- Bandit

After a year of living the life of a working nomad, and after many conversations with both coworkers, independents, entrepreneurs, as well as people in corporate HR and Real Estate, it’s clear that a new ecology of work/workspace is developing.

This ecology is currently composed largely of independents, independent entrepreneurs, and a small handful of corporate mobile workers; it is also composed of a growing cadre of coworking spaces, local Jelly groups, and other alternative workspaces. It’s people and places. To be fair, the ecology also includes coffee shops and executive suites, and the people that work there, even though these differ ideologically and serve different ends.

There are several missing pieces.

In areas like New York City, but elsewhere as well, there’s a real estate component that can’t be avoided. Many current spaces started because “we got a good deal” on space somewhere, or because a forward thinking small business owner was willing to let others utilize unused office space. I realize I’m generalizing here, but bear with me. This real estate model isn’t scalable. I’m not even sure it’s desirable because living in borrowed space isn’t sustainable over the long term, and I’m not sure coworking owner/operators are really prepared to be in the landlord business, which is exactly what they are in the minute they start charging money for space and services.

The necessary technology infrastructure is missing, as well. This hasn’t been a problem, because current coworkers are all early adopters, and owners/operators can get buy on their wits and their network of friends in other coworking spaces. However, at some point this movement is going to take off. Office space is the #2 cost in most businesses (after people, which are #1). I can guarantee that every Fortune 1000 company in the United States is looking for ways to reduce cost #2 (and #1) given our immediate economic situation. So, take off may be sooner than we think.

My feeling is that it’s time to compare notes, to look at these missing pieces and others, and to make sure that they are addressed in ways that benefit and serve the workers. Forget about the tags “coworking”, “Jelly”, etc. for a moment, and consider the near future in which work and workplace is increasingly defined as a network of intentional local spaces, and as communities of working peers with something in common beyond the accidental fact they work for the same company.

- Todd (AKA Bandit)

Tony, Todd and I have been hard at work on our ‘coworking book’ for many months now, and we are close indeed.  The book has evolved into being about more than coworking.  What we have encountered in our journey into coworking is a glimpse into the Future Of Work.

Coworking is, indeed, a key ingredient in that emerging ecology of work.  As are other more corporate-oriented themes, such as workspace redesigns for more open-shared-collaborative work spaces back at HQ, corporate hoteling for the growing armies of corporate teleworkers who occasionally need places to meet up, satellite spaces in suburbia, etc. 

Programs at Sun, Boeing, Cisco and IBM point the way to a future world of work untethered.  Those out there living the nomadic life are already encountering/living some of the constraints.  We find refuge at Jelly, at our local coworking space, or at the local coffee shops that make us feel at home.

Gathering in numbers, we are just beginning to define the future of work.  In our book, we tell stories of people we’ve met on the road and in the network, people who are living today the way millions of us will live tomorrow.

Thanks for your participation, and thanks for your patience.

In touch soon!

Drew (aka Butcher)

There’s no doubt in my mind that we’re on the front end of a powerful trend; a trend that will only intensify as the current economic situation forces employers to look for ways to save money, and as workers look for ways to spend less time commuting and less money on gas.

- Todd Sundsted (AKA Bandit)

I have no idea whether or not this is good or bad. I have no doubt that a group of people could come together and turn a corner of a rent-a-desk into a coworking space, with all of the attendant interaction, collaboration, and vibe. On the other hand, I wonder how many people are going to read about coworking and sign up, expecting to find those things but ending up working alone in a cube.

- Todd Sundsted (AKA Bandit)

In Austin for a few days for meetings, and lucky to spend a few days coworking with the awesome guys at Conjunctured.

 Bandit leans over just now to remind me that the 1st Anniversary Party at Indy Hall is coming up soon.  Tony B will surely be there…Luuhckeeee!!!  You better be there!  That’s an entry for the book right there.

Thinking through the wild ride of coworking over the past year or so, I can’t help but think that Indy Hall and Conjunctured are really kindred spirits.  As is The Creative Space, down the road in Bryan, Texas.  There are others, for sure, but these three have become dear to our hearts at NotanMBA. 

Same generation. Tech chops. Creativity. Entrepreneurial energy.  Where this wild bronco goes from here is anybody’s guess. 

One thing is for sure.  With Conjunctured now online and Launchpad Coworking soon to be, the coworking peeps (from around the world) who gather in Austin for SXSW 2009 will be welcomed with Texas-sized open arms. 

Bring instruments! We should have the first annual Coworking Jam!

Note to Tony…This is Music, not Karaoke!

Butcher

More than anything, I’m excited by the fact that Dell recognizes this trend (and considers it worthy of an investment).

- Todd (AKA Bandit)