[Coworking] Re: Redefining Coworking - WHY?
A great discussion and I agree with most of the previous points, but it reminds me of the countless times I have listed to programmers argue over differing approaches to product design, completely missing the point that the discussion is much bigger than the bits, the features or the packaging. This is, as many have stated very passionately, about building and serving a community. In some cities, the tech / creative community is an open and identifiable entity where people are always coming together to collaborate and socialize. Jelly-like sessions just make those collaborations a little bigger and more social. Sometimes the community comes together organically; sometimes the community needs a kick in the ass and someone is needed facilitate (build and fill the pool.) Either way, the “customer” gets what they need, the community benefits and the concept of coworking is credited with the win. The noun vs. verb discussion is akin to trying to put the genie back in to bottle. Use the momentum we have to get more people aware of coworking and we all win regardless of the topic, the venue or the motives. On Jun 5, 7:05 am, qotu [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The coworking concept has so much power that it occupies all parts of speech. This thread celebrates that. We are evolving the basic service economy business model because technology has empowered us to work from anywhere - and we're boldly deciding where we want that somewhere to be. Space got to be so important to me as regards coworking because like many others here, my work life evolved like this: 1. Chew myself free of a corporate job. 2. Start a business. 3. Work from home most of the time, using remote tools. 4. Rediscover the importance of face-to-face interactions. 5. Meet clients and colleagues in wi-fi coffeeshops and borrowed spaces. Find that limiting. 6. Create our own space for our team. 7. Share our space for coworking. Coworking (the movement, distinct from the kind of coworking I did with coworkers in the corporate environment) has never made sense to me outside the context of the ubiquitous, robust remote teaming now possible over the web. Is that an important difference to anyone else? So Dusty, I think the difference we love is, corporate coworkers are forced to cowork inside the salt mine, and we Coworkers have freedom to do it when and where we want :) Empowerment being the difference. I'm reading this in the cold predawn, so feeling expansive and not defensive. Just remember people, it's ALL good; take a moment to look where we are and celebrate the extent to which we control our own destinies :) Best regards to you all, -Susan Price --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking - WHY?
The coworking concept has so much power that it occupies all parts of speech. This thread celebrates that. We are evolving the basic service economy business model because technology has empowered us to work from anywhere - and we're boldly deciding where we want that somewhere to be. Space got to be so important to me as regards coworking because like many others here, my work life evolved like this: 1. Chew myself free of a corporate job. 2. Start a business. 3. Work from home most of the time, using remote tools. 4. Rediscover the importance of face-to-face interactions. 5. Meet clients and colleagues in wi-fi coffeeshops and borrowed spaces. Find that limiting. 6. Create our own space for our team. 7. Share our space for coworking. Coworking (the movement, distinct from the kind of coworking I did with coworkers in the corporate environment) has never made sense to me outside the context of the ubiquitous, robust remote teaming now possible over the web. Is that an important difference to anyone else? So Dusty, I think the difference we love is, corporate coworkers are forced to cowork inside the salt mine, and we Coworkers have freedom to do it when and where we want :) Empowerment being the difference. I'm reading this in the cold predawn, so feeling expansive and not defensive. Just remember people, it's ALL good; take a moment to look where we are and celebrate the extent to which we control our own destinies :) Best regards to you all, -Susan Price --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking
Coworking - The Good, The True, and The Beautiful - The Good - CoWorking is done in a place that is designed for the support of complex social interaction and engagement along with focused, highly creative, demanding work. - The True - I am a CoWorker because I work with others in a CoWorking Space to the benefit of myself, my clients, and my fellow CoWorkers. - The Beautiful - CoWorking is a way of being in a CoWorking Community that allows all of us to shine individually and as a collective in a way that is different from every other way of being I have ever experienced. Alex http://alexrollin.com On Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 11:37 AM, bunnyhero [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i'm not convinced that coworking needs redefinition, as you write on your blog post. to me, the space is VERY important to the core of the movement. i already work in cafes a lot, and have worked in a couple of different shared office environments, but it's the combination that i am looking for, and is why i was drawn to it. wayne -- Alex Rollin --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking
