We've been grooving on coworking since we started blogging. In fact, post #1 was a Coworking Manifesto—heavy on opinion but grounded on a foundation of research and thinking emerging from academia, consulting, and the business world. Coworking embraces a few values that we think must be central to the practice of commerce and business; so while we are not a coworking blog per se, we think it is important enough to talk about on a regular basis. As I write this, we are, in fact, on the western leg of our Coworking Tour 2008, and I am sitting in a coffee shop in the Mission where it is easier to get free wi-fi than it is to get free electricity.
Without further ado... the best of coworking...
Meat-Butter and Jelly Sandwiches: A Co-working Manifesto
Dense with information but primitive in presentation. We managed to write this without a single hyperlink. Do we even get the Web?
Process vs. Results
At the core of coworking we see a group of people who's core values are based on results rather than process. Since business is/should be about results, we see this as kind of important.
Coworking as Catalyst
Why take on process? Process is good, right? Yes, but many times process becomes nothing more than a tool used to preserve the established order of things. Coworking represents a challenge to that calcified order because it takes the people out of the situation.
The Punch Out Cafe
A conceptual piece that asks the reader to consider a future in which a traditional company takes the idea of working together-apart to the extreme and builds a nearly completely virtual company.
Space + Trust = Innovation
A close look at two important factors in innovation (which is in turn one of Druker's factors in value).
Coworking’s Core Values
We would love to see sustainability and community become core values in the business world.
The Future: Launching Now!
Early impressions after a few trips into the field.
Coworking / Watching for the Tipping Point
No point, really. Other than making the point that there has to be a tipping point at some point. Or this is just a fad.
8 Predictions for 2008
Finally, Nostradamus v2.0 (more like, v442.0 at least). What happens to work in 2008...
- Bandit
Co-working is definitely not a fad. I love that everyone has its own take/twist on it. Just as there are different co-workers, different sites appeal to different styles of co-working.
It's great to try to maintain that Sustainibility and Community groove. Other co-workers I talk to are most into the sense of community they get out of co-working with the freedom to have ownership of their work/life balance, at least as much as anyone can.
If we don't think of ourselves and our families as something we must treat as sustainable resources (at least until the kids leave home), we're missing something.
We didn't get a chance to get down the peninsula when we were in the area. I hope to be able to make a trip back soon.