Hi Deb, I found your idea to be ingenious really. Those of us who are older can appreciate what you describe. I've remained tech-savvy from the very first...and although, I'm a word, picture and strategy guy, I find that others my age are still often quite digitally-challenged. In Silicon Valley, I worked with and for 1 Startup, for example, a very successful one for a time, where the CEO was 21 and the COO was 20. The chemistry was great! Guys like the Biz Dev, Others and myself; we arrived, older, with industry wisdom and mentoring skills while the younger among us brought a spark and an invincibility that was hard to match. It was a special time.
In olden days, there was indeed a magic about the synergy between the younger and the elders in the tribe as both benefited one from the other. This is now conspicuous in its absence in our society. You can't always pick your cast. But if there was a synergy like I describe, Tech Savvy men and women developers and engineers mixed with older Business Gurus, Strategists and Veterans, it could create quite a powerful formula! I even think exciting concepts for new "apps" could develop, out-of the everyday needs of older, average people on their computers. The: "Why doesn't somebody invent something that does this?" syndrome. Startups would learn core business stuff and strategies to create sustainable growth. Elder types would learn squeaky-new skills to put the edge back into their worlds. As long as the Techys didn't feel like they were being used too much for free IT, perhaps...I think you've really got something. In a sense? It is what incubators do, in many ways, yet more organic; more team and peer driven. On a personal note: I always thought I was a bit odd in some ways because for as long as I can remember I wanted to be around older people instead of those my own age. Why? People my age didn't seem to know too much, weren't very interesting and didn't have anything to teach me from what I could tell. Older people, in contrast, had a history, a wisdom and the most interesting stories I'd ever heard. Later, when I became a young business person, I partnered not once but twice with someone 10 to 15 years older than myself. It always worked! We treated each other as equals; never quarreled; drew on each others strengths and made a new mark in the world everyday. Yep! I think you've landed on a human collaboration formula that should've been resurrected a long, long time ago. Coworking rules! Hey, I hope I didn't ramble too much here. Cheers! Dave B. [email protected] : : : : : : : : : : On Fri, Jan 28, 2011 at 12:29 AM, deb <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello, > I'm Deb and live in Chicago. I started a biz 20 yrs ago (small > distributorship) and worked out of my house for 10 yrs; then rented > space in a small office in a suburban downtown area. I worked alone > for many yrs but now have 1 full time and 1 part time staff. > > I have enjoyed being an entrepreneur. However, I have always thought > that the downside to choosing this career path, was the isolation, > lack of a team, and minimal social aspects that one would get from a > "normal" job. I have found ways to improve the situation over the > yrs, but can't help but wonder what It would be like to be part of a > community while at work. > > So I am tossing around the idea of a co work space for my present biz > (which I now devote approximate 60% of my time to). But I'd also like > to pursue a second career in a field that I enjoy more (tbd). My > thinking is of a space targeting both people in the 50+ age group to > work along side young tech savvy people, where we could both learn > from each other. > A lot of people my age want to "reinvent" themselves and I think that > a creative place in a thriving community could be of interest. Almost > like a learning center. Although as I put my thoughts in writing, I > guess there already is a "senior learning center" in town. But I'm > thinking more professional, stimulating, and progressive than that. I > have searched several existing coworking websites and like some of > their ideas, i.e., incorporating local art into the space, maybe > providing studio workspace as well as office space and simultaneously > displaying art. > > There is a fair amount of vacant commercial space in town, however, > most spaces are old, small, "hodge podge", chopped up, tucked away > above retail establishments... My idea is to get a first floor, > several storefront spaces, gut it, remodel it, keep it green. An > energetic hub for career renewal, etc. and an asset to the > community. > > So as I said, this is the first that I'm actually putting this in > writing. I need to research more, gather data, refine the concept and > get feedback, to see if this is a feasible opportunity. I am happy to > find this group and look forward to discussions. > > -- > 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]<coworking%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. > > -- : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Dave Bunnell Dream Team Consortium p 603.321.6568 e1 [email protected] e2 [email protected] -- 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.