I totally agree. But want to add that the space could be an office space, OR simply someone's living room (like Jelly). But there's *something* that gets you out of your PJs, or out of your usual cafe, and into the community. Hillary bunnyhero wrote: i'm not convinced that coworking needs redefinition, as you write on your blog post. to me, the space is VERY important to the core of the movement. i already work in cafes a lot, and have worked in a couple of different shared office environments, but it's the combination that i am looking for, and is why i was drawn to it. wayne --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking
Dusty, I agree with you. Well said. -Erica http://www.erica.biz/ On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 7:15 PM, Dusty [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everyone! After many discussions about what coworking entails (including things like non-profit vs for-profit), I've been feeling a bit like there's some confusion about what exactly coworking is. I'd like to propose that coworking is not a noun but a verb. So, coworking is not a space, a community, a set of values, a business model, or any combination of those things. It's an activity like swimming is an activity. If we look at the definition of coworking on the Coworking Wiki, we read that coworking is a cafe-like community/collaboration space for developers, writers and independents. This defines coworking as a noun and as a type of community space. Wikipedia does a bit better at defining coworking in my mind, but still places a lot of emphases on the space. From my experience with Jelly, coworking is something you are doing. For example, I'd use it in a sentence like this: Today I am coworking at Jelly. Or, I might go to Citizen Space to cowork. From this usage I'd like to propose the following definition. - Coworking is two or more individuals working independently or collaboratively who are socially interacting while they work. As a verb you can cowork with people, you can be coworking, or you may have coworked. You may even go to a designated coworking space. Also note, that this definition does not mention anything about a space or even proximity. This leaves the possibility to cowork remotely. Second Life and Yahoo! Live come to mind. When we talk about creating a coworking space, coworking community, or having a specific set of values, we're really talking about how to create an environment or community that will encourage the activity of coworking. Arguments over values, profits, business models, and furniture can neither undermine nor enhance the definition of coworking. Build a pool and I may go swimming. Is it a free pool? Do I have to pay to swim? Is the water clean? Are kids allowed in the pool? Is there a swim team that meets at this pool? Is the pool's owner honest? All of these thing may affect my decision to swim in the pool, but are ultimately a matter of taste. In this vein, the coworking movement is a movement of coworking enthusiasts. We participate in, promote, and discuss the activity of coworking. In summary, I'm proposing that coworking is NOT a cafe-like community/ collaboration space. That's like saying swimming is a pool. And arguments such as for-profit versus non-profit need not become heated. Coworking is coworking regardless of where it's at, what values people share, or how big the community is. If you're working and socializing, you're coworking. What do you think? PS. I originally wrote this on my blog: http://dustyreagan.com/redefining-coworking/ but I wanted to bring the discussion here. Dusty --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking
while i appreciate dusty's post and agree with a good portion of it, i still think coworking is both a noun and a verb. sure, coworking can happen anywhere, which is a discussion we were having at the first toronto town hall meeting last week - what is coworking and how is it different than shared office space? if community and collaboration happen because of the people, then can it happen anywhere? i still think that the space can make a difference. a space that people come to knowing that collaboration and community are both encouraged predefines the mindset of the people who work in said space. even in traditional companies/offices this can ring true. a company who frowns upon innovation, where employees are just there to do their job, is less likely to house willing and fruitful collaboration, whereas a company that understands innovation and encourages employees to rise up will foster that collaboration. is it the brick and mortar space itself? not necessarily, but it is the expectation of the space that sets up coworkers to be ready for it. i say it is both noun and verb. r. rachel young [EMAIL PROTECTED] --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking
Tara, your vision for coworking has inspired people all over the world. That's a truly amazing accomplishment. What good does it do the movement to hold on tightly to a definition that excludes so many people who embrace the very values you champion? Great ideas aren't static. They evolve as they are adopted by others who share the passion. It's worth redefining coworking to encourage more people to think about working differently. How does it help anyone striving for community, collaboration, transparency, accessibility, and sustainability to say Nope, sorry, that's not coworking because it doesn't fit the original definition? A simple, clear definition says You can do this too! Join us! We should be inclusive and welcoming to everyone who shares these values. Coworking is a starfish movement. Coworking locations are not starfish organizations. They may be cooperative, they may be egalitarian, they may do everything by consensus. But someone's name is on the lease. Someone files for names and permits with the city or state. No one runs coworking, but someone runs the space. We're having some good conversation about the definition of coworking herehttp://blog.launchpadcoworking.com/2008/06/02/is-it-still-coworking-if-you-make-a-profit/ . Julie Gomoll http://launchpadcoworking.com --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking
