• 16 Jan

    Austin bound and back!

    Random

    Just getting back from a whirlwind trip to the great city of Austin, TX, where we met with Cesar Torrez from Conjuntured Coworking (www.conjunctured.com) and Julie Gomall and team from LaunchPad Coworking (www.launchpadcoworking.com). We wanted to get feedback on two different theories on coworking…the “group house” collaborative model, and the high-end professional space model. Both successful, both in high demand. Cesar and his team were very proactive and efficient in identifying a growing need for coworking space, after attending local Jelly events, and meeting other coffee shop nomads. Since opening back in August 2008, they continue to add new memberships and find that they’ve created a lot of buzz on a local and national level. Julie’s project downtown Austin is in the middle of construction and development, but specs, floorplans, and mock-ups look extremely promising. High-end spaces, clean lines, modern architecture, artistic design. Every corner, every surface, every workspace, every conference room shows thought and commitment. We look forward to a successful launch of LaunchPad!

    Thanks to Cesar and Julie for all of their advice and feedback. The trip to Austin was well worth it!

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  • 10 Jan

    Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE)

    Coworking basics, ROWE

    So, we recently came across a great new concept called a Results-Only Work Environment.   Created by consultants Cali Ressler and Jody Thomson (culturerx.com) ROWE means that people do whatever they want, whenever they want, as long as the work gets done. That’s right…you read this correctly. In a ROWE, you are in charge of your professional and personal destinies. According to their book Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It,

    “Suddenly, work isn’t a place you go, it’s a thing you do. In a ROWE, there are no mandatory meetings or fixed schedules. You stop doing any activity that wastes time, and nobody criticizes for you “leaving early” or “coming in late.” If you do your best work at midnight or on Sundays, go for it!”

    You manage your time, your work projects, and your personal errands in a manner that makes your day more efficient and productive. With our “always-on” global economy, we have the technology to work outside normal business hours and spaces.

    We get it! And, what a perfect concept to promote as a coworking space.

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  • 03 Jan

    Coworking – what is it?

    Coworking basics

    Well, according to Wikipedia’s definition:

    Coworking is an emerging trend for a new pattern for working. Typically work-at-home professionals or independent contractors or people who travel frequently end up working in relative isolation. Coworking is the social gathering of a group of people, who are still working independently, but who share values and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space. Some coworking spaces were developed by nomadic internet entrepreneurs seeking an alternative to working in coffeeshops and cafes, or to isolation in independent or home offices.

    So, you ask…what is OpenSpace’s definition of coworking? Same concept, but we want to provide a very high-end, professional working space perfect for Charlottesville’s various independent professionals. While most of us have taken to coffee shop offices, OpenSpace will offer a more collaborative environment with open workstations, conference rooms, private collaborative rooms and additional resources like printers, fax machines, scanners, whiteboards, and most importantly…conversation. Oh yeah, and the coffee too!

    OpenSpace Coworking will join a network of over 500 individual coworking spaces that are popping up all over the world. It’s a rapidly growing new notion of working, and while we openly welcome out of town coworkers, we think it’s a concept that’s going to bring Charlottesville professionals together…for work, and for play.

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