’s too much for us to handle on our own, those are the people we call. This is our real group. We’ve spent years developing it and maintaining it without even thinking about it. It just happens.
This is coworking at its most refined, at its most basic. It’s a brilliant system. But when you try to organize that, for whatever reason, it doesn’t quite work. Often the people in a group are not full-time freelancers; they simply enjoy finding projects on the side is a way to flex the creative muscles and make a little extra scratch. I certainly fall into this category, and I can say the same for pretty much everyone in my group. We communicate when we can, via email or IM or phone or Twitter or whatever works at the time, as long as the necessary group members get the message.
But never in person. Almost never. A good portion of my group is scattered about the country, and yet we still manage to accomplish things, which amazes me. I love the internet.
Here’s another thing: no two groups are the same. I might have a group with A, B, C, and D, while D has a group of me, E, F, and J. Overlapping is not guaranteed, so the ideal group for you is not necessarily the ideal group for your groupmates. They may not get along with eachother, or they may just not know eachother. It makes for a tangled web for sure, but who am I to argue with efficiency?
What I’m trying to say is, these workgroups are incredibly organic; they’re constantly evolving as we meet new people or lose touch with others. The internet has made this possible on a national or even worldwide scale. One thing’s for sure, very rarely is it possible to constrain an efficient group to a single place.
Dino Corvino said:
as someone new to the internet communities, but NOT new to community building, I think that Reed said it best, these communities existed in these cities before a place was decided on.
The Indy Hall narrative, and the Citizen Space narrative are pretty clear. The Co Working NYC is also pretty right in line with what Reed said.
I think that the issue in Wausau is a “I built this for you”, rather than, “We need a place to work” sort of thing.
It is a small differance, and the builder in the I statement can take it rough, but it is a slower build. It is like starting a band.
Its easier to start a band with your friends, and have it gel, than to hire musicians and have people connect.
Look at Citizen Wausau, we slowly build contributors, because we are starting a hub, and not connecting a hub. A tremendously differant idea.
Co Working works, co operative living works.
Co most of anything works.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm #
Boogenstein said:
I think that sometimes in smaller places the COmmunity is not always COhesive enough to COme together and create a space. Sometimes in these situations, it takes someone with a vision to take COmmand and create the space needed to help the COmunity to COalesce. Different tactics are needed in different places and for different people.
For many, neither model will work and that is just fine. To see negativity directed against those who are trying to do something that harms nobody is a reflection of the times we live in, just look at the Democratic race.
Andy, my point is, if you don’t like steak, don’t go to the Texas Roadhouse and bitch about it. Just go to Lee’s and have some chicken. Lets hear about how much you enjoy that chicken but shut up about the steak already!
April 4th, 2008 at 10:01 am #
Andy Laub said:
Boog, how did you know I don’t like steak? In all seriousness, I do think there’s the possibility that this kind of thing could work if helmed by the right person and approached from the right angle (and at the right time). But you can’t just plop a Texas Roadhouse in a town of vegetarians and expect them to flock to it just because it works in other communities.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:10 am #
Boogenstein said:
Understood, but are they really all veggies here? Someone has to try selling the steak to see. Maybe there’ll be converts. Maybe it will die a slow and lingering death. Someone has to be first in to the water. We shouldn’t be the sharks keeping them at bay. Perhaps that water will be warm and inviting.
I have spent much time in South Baltimore and the attitude of the bar/restaurant owners there was inspiring and the opposite of what I see here. When someone wanted to open a new and competing establishment, the local business owners all helped try and make it a success. Their point of view was that the more attractions to the area, the greater the visitor numbers and therefore profits. It worked very well and I saw a neighborhood grow and clean itself up dramatically over a period of 12 years. There were plenty of failures on the way but there was always a positive attitude and new people tried there hand. Here I see a new bar attempt to get started and the only bar nearby complains that they will steal business. Thus there is no part of town where one can go for a good night out. Instead of the neighborhood growing and thriving, the area just stagnates.
We need to encourage new ideas and businesses to make the whole area thrive. Just because this area has always been resistant to change doesn’t mean that it can’t happen.
The old attitude of “That’ll never work, you’re wasting your time” is outdated. Let us evolve with the times. The strongest ideas will shine through and the weaker fail. If everyone puts down the new before it has had a chance, future entrepreneurs will think twice about coming here and will try there ideas somewhere more progressive.
Think positive. There is plenty of room for all.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:36 am #