Rob, thanks for piping up with such excellent analysis. It was more like twenty-five cents. I agree with your predictions. And, am surprised at how much education there is to do.
I spoke with another lawyer at a networking event who looked glassy eyed, while I explained coworking, until she made the connection to space-sharing, which is common in the legal community. Seems like the way to go is to reference a familiar experience first then make the distinction. Only, it's hard to put my finger on what is distinct about coworking. The more WOC interviews I do (site will be up shortly), it becomes clear that spaces express the value of community very differently. Some communities are curated, where there's a clear intention to drive the valuess. Other communities take a laissez-faire approach, offering community but not making it a condition of membership. Diversity of thought is a very good thing, however, it also makes it difficult to codify standards and ensure quality. I come from the mediation community which struggles with the issue of failing to gain traction in the mainstream because it had no true identity. A community needs an identity. Does coworking have an identity? Never enter an empty restaurant unless you're there to beat the line is my motto. Happy weekend. Warmly, Dina On Sat, Aug 17, 2013 at 12:21 PM, ROB C. <[email protected]>wrote: > Dina, > > An interesting article, I had read a similar one earlier in the week as > well. > > The research from Deskmag suggests that only 4% of current coworkers are > "reformed coffee shop" workers, which blew my mind, as that was our > original target market for my team's "build a better coffee shop" concept > when we began this journey years ago. But that research also suggests two > other things to me. > > First, the profile of a coffee shop worker may be different from a > coworker, which on paper may not make sense, but which the numbers suggest > is the case. The demographics may also suggest this, as many coffee shop > workers are liable to be the workers who may not be able to spend the money > on a coworking memberships, students in particular come to mind. > > The second point is the lack of education of coffee shop workers on the > fact that the concept of coworking exists at all. I just spent 30 mins > this morning educating my brother on coworking as he saw the facebook group > we set up (sameless plug here: www.facebook.com/coworkingcolorado) and > had no idea what it was. > > All of this notwithstanding, coffee shops operate on a separate model than > coworking, and these actions may drive some of their clients away, but not > necessarily into the waiting arms of coworking facilities, but just to the > cafe down the street. This is especially true if the demographic > information pans out as I mentioned above. If they start driving their > clients away, the double edge sword they may land on is their shop sitting > empty because their cliental opted to seek alternatives, and I tend to be > suspicious when I walk into an empty coffee shop. > > Were I in an area of town where a coffee shop was doing something like > this, I would camp out in the shop and chat with the people working there, > see what they think and casually drop the idea of coworking to them. Plant > that idea and see where it goes from there. Prove the value of community > and you will likely be able to convert them whether the coffee shop is > charging by the table or not. > > My two cents. > > Be well. > > Rob C. > > > > On Saturday, August 17, 2013 11:47:59 AM UTC-6, Dina Lynch Eisenberg wrote: >> >> Coffee shops are fighting back against squatters to reclaim their space. >> This article raised a question for me. Initially I was thrilled, another >> tool to educate with, however I realized the dish is only as good as the >> ingredients. Will these 'default' coworkers embrace the values or simply >> dissipate them? >> >> Big question so I thought we could discuss it. I know many times folks >> catch the fever after experiencing coworking so maybe there won't be much >> change. What do you think? >> >> http://eater.com/archives/**2013/08/15/newest-shots-fired-** >> against-laptop-squatters-**timed-seats.php<http://eater.com/archives/2013/08/15/newest-shots-fired-against-laptop-squatters-timed-seats.php> >> >> Warmly Dina >> >> Dina Eisenberg >> SpeakupPowerfully.com >> Beacon Coworking ( in development) >> >> -- > Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the > Google Groups "Coworking" group. > To unsubscribe from this topic, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/topic/coworking/qUmr2Aog6zQ/unsubscribe. > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > -- *Dina Eisenberg* *JD* Communication & Conflict Coach Taking the a** out of being assertive with colleagues and clients http://SpeakupPowerfully.com 510-863-4625 Connect with me on Google +<https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/106654942621359585282> Connect with me on Linkedin <http://www.linkedin.com/in/dinalyncheisenberg> -- 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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