[Coworking] Re: Cubes Crayons (WAS Re: [Coworking] New member introduction)
Felicity - Welcome to Coworking! That's a great vision you've got with Cubes Crayons, very empowering for parents who otherwise wouldn't have as many options and who still face barriers in workforce integration, even in the progressive, welcoming coworking movement, where in the pioneering spaces, a mostly younger, mostly male (mostly nonparent?) workforce has not (so far as I've seen) had childcare and the needs of families as an explicit priority. Here's a couple of notes from a quick trip 'round your website, worth what you paid for 'em: - If you want to be a part of the coworking movement (and it does sound like you've got some valuable pieces of the puzzle, tools and models that can inspire other spaces), it would be nice if your site used the term and/or linked to other coworking sites. As it is, it doesn't look like you have any outbound links at all, even in the Press section. In my experience, the best way to get link love (web pointers that lead to web traffic and therefore customers) is to give it. - The co-op workshare membership contribution element didn't show up anywhere except in the FAQ and press articles (the rates page is kinda sparse). This seems like an important aspect of your model, both in terms of expectations of prospective members for their commitment and in the customer service and child care received and who will be involved in providing it. Given that even some non-kid-friendly coworking spaces are talking about background/reference checks for prospective members/keyholders, I'm curious whether this issue has come up for members in terms of the childcare services. Its also not clear whether the co-op hours requirement applies to office-only members... could a non-parent be involved in childcare and related areas? I'm curious about all this because we run into a lot of similar issues in the cohousing movement, and we're always looking for innovative solutions. I hope to get down there soon for a visit. - You might want to compare notes with MyDayOffice and other coworking and related groups that have similar franchise multi-location models... obviously, whole different sets of issues emerge related to branding and staffing and management that are not as significant for the D-I-Y cooperative one-off workspaces. Given regional variations in space and childcare prices, as well as different regulatory schemes in each state, I'd imagine that the rates won't be universal across all of your spaces. - I'd love to know whether your gender balance of members mirrors that of other coworking spaces. [the rest of this msg is less about coworking so everyone else can feel free to ignore] Technical and Typo and Territorial notes: - The menus seem to behave oddly in Safari after the first minute or so on a given page, unpopping before sub-items can be selected, and then not responding to clicks on the main item. The Community page's menus seem to work when others don't. - In the Press section, Read more... links open a new window.. but the Palo Alto Weekly article has a Return to Press section link at the bottom that doesn't switch back to the original window or close the new window. - I had to read the PA Weekly article to get it (without doing the math) that rates drop to as little as $9 an hour for members including childcare... the membership info page might want to be a little bit more explicit about the value. - Typo in the Press section: tele-communtes has an extra n - Typo in the Press section: choosed should be present tense - Typo on the FAQ: What happens if I can't volunteers should be singular - Typo on the House Rules page: recption missing an e - While OnRamping and OffRamping sounds interesting; there's no link or context on the Community page's workshops events calendar to fill in somebody who hadn't heard of it before. It helped once I discovered that your founder's blog is at http://YourOnRamp.com/ (a side note there: a blog that doesn't display dates for posts and then references current events can be a bit confusing.. and there isn't anything obvious over there that I could find actually referencing those terms Google eventually led me to http://www.youronramp.com/youronramp-presents-onramping-offramping-workshops-menlo-park but there's still nothing linking to actual definitions of the terms of what the workshop includes. I eventually found a definition in a Boston Globe article. Maybe this is Human Resources jargon? WIkipedia has it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On-Ramping -- although IMNSHO the entry has issues related to NPOV and promotion of the particular website) Raines Cohen, Coworking Coach / Cohousing Coach Planning for Sustainable Communities in Berkeley, CA who recently learned at a National Aging In Place Council meeting in Denver that some large employers are setting up ELDERCARE facilities to help employees who are taking lots of time off work to care for family members and in web surfing for alternative options. Perhaps there's a
[Coworking] Introduction
Hi! I'm Barbara, and I'm a freelance consultant. I've had a concept for co-working, as it would really fit my needs - I rarely need an office, but when I do it would be nice to have something where I could meet with clients, take the (rare) fax, that kind of thing. Probably because management consulting is my field, I'm interested in the details. How do those of you with active co-working spaces manage the niceties - making sure the place is cleaned now and then, dealing with bad actors, that sort of thing? I'd like to set up such a space in a year or so, but want to be prepare for and avoid and pitfalls from the onset. Thanks for any help! --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Introduction