Dusty I agree with the spirit of what you are saying and mentioning Jelly is a good idea because yes, I would agree Jelly is a great part of coworking and no they aren't linked to a specific permanent place. I think the Cream Cheese sessions were also a great example of coworking with no specific space. I think you can have a great community that coworks without a space. However, I think (and would love to be proven wrong) that you are trying to change it to solely a verb so that you can extract the part you like. Coworking, from it's inception, has been about a community that works and collaborates and socializes and meets up for community building (eesh, that sounds too much like team building in big cos., not the same ;) events. It's possible to take the simpler definition and see it in a different light but the spirit behind it is, I believe, what I just described. Jelly and Cream Cheese, not being location based were making the act of coworking be the community event. The secret sauce is/was the act of going there together and working and more. When you have a space, you can hold other events, foster community in more ways. Whatever the model the fact remains that we are doing more than just working and randomly talking with people who are there. I think making it a verb and trying to make it individuals working and interacting is reductive, it takes away from what a coworking space wants to / should be building; a group, a community. Working next to someone and socialising is being a normal human with human contact needs. Working together and building something more together is coworking. The place can be a permanent physical place, it can be a place the group swarms to but the ulterior motives are more than just socializing because you happen to be next to each other. Finally, I think if this had come from someone hosting a coworking session that just happens to change location, it would have been better received. In this case it's a way of making a business center be able to sound like a coworking space. I think you have a great project ramping up, I also think the fact you are involved and trying to find a way to fit your model with the original vision of coworking shows you pretty much get what the thing is and want to be part of it. I'd suggest, if I may, finding ways to have people in your future space become a community and start putting emphasis on that instead of on the huge investment and responding to every hint of profit/non profit discussions. If you were always talking about the future workshops and Camps and such that you want to host, how you want to foster collaboration, how you are looking forward to seeing the group coming together, we wouldn't even notice the for profit model. I hope this doesn't sound too harsh, it's not meant to be but it's also because I think coworking as it is does work and is springing up everywhere without becoming just a verb. Patrick Station C --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking
When you're having a discussion in which semantics are by far the biggest point of contention, it's a pretty good idea to simply create distinct terms for each separate part. We could say coworking is the act of working together in a particular way and a coworking space is an environment created to encourage coworking. Coworking spaces can attack that challenge in a variety of different ways as can the method of coworking to achieve the same positive end. I think that's a reasonably fair compromise. Best, Riaz Virani Special Projects Coordinator Affinity Lab 2451 18th Street NW Second Floor Washington, DC 20009 (W) 202.518.6181 (C) 678.575.0631 [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Wed, Jun 4, 2008 at 10:19 AM, Nancy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Tara, I think that, indeed, you are attached to the concept and rightly so...That's not a bad thing. I use the word concept intentionally here. While folks could get overly tied up in semantics, I think the key here is that you have grown a concept that you have consistently been referring to as coworking in a new definition of the word. After all, the word coworkers certainly doesn't refer to coworkers in a coworking setting as you and your fellow visionaries have developed the concept (I use the term develop intentionally, as well, instead of define)... Note that I just used coworking as an adjective, a descripive that further defines a noun... Think about branding for those who took marketing courses or simply are into the history of capitalism - don't call a tissue a Kleenex, it's a Kleenex tissue... Band-aid was originally a brand name that lost it's exclusivity because of its generic use. The amazing thing here is that the founders of this concept so wanted to both share the concept while being able to put their own personal vision into it, they didn't think of their rights to the word coworking as a part of their new concept. They could have made some whole logo that would have further protected their use of that word and offered its use to folks for a fee. Instead, they chose to share their concept and use the term coworking freely and openly, be it noun, verb or adjective, as a generic term (in marketing terms) for the concept that several changemakers (I like that term, too) have turned into successful entities (don't like that word, sounds like a creature from another planet!)