Lauren, Definitely welcome to the group.
The only thing I would add is to plan to have a lot of patience and to be flexible in your planning. This is a community spirited business first and foremost; whatever business model you choose.Luckily you have the existing community out here already and sites that have been in operation. If you can, before you start, request to go and visit some of these coworking locations. It is essential to see the variation from not only the models but to the communities, services, and overall approach to coworking in each new venue. One last note that I have observed...coworking had a lot of variations in the implementation and the development. One of your biggest (unexpected hurdles/ it was mine let me say) is how much of a balance do we give to the chosen business model, the community of coworking and even your members, and your business. In the trend of the moment of 'transparancy' is expected; as well as it is a fantastic tool of marketing. That being said you as a new site owner really must not forget leadership in the equation. I call this accessible and approachable leadership. It is something that would drag on in this forum to speak about but believe me after developing nearly 100 different community based programs for non-profits/foundations and such, it is always a clear path that is most embraced but also one that can find resistance because of one simple thing: change! So be clear in your desire of giving coworking to your community, be ready to listen, and be ready to hold on for an amazing and fulfilling ride. Welcome again, Danielle Nicoli WHERE: Work Lounge for Creatives Silverlake, LA, CA (USA) Facebook, myspace @wheremmm [email protected] On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 8:22 AM, laurenw1021 <[email protected]> wrote: > > All, > > Thank you for all of the great advice! I feel I am already in love > with coworking as the people are so welcoming, helpful, and willing to > share information! > > Thanks, > Lauren > > On Jun 24, 12:53 am, felicity at cubes <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Hi Lauren, > > > > Welcome! This is the best group. > > > > And just to second it...listen to Tony. I have virtually nothing to > > add. > > > > -felicity > > Outside the Cube - professional community > > cubes.typepad.com/otc > > > > Cubes&Crayons - coworking meets coplaying > > cubesandcrayons.com > > > > On Jun 23, 12:53 pm, Susan Evans <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Hi Lauren! > > > > > Congrats and welcome to the wild world of coworking! > > > > > Tony's advise is simply perfect (as usual). I'd add: > > > > > -I'll reiterate one of Tony's points first: as tedious as it might be, > > > dig back into this listserv for old threads of helpful conversation - > > > there are a TON of them, full of great thoughts and info. > > > -Try not to get too far ahead of yourself. Don't create anything > > > before there is a nice demand for it - you don't want to waste any > > > time or energy in a direction that might not be needed to develop your > > > space. > > > > > Welcome again, and best of luck to you! > > > > > Susan > > > > > __ > > > Office Nomads > > > officenomads.com > > > 206-323-6500 > > > > > On Jun 22, 2:53 pm, Matt Titsworth <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > Howdy Lauren, > > > > > > I'm one of the folks helping to run Company|Dallas over in > Richardson, > > > > and I have to say how delighted I am to hear about somebody wanting > to > > > > get a coworking spot going over in Fort Worth. I've run into a number > > > > of people from that area who are interested in the idea. Feel free to > > > > drop me a line about the specifics of coworking in DFW. I'd add to > > > > what Tony has said above, but right now those are exactly the things > > > > we're working on to get ourselves up to snuff. > > > > > > All the best, > > > > Matthewhttp://www.companydallas.com > > > > [email protected]http://www.twitter.com/companydallas > > > > > > On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 4:34 PM, Tony > > > > > > Bacigalupo<[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Welcome Lauren! > > > > > Some Cliff's notes of advice: > > > > > - Start one person at a time > > > > > - Focus on people and community needs first, not space > > > > > - Use a cafe or a house or otherwise free space as a staging area > for your > > > > > community > > > > > - Consider starting a Jelly (http://workatjelly.com) > > > > > - Hook up with as many other DFW-area communities as you can, > including some > > > > > folks who are already doing coworking there. > > > > > - Be extra open and transparent in all that you do. Share photos, > blog > > > > > posts, tweets, and talk about what's good and what's hard. Engage > people and > > > > > get them involved. > > > > > - Empower the would-be members of you community to take an active > role in > > > > > helping grow the community. You'll have more committed members and > a lot > > > > > more help :) > > > > > - Read the messages in this group! > > > > > Best of luck and keep us posted! > > > > > > > Cheers, > > > > > Tony > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ------ > > > > > New Work City - Coworking NYC style. > > > > > Phone: (888) 823-3494 > > > > > Email: [email protected] > > > > > Web: http://nwcny.com > > > > > Twitter: http://twitter.com/nwc > > > > > > > On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 4:53 PM, laurenw1021 < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > >> Hi all, > > > > > > >> Just joined the group and am interested in starting a coworking > space > > > > >> in Fort Worth, TX. I was first introduced to the idea this past > March > > > > >> in Austin at SXSWi and find it refreshing and am passionate about > > > > >> establishing a space for the Fort Worth community. For any of you > out > > > > >> there that have started your own space, what are some of your key > > > > >> pieces of advice to get started? > > > > > > >> Thanks, > > > > >> Lauren Smith > > > > >> [email protected] > > > > >> @laurenwsmith via twitter > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