The way we handle our situation is to carefully choose who are our tenants. People have to be the right 'fit' and drop into the space for a while before we let them rent. We haven't really had any situations because of that. T On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 7:43 PM, Barbara [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi! I'm Barbara, and I'm a freelance consultant. I've had a concept for co-working, as it would really fit my needs - I rarely need an office, but when I do it would be nice to have something where I could meet with clients, take the (rare) fax, that kind of thing. Probably because management consulting is my field, I'm interested in the details. How do those of you with active co-working spaces manage the niceties - making sure the place is cleaned now and then, dealing with bad actors, that sort of thing? I'd like to set up such a space in a year or so, but want to be prepare for and avoid and pitfalls from the onset. Thanks for any help! -- tara 'miss rogue' hunt coFounder Citizen Agency (www.citizenagency.com) blog: www.horsepigcow.com phone: 415-694-1951 fax: 415-727-5335 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Introduction
Similar to Citizen Agency (but not quite), IndyHall encourages folks to sign up for one of our lower-level memberships (basic or lite) or even just work on a day rate before we sign them up with a full time desk. This helps makes sure that we're the right fit for them, they're the right fit for us, and we're the right fit for them. Not only is coworking not for everyone, but every coworking community is different and has different expectations and dynamics, so we carry no hard feelings if things don't fit. To date, though, we've had no problems as well! Community as a core moderator is the key. Since one of the aspects of community is respect, that mutual respect for each other and the space in which we inhabit keeps problems at bay. -Alex, IndyHall, Philadelphia On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 10:51 PM, Tara Hunt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The way we handle our situation is to carefully choose who are our tenants. People have to be the right 'fit' and drop into the space for a while before we let them rent. We haven't really had any situations because of that. T On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 7:43 PM, Barbara [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi! I'm Barbara, and I'm a freelance consultant. I've had a concept for co-working, as it would really fit my needs - I rarely need an office, but when I do it would be nice to have something where I could meet with clients, take the (rare) fax, that kind of thing. Probably because management consulting is my field, I'm interested in the details. How do those of you with active co-working spaces manage the niceties - making sure the place is cleaned now and then, dealing with bad actors, that sort of thing? I'd like to set up such a space in a year or so, but want to be prepare for and avoid and pitfalls from the onset. Thanks for any help! -- tara 'miss rogue' hunt coFounder Citizen Agency (www.citizenagency.com) blog: www.horsepigcow.com phone: 415-694-1951 fax: 415-727-5335 -- - -- - Alex Hillman web.developer.innovation.consultant vocal: 484.597.6256 digital: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | skype: dangerouslyawesome visual: www.weknowhtml.com | www.dangerouslyawesome.com local: www.indyhall.org --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Introduction
What Tara said. ;-) Seriously, I actually just came from a cohousing neighbor's meeting with a property-management agency that she's looking to hire to handle renting out her cottage since she finds it frustrating to deal with the details or wait for late rent checks. Their approach was straightforward: run credit checks and look for monthly income at least 3x the rent, and apply their own intuition and experience as to whether the person based on that data will be reliable in paying the rent and not trashing the place. It's the same thing with coworking, kinda: Develop a vision. Test that vision in the market, collaborating for input (because it may be a great vision, but the world or at least your particular neighborhood/city may not be ready for it). Find others who share it, and engage in activities that help people discover capacities in each other (and maybe themselves), build confidence and trust, and combine forces and resources to get the particular venture off the ground, drawing on and contributing to the larger movement for leverage, support, feedback, and cross-pollination. And from that solid base, go forth with the confidence that you don't have to embrace and tie your success (or making next month's rent) to the next person who walks in the door... yes, you want to create an on-ramp, to make it easy for people to get familiar with what you do, and for you to get to know them. The screening you need to do is mutual.. are they willing to take the risk to be part of your venture? (and are you doing enough to reduce/manage the risk so someone with a less adventuresome personality will feel comfortable joining you?) How much will it be able to meet their needs if it was crafted based on yours? How much are they sharing in the risk... and in potential gains? Are you using effective decision-making tools and processes so you aren't killing yourself (or losing your family) in the process? Is there a balance, is what they'll be looking for, if you're looking for people who have a balanced approach to life. Yes, we are exploring being pioneers in new ventures, breaking new ground, embracing new opportunities for co-creation. But that doesn't mean we need to throw out hundreds of years of business experience in processes to limit risks of taking on partners/tenants/clients/etc., or thousands of years of experience of human group dynamics and community formation Raines, your neighborhood Coworking Coach, Cohousing Coach, and *Camp Counselor --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Introduction