... Citizen Agency, Indy Hall, Cubes and Crayons. It seems to me that your definition has been incredibly inclusive. In fact, I wouldn't be including it, referring to it in my business plan, and as I promote my new business, if your definition wasn't so broad... I suggest that it can be used grammatically in different ways, noun, verb, and indeed, my favorite the adjective - thus, ADJECTIVE: You haven't heard of Cubes and Crayons? It's a coworking space that is perfect for the professional mom. OR, VERB: I'm coworking at Citizen Hall next week since I'm going to be in town and I hope I will meet some of the founders! OR NOUN: So, coworking is this cool movement whereby folks who are working on their own business or project can get out of their jammies, skip the coffee shop, and head to work for the day or everyday in a place set up to work around people of like values, doing their own thing but working in a really creative, supportive environment. One last comment, and I apologize if I've gone on too long... It is a good thing, your solid use of the term - you've coined a new meaning which is amazing in this world of cluttered but wonderful new concepts. My new business is going to be a triple-bottom-line enterprise, financially-self-sustaining nonprofit, social enterprise, L3C, For Benefit... There are more terms referencing the type of business that I plan to start than I can shake a stick at and it is a total problem for me... Whatever you call it, my vision, mission, objectives, they are all the same. But, my choice of terms could stop my worthwhile concept before I can even get it off the ground. You guys are on the right track... While the conversation is a good one in a self-analytical way, remember that the most important concepts or words relate right back to your intentions which relate to your values. I'll stop now! Best to all who embrace the coworking concept! (I could call it the coworking movement, but being a mom, the term movement will forever refer to a bodily function and does not bring to mind a pretty picture at all!). Nancy Social Entrepreneur Ipswich, MA temp website/blog: http://twsblog.wordpress.com/ --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking
Similar to some of the sentiments expressed here, I wrote a posthttp://www.dangerouslyawesome.com/2008/05/29/add-equal-parts-business-and-culture-blend-until-smooth/recently that placed coworking into two categories: Coworking (community of workers sharing their work-lifestyle with each other. in many cases, this is activity. jelly. events. etc.) Coworking (space - this is a place in which a coworking community can reside, and coworking activity can take place). Either way, I think it's important that whatever deliberation we make in this thread today, tomorrow, or next year, the definition will always change. None of these decisions are permanent, and being open to change, adjustment, and experimentation are key for this larger community to co-exist. -Alex On Wed, Jun 4, 2008 at 11:06 AM, Riaz Virani [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: When you're having a discussion in which semantics are by far the biggest point of contention, it's a pretty good idea to simply create distinct terms for each separate part. We could say coworking is the act of working together in a particular way and a coworking space is an environment created to encourage coworking. Coworking spaces can attack that challenge in a variety of different ways as can the method of coworking to achieve the same positive end. I think that's a reasonably fair compromise. Best, Riaz Virani Special Projects Coordinator Affinity Lab 2451 18th Street NW Second Floor Washington, DC 20009 (W) 202.518.6181 (C) 678.575.0631 [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Wed, Jun 4, 2008 at 10:19 AM, Nancy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Tara, I think that, indeed, you are attached to the concept and rightly so...That's not a bad thing. I use the word concept intentionally here. While folks could get overly tied up in semantics, I think the key here is that you have grown a concept that you have consistently been referring to as coworking in a new definition of the word. After all, the word coworkers certainly doesn't refer to coworkers in a coworking setting as you and your fellow visionaries have developed the concept (I use the term develop intentionally, as well, instead of define)... Note that I just used coworking as an adjective, a descripive that further defines a noun... Think about branding for those who took marketing courses or simply are into the history of capitalism - don't call a tissue a Kleenex, it's a Kleenex tissue... Band-aid was originally a brand name that lost it's exclusivity because of its generic use. The amazing thing here is that the founders of this concept so wanted to both share the concept while being able to put their own personal vision into it, they didn't think of their rights to the word coworking as a part of their new concept. They could have made some whole logo that would have further protected their use of that word and offered its use to folks for a fee. Instead, they chose to share their concept and use the term coworking freely and openly, be it noun, verb or adjective, as a generic term (in marketing terms) for the concept that several changemakers (I like that term, too) have turned into successful entities (don't like that word, sounds like a creature from another planet!)