BLOG How can you connect with people from your local community How can you connect with people from your local community and invite them to your coworking space, shared workspace, or whatever you want to call it? (That's where you say neighbourhood space!) I visited the Urban MBA coworking space by Old Street in London this week. Ali Kakande founded a project in lockdown called Carib Eats, which invites older adults to get together, eat food, and connect. They're doing this downstairs in the EdTech Centre at the Urban MBA space. These folks are eating
BLOG Have you got a collaborative habit? Have you got a collaborative habit? That is a book by Twyla Tharp, who's a world-renowned choreographer. Twyla talks about all the projects she's worked on, including collaborations with Billy Joel, Jerome Robbins, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, David Byrne, Richard Avedon, Milos Forman, Norma Kamali, and Frank Sinatra. They are successful, and they all come down to collaborating with people. Yesterday, when I attended the Coworking Alliance Summit with Ashley, Sam Poler an
BLOG What is truly unique about your coworking space that you are scared to share? What is truly unique about your coworking space that you are scared to share? So, can you imagine how mind-numbingly dull it is to look through websites or coworking spaces when you want to find somewhere to work? Because they all say things like: -Free WiFi! (Which is like boasting you have a bathroom!) -Innovation! (Really?) -Unique community! (I know you say this with the best intent, but...) But drill down and think, what is the unique thing your coworking space provides? And this is
BLOG How Can Your Choice of Words Set Your Coworking Space Apart? How Can Your Choice of Words Set Your Coworking Space Apart? In a world of devastatingly bland business jargon, the way to disappear is to use the exact words as everyone else because you think they make you look like a grown-up business person. You've seen those websites that boast about "great customer service" or "outstanding quality" and "innovation" - what does that mean? (I know a coworking space that advertises "innovation at the highest level" - WTF, do they make 50th-generation iPhon
BLOG What is community manager burnout? What is community manager burnout? It sounds dramatic. But it is accurate. I've burnt out working in events, catering and community management. Like burnout in the events and catering industry, there is much giving and giving mentally and physically without much training or guidance. We are 'enthusiastic and great with people', so we are let loose - to proceed until apprehended - either by our mental well-being or eventually find the edge of our ambiguous job remit. So many coworking space
BLOG What is the relationship between coworking and hospitality? What is the relationship between coworking and hospitality? Because I've heard this a lot lately, it was a constant topic of conversation at the Workspace Design Show London. But when you say coworking and hospitality, it doesn't mean you're suddenly running a restaurant, which is how people interpret it. I worked in hospitality and catering for years. I loved it. And I've always felt this connection between how we act in a coworking space and a restaurant. Ian Minor says, "It's the art of
BLOG How do you create connections between people in your coworking space without being a bit creepy? How do you create connections between people in your coworking space without being a bit creepy? I say creepy because there's a difference between customer acquisition and me joining your coworking space. You'd be mad not to use technology to help you do things, but if you do it in a very processed, automated way, it feels like people are part of a system rather than a community. And the way to do it is to commit to listening to people and what they're interested in. This week, I talked to e
Who is your coworking space really for? Is it for someone seeking “innovative global solutions and best practise?” Or Is it for a regular human being seeking connection, meaning, change, and somewhere to do their work?
Is a desk in a coworking space worth it? I've rented a desk in a coworking space for over ten years, paying for the chair and the desk.
BLOG How can your coworking space change the world? How can your coworking space change the world? So today's question is, who are you inviting to your coworking space? There's a big difference between an invitation and an announcement. An announcement is when you say: "Hi, my coworking space is open!" And you send that with the intention of thinking, everybody's welcome! But then when you give people an invitation like: "Would you like to come to my coworking space?" "I want you to come to my event!" "We're having a European Coworking D
BLOG Why is getting together with others who run a coworking space so important? Why is getting together with others who run a coworking space so important? It's because you don't have much time for everything, including running the space, keeping members happy, and maintaining software and stuff like that. You only get a little time to talk about what you're doing, where you're going, what's happening, and what you need help with. And whatever you do in any industry, getting together with your peers and discussing what you do is really important. It's fantastic for your
BLOG What does "growth and scale" mean for your coworking business? What do you mean by "growth and scale" when you talk about your business? I brought this up today because I was talking to someone about their coworking space and what they want to do with it. They said, "I want to grow and scale, of course!" After 15 minutes of conversation, I find out they don't want to scale. What they want is a sustainable business that makes them profit, doesn't kill them, and has a constant flow of new customers. There's a big difference between growth and scale and a