Raines, This is damn good advice for starting any venture! Thanks for such an elegant summary. -dave d On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 8:39 PM, Raines Cohen [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: What Tara said. ;-) Seriously, I actually just came from a cohousing neighbor's meeting with a property-management agency that she's looking to hire to handle renting out her cottage since she finds it frustrating to deal with the details or wait for late rent checks. Their approach was straightforward: run credit checks and look for monthly income at least 3x the rent, and apply their own intuition and experience as to whether the person based on that data will be reliable in paying the rent and not trashing the place. It's the same thing with coworking, kinda: Develop a vision. Test that vision in the market, collaborating for input (because it may be a great vision, but the world or at least your particular neighborhood/city may not be ready for it). Find others who share it, and engage in activities that help people discover capacities in each other (and maybe themselves), build confidence and trust, and combine forces and resources to get the particular venture off the ground, drawing on and contributing to the larger movement for leverage, support, feedback, and cross-pollination. And from that solid base, go forth with the confidence that you don't have to embrace and tie your success (or making next month's rent) to the next person who walks in the door... yes, you want to create an on-ramp, to make it easy for people to get familiar with what you do, and for you to get to know them. The screening you need to do is mutual.. are they willing to take the risk to be part of your venture? (and are you doing enough to reduce/manage the risk so someone with a less adventuresome personality will feel comfortable joining you?) How much will it be able to meet their needs if it was crafted based on yours? How much are they sharing in the risk... and in potential gains? Are you using effective decision-making tools and processes so you aren't killing yourself (or losing your family) in the process? Is there a balance, is what they'll be looking for, if you're looking for people who have a balanced approach to life. Yes, we are exploring being pioneers in new ventures, breaking new ground, embracing new opportunities for co-creation. But that doesn't mean we need to throw out hundreds of years of business experience in processes to limit risks of taking on partners/tenants/clients/etc., or thousands of years of experience of human group dynamics and community formation Raines, your neighborhood Coworking Coach, Cohousing Coach, and *Camp Counselor -- http://tinobox.org/wordpress/ linkedin, facebook, twitter, etc. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[Coworking] Re: Introduction
Agreed, Raines is on the ball here. I'll be starring this email for future thoughts and reference! -Alex On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 11:46 PM, David Doolin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Raines, This is damn good advice for starting any venture! Thanks for such an elegant summary. -dave d On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 8:39 PM, Raines Cohen [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: What Tara said. ;-) Seriously, I actually just came from a cohousing neighbor's meeting with a property-management agency that she's looking to hire to handle renting out her cottage since she finds it frustrating to deal with the details or wait for late rent checks. Their approach was straightforward: run credit checks and look for monthly income at least 3x the rent, and apply their own intuition and experience as to whether the person based on that data will be reliable in paying the rent and not trashing the place. It's the same thing with coworking, kinda: Develop a vision. Test that vision in the market, collaborating for input (because it may be a great vision, but the world or at least your particular neighborhood/city may not be ready for it). Find others who share it, and engage in activities that help people discover capacities in each other (and maybe themselves), build confidence and trust, and combine forces and resources to get the particular venture off the ground, drawing on and contributing to the larger movement for leverage, support, feedback, and cross-pollination. And from that solid base, go forth with the confidence that you don't have to embrace and tie your success (or making next month's rent) to the next person who walks in the door... yes, you want to create an on-ramp, to make it easy for people to get familiar with what you do, and for you to get to know them. The screening you need to do is mutual.. are they willing to take the risk to be part of your venture? (and are you doing enough to reduce/manage the risk so someone with a less adventuresome personality will feel comfortable joining you?) How much will it be able to meet their needs if it was crafted based on yours? How much are they sharing in the risk... and in potential gains? Are you using effective decision-making tools and processes so you aren't killing yourself (or losing your family) in the process? Is there a balance, is what they'll be looking for, if you're looking for people who have a balanced approach to life. Yes, we are exploring being pioneers in new ventures, breaking new ground, embracing new opportunities for co-creation. But that doesn't mean we need to throw out hundreds of years of business experience in processes to limit risks of taking on partners/tenants/clients/etc., or thousands of years of experience of human group dynamics and community formation Raines, your neighborhood Coworking Coach, Cohousing Coach, and *Camp Counselor -- http://tinobox.org/wordpress/ linkedin, facebook, twitter, etc. -- - -- - Alex Hillman web.developer.innovation.consultant vocal: 484.597.6256 digital: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | skype: dangerouslyawesome visual: www.weknowhtml.com | www.dangerouslyawesome.com local: www.indyhall.org --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
