Funny timing, just today I rediscovered an OLD post (circa 2008) on this topic:
http://37signals.com/svn/posts/1022-you-dont-create-a-culture My 5 year old comment is relevant to this conversation: http://37signals.com/svn/posts/1022-you-dont-create-a-culture#comment_25834 To the commenters who pointed out that “it just happens” is a misleading statement, I don’t think that’s what Jason was saying. I think his point was carefully calculated, planned culture feels as such. You cannot impose culture. You can only cultivate it. By guiding and leading by example, along with processing feedback from your team and your customers, you take an active part in something that ultimately would happen on it’s own, just not at the speed of business. Culture is serendipitous. The best thing you can do is accelerate serendipity. But, baby, don’t fake it. I can tell. -- /ah indyhall.org coworking in philadelphia On Mar 18, 2013, at 6:19 PM, Chad Ballantyne <[email protected]> wrote: > Yes. Birth is a better word. Because we use agriculture in our explanation > of our ecosystem.( there ya go, ecosystem) I was using the word "plant" or > better yet, "seed" a new space. But birth is a bit better, since it's, well, > human in nature. A corp franchises success is dependent upon control and > duplication of its product and service, where a coworking space's success is > around the ethos of the culture. It's determined through common values, but > should still be a unique offering to it's business culture. As I said in my > precious note, it "becomes" > > I've got 3 kids. All teens. And each one is as unique and different than the > other as they are different than me and my wife. Yet, they share our family > values and love for the arts and serving others. One will probably be a > struggling artists, the middle an archeologist and the youngest a trades > person. They have the foundation of our family brand, but will offer to the > world their own uniqueness. > > Birth. A lot more painful than planting, for certain, but if all goes well, > you forget the pain (at least my wife said she did) and dwell on the beauty > and struggle of the upbringing. > > Thanks for brainstorming. > > > Chad > > On 2013-03-18, at 5:13 PM, Alex Hillman <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Chad, I think I know what you mean here but I want to say this anyway for >> others: >> >>> if the community, values and vibe was the same. >> >> My ONLY caution in this mode is starting with the result in mind. As many of >> you with amazing communities know, they're the product of their inputs. >> >> Start with the inputs - the people - and mold the outcomes from there. I've >> seen several failed attempts (including many of my own) to skip the >> important parts of building a new community because "I already did the hard >> work…over there." Every time I've seen this, I've seen the subsequent >> communities suffer as well as the origin community. >> >> ABSOLUTELY use and leverage your knowledge and strengths, but be mindful to >> treat each new community as a new "birth" rather than the replication of a >> formula as you scale. >> >> -Alex >> >> -- >> /ah >> indyhall.org >> coworking in philadelphia >> >> >> >> On Mar 18, 2013, at 5:05 PM, Chad Ballantyne <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Thanks Alex. >>> We kinda feel the tried and true spaces were going to say "Chad, don't go >>> there! You're selling your soul to the corporate "man!";o) >>> >>> But as Derek shared, and you reiterated, we all offer a unique flavour and >>> why not multiply the brand if it's asked for? We have an amazing Wood Fire >>> Pizza Joint in Barrie's south end called PIE, and they are coming downtown. >>> We north enders and downtowns are excited! I feel the same with TCS >>> planting new spaces. We actually have a few people that drive a ways to >>> come here, but with a new space in say, Collingwood (40 minutes away), they >>> would gladly go there if the community, values and vibe was the same. It's >>> about spreading the love! >>> >>> Our Province of Ontario (like a State for you US folks) is re-thinking how >>> they fund innovation spaces and programs in the future and they are looking >>> to spaces like us to be part of the solution. >>> >>> I'll keep y'all posted. >>> >>> Peace, >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Chad Ballantyne >>> 705.812.0689 >>> [email protected] >>> >>> <TheCreativeSpace-door-decal.png> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Barrie's Coworking Community >>> Perfect for small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs. >>> 12 Dunlop St E, Barrie Ontario, L4M 1A3 >>> Memberships start at $25/mth >>> www.thecreativespace.ca >>> 705-812-0689 >>> >>> On 2013-03-18, at 11:18 AM, Alex Hillman wrote: >>> >>>> A few weeks ago, Derek Neighbors gave me with a brilliant analogy for the >>>> spectrum of coworking spaces. >>>> >>>> Restaurants. The title of "coworking space" is about as descriptive as >>>> "restaurant". Both are places that people go to do things with or around >>>> other people - one to work, one to eat. The problem is that the term >>>> "restaurant" doesn't describe much about the experience. You don't know >>>> what style of cuisine, anything about the price point, or the dress code >>>> (if there is one). There are merits to fast food (convenience), fine >>>> dining (experience) and a dive bar, but they need those more unique >>>> descriptors to know what you're getting. >>>> >>>> Coworking, by itself, doesn't help the most important person - our members >>>> - find what they want. That's still up to us. >>>> >>>> The core values help, but by virtue of being core values they're also open >>>> to interpretation. I personally think we don't hold them tight enough or >>>> share them loudly enough, but I don't think we solve that simply by saying >>>> "hold them tighter" or "share them louder". >>>> >>>> But going back to Chad's original question, "can a model multiply and >>>> still stay true", and to use Derek's restaurant analogy, I think it's time >>>> to think like a restauranteur. >>>> >>>> -Alex >>>> >>>> -- >>>> /ah >>>> indyhall.org >>>> coworking in philadelphia >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mar 18, 2013, at 9:33 AM, Chad Ballantyne <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi Bobby, >>>>> >>>>> Here is a link to core values which have historically defined a true >>>>> coworking space. >>>>> http://dangerouslyawesome.com/2011/10/coworking-core-values-series-translated/ >>>>> >>>>> The other well circulated definition is the Coworking Manifesto >>>>> originated by Gangplank in AZ, USA >>>>> http://wiki.coworking.com/w/page/35382594/Coworking%20Manifesto%20(global%20-%20for%20the%20world) >>>>> >>>>> Other than that, certain coworking space have added their own unique >>>>> flavours to this bace mix. >>>>> >>>>> For us, we are excited about re-claimed spaces, re-used >>>>> materials/resources and with a social enterprise bent. So Creative >>>>> Spaces (if they multiple elsewhere) will lean in that direction. >>>>> >>>>> The uniqueness of the core values is that any sector can adopt them. >>>>> They are not tech or business reliant. Artist coworking, Culinary >>>>> coworking, etc... if they adhere to the core values, they are a coworking >>>>> space. >>>>> >>>>> The question I'm asking is can a specific coworking model multiply and >>>>> each space still stay true? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Chad Ballantyne >>>>> 705.812.0689 >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> >>>>> <TheCreativeSpace-door-decal.png> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Barrie's Coworking Community >>>>> Perfect for small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs. >>>>> 12 Dunlop St E, Barrie Ontario, L4M 1A3 >>>>> Memberships start at $25/mth >>>>> www.thecreativespace.ca >>>>> 705-812-0689 >>>>> >>>>> On 2013-03-18, at 5:39 AM, Bobby Liu wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi Chad >>>>>> >>>>>> As I'm researching into starting a space in Hanoi, Vietnam, I do agree >>>>>> with you that it has to stay 'local'. with Regus also trying to move >>>>>> into this space, not surprising, it will eventually become commercial, >>>>>> if it's not already; case-in-point, this article >>>>>> http://www.businessinsider.com/startups-are-getting-sick-of-nycs-dirty-overcrowded-coworking-spaces-2013-3. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I think new spacers want to know what are the criterion necessary to >>>>>> differentiate coworking space to virtual office/business centers, and >>>>>> what is the compelling reason and 'commandments' that make a coworking >>>>>> communal. >>>>>> >>>>>> While at present, from my searches, most spaces at IT-related, at >>>>>> varying degrees. Can a space for artists also be known as coworking >>>>>> space? In other words, perhaps some form of definitions, for example, >>>>>> the ways to build communities. >>>>>> >>>>>> It's really not too difficult to call any space a coworking space, I've >>>>>> come across a cafe as listed under coworking. As correctly pointed out >>>>>> by you, and in general for Western spaces, there's a culture and the >>>>>> sense of community. This may not necessarily true for spaces available >>>>>> in Asia. >>>>>> >>>>>> Without making things too complicated, what are the general standards of >>>>>> a coworking space? If these minimal few credos can be worded and agreed >>>>>> by pioneers in the industry, then we'd have a 'launch kit'. Of course, >>>>>> evolvement will certainly take its course in changing the landscape but >>>>>> the core has to remain. Anyway, just my own 2-cent, as I too, ponder the >>>>>> intricacies of starting a space, yet at the same time, grappling with >>>>>> the true spirit of one. On an aside, all said, funding will be >>>>>> nice...haha... >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Monday, March 18, 2013 8:47:09 AM UTC+7, creativespace wrote: >>>>>> We feel like we're still figuring this all out, but along the way we've >>>>>> had a number of cities ask us to come and consult on starting up a space >>>>>> and a few have asked about sharing our brand and model. And so were >>>>>> embarking on possibly planting new spaces. Of course we believe whole >>>>>> heatedly that it starts with a community of committed individuals and >>>>>> needs to become a space that reflects the community and it's culture. >>>>>> So we're trying to figure out how to help these spaces with a "launch >>>>>> kit", but stay out of the way as they "become." >>>>>> >>>>>> We haven't even solidified any compensation model for the brand and our >>>>>> time. We don't want to nor do we think we should franchise. We just >>>>>> think we could leverage partnerships, sponsorship better as a branded >>>>>> collective, while still continuing to support and help grow the global >>>>>> movement. >>>>>> >>>>>> A cool byproduct of all this is the gov. funded innovation spaces and >>>>>> small business enterprise center programs have started seeking us out at >>>>>> the same time. So now were talking about a public/private relationship >>>>>> that keeps the coworking space grassroots and locally owned, while the >>>>>> gov. programs find a more sustainable and economical home for their >>>>>> accelerators. Our hope is that if this flies, the startups may choose >>>>>> to stay local as well, considering they are surrounded by others to >>>>>> collaborate. >>>>>> >>>>>> Anyone else multiplying themselves? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Chad >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com >>>>>> --- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "Coworking" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com >>>>> --- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>> "Coworking" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>>> email to [email protected]. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com >>>> --- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "Coworking" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>> email to [email protected]. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Coworking" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>> email to [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Coworking" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> >> > > > -- > Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Coworking" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. 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