I'm curious who ends up taking advantage of this. Based on the scope of the people who I've spoken with over the last 2 years since the uptick in interest in opening coworking spaces, it boils down to: *1) Small to medium special interest groups* * * *2) Pre-existing businesses that introduce a coworking component to their workspace (agencies, think tanks, etc) for a variety of reasons.* * * *3) Property developers who have space that isn't being utilized and read about coworking in the news*
None of these are right or wrong, mind you. I'm just curious who is going to help the most by this $400 package. In the last 9 months the volume of inquiries I've fielded about helping people get started (or do damage control on a failing venture) has skyrocketed. Most interestingly, but not surprisingly, the volume of types 2 and 3 above have become the majority. I've always contributed to this group, and in other public forums, as much as my time allows. I've made it a priority, since I consider that the "open source" side of my contribution. For one-on-one sessions, though, I began offering a coworking-specific deal on my Unstick.me microconsulting services as the defacto for most one-on-one help. http://unstick.me/coworking.html I never had specific expectations of what this would turn into, but the one observation that I want to share now because I think it's relevant to the discussion about the Centre for Social Innovation's offerings (which sound robust) is this: - People who can afford the help have done the least with it. - People who can't afford the help continue to cobble things together until it works. There are exceptions to both of these points, and my intention is not to say that anyone who I've done an unstick.me with has done wrong with the information I've given. On average, though, the people who these programs do the most good for don't have access to funds, even a little bit. It's been a struggle of mine to figure out how I can be compensated for my time and be on the ground helping the people who really want it, the people who really need it. So far, hourly and package consulting hasn't been completely INEFFECTIVE, but it's not nearly as effective as when I've gone somewhere on my own dime (usually my half-assed version of a vacation, or a conference) and spend some time really talking through things with other leaders/groups/etc. Those are the success stories that make me glow. I admittedly don't know where this leaves the package offered by the Centre for Social Innovation, or any of our combined efforts to help coworking grow and evolve into new regions and communities. I just thought it was a pertinent time to speak up and share. -Alex -- ----- -- ----- Alex Hillman im always developing something digital: [email protected] helpful: www.unstick.me visual: www.dangerouslyawesome.com local: www.indyhall.org On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 3:53 PM, Jessica Richman <[email protected]>wrote: > I have the same question. How is it "opening the model" if it costs over > $400? That's like saying "it's open source software" -- but you have to pay > for it. > > > On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 12:48 PM, Jerome Chang <[email protected]>wrote: > >> I should clarify that I hadn't intended to be critical or accusatory in my >> original email. So before anyone else chimes in to say this site is a >> horrible idea, I just want to inquire about how this site can provide more >> info than what already is provided on these threads? >> >> >> Jerome >> ______________ >> BLANKSPACES >> "work wide open" >> >> www.blankspaces.com >> 5405 Wilshire Blvd (2 blocks west of La Brea) >> Los Angeles, CA 90036 >> 323.330.9505 (office) >> >> On Sep 15, 2009, at 12:36 PM, Jacob Sayles wrote: >> >> Yeah it's more that it has no indication of what this is for. You create >> a profile and then it asks for money. >> Jacob >> >> --- >> Office Nomads - Individuality without Isolation >> http://www.officenomads.com - (206) 323-6500 >> >> >> On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 12:32 PM, Alex Hillman < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> I'm with Jerome on this. I acknowledge the need for better organization >>> within the larger sphere of community spaces, but what exactly does the $400 >>> get me that I can't get from being a good participant/contributor to >>> coworking in the scope of being a healthy open source project? >>> -Alex >>> >>> -- >>> ----- >>> -- >>> ----- >>> Alex Hillman >>> im always developing something >>> digital: [email protected] >>> helpful: www.unstick.me >>> visual: www.dangerouslyawesome.com >>> local: www.indyhall.org >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 3:24 PM, Jerome Chang <[email protected]>wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> Intriguing idea. What is available on your site for $400 that isn't >>>> already available, albeit fragmented, on these threads? Is there a >>>> longer term goal for this? >>>> >>>> >>>> Jerome >>>> ______________ >>>> BLANKSPACES >>>> "work wide open" >>>> >>>> www.blankspaces.com >>>> 5405 Wilshire Blvd (2 blocks west of La Brea) >>>> Los Angeles, CA 90036 >>>> 323.330.9505 (office) >>>> >>>> On Sep 15, 2009, at 12:17 PM, creativespace wrote: >>>> >>>> > >>>> > What does this mean for you? – Well, if you ever wanted to dig inside >>>> > CSI’s unique approach to building, managing and growing shared spaces >>>> > for social innovation, now is the time. >>>> > >>>> > We are using a creative commons license to make available all of the >>>> > tools, tips, templates, stories, secrets, learnings and lessons from >>>> > five years of experience. We are spearheading the creation of a >>>> > global community of practitioners dedicated to creating and operating >>>> > shared spaces for social innovation. Want to join us??? >>>> > >>>> > We would like to invite you to be co-creators in the development of >>>> > the Open Spaces Project – where we will, together, develop strategies >>>> > and deepen our practice of catalyzing social innovation. >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > To learn more about the Open Spaces project, visit >>>> http://openspaces.socialinnovation.ca >>>> > > >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