... Citizen Agency, Indy Hall, Cubes and Crayons. It seems to me that your definition has been incredibly inclusive. In fact, I wouldn't be including it, referring to it in my business plan, and as I promote my new business, if your definition wasn't so broad... I suggest that it can be used grammatically in different ways, noun, verb, and indeed, my favorite the adjective - thus, ADJECTIVE: You haven't heard of Cubes and Crayons? It's a coworking space that is perfect for the professional mom. OR, VERB: I'm coworking at Citizen Hall next week since I'm going to be in town and I hope I will meet some of the founders! OR NOUN: So, coworking is this cool movement whereby folks who are working on their own business or project can get out of their jammies, skip the coffee shop, and head to work for the day or everyday in a place set up to work around people of like values, doing their own thing but working in a really creative, supportive environment. One last comment, and I apologize if I've gone on too long... It is a good thing, your solid use of the term - you've coined a new meaning which is amazing in this world of cluttered but wonderful new concepts. My new business is going to be a triple-bottom-line enterprise, financially-self-sustaining nonprofit, social enterprise, L3C, For Benefit... There are more terms referencing the type of business that I plan to start than I can shake a stick at and it is a total problem for me... Whatever you call it, my vision, mission, objectives, they are all the same. But, my choice of terms could stop my worthwhile concept before I can even get it off the ground. You guys are on the right track... While the conversation is a good one in a
[Coworking] Re: Redefining Coworking
Good discussions happening! Cheers to that. Patrick. You mention that you thought this concept would be better received had it been brought up by someone hosting a coworking session that just happens to change location. That would be me. I founded Jelly in Austin. I've hosted about 30 coworking sessions. The space, to me, is irrelevant to whether a group of people are coworking or not. For example, consider a Jelly meetup hosted outside on a nice day. I don't think defining coworking as individuals working and interacting is reductive, or that it takes away from what a coworking space wants to / should be building. I think individuals working and interacting is exactly what a coworking space should strive to promote. Their interaction is the secret sauce. The space, community, or group is the facilitator to encourage people to interact. (Interestingly, the space, community, or group was probably derived out of two or more individuals interacting whilst working.) Building the perfect coworking space, or the perfect coworking community, is a kin to building the perfect swimming pool. I can swim anywhere there's water, but of course I'd prefer to swim in my ideal swimming pool. I'm gonna' step out a little farther on the limb. I believe people working 9 to 5 at an office, if they’re socially interacting while working, they are coworking. Thus, they are coworkers. The concept of coworking came about when people who worked from home began to miss the social interaction that is usually available at a traditional office. Thus the term was born. The term coworking does not distinguish traditional workers from progressive workers. It distinguishes working alone versus working in a social group. Progressive workers, organizations, movers and shakers, they incorporate coworking into their groups and systems, because it's clearly the best way to work and generate innovation. They tweak the model of how people cowork to get the best results. That doesn't mean that a group that hasn't tweaked their model as well as another is not coworking. To me, the discussions we have are about how to best tweak our models to generate the most innovation through coworking. This is what the coworking movement is about. We're comparing notes on what works best in our experience and situation. One model is not more coworking than another. The activity our models promote is coworking. On Jun 4, 10:05 am, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dusty I agree with the spirit of what you are saying and mentioning Jelly is a good idea because yes, I would agree Jelly is a great part of coworking and no they aren't linked to a specific permanent place. I think the Cream Cheese sessions were also a great example of coworking with no specific space. I think you can have a great community that coworks without a space. However, I think (and would love to be proven wrong) that you are trying to change it to solely a verb so that you can extract the part you like. Coworking, from it's inception, has been about a community that works and collaborates and socializes and meets up for community building (eesh, that sounds too much like team building in big cos., not the same ;) events. It's possible to take the simpler definition and see it in a different light but the spirit behind it is, I believe, what I just described. Jelly and Cream Cheese, not being location based were making the act of coworking be the community event. The secret sauce is/was the act of going there together and working and more. When you have a space, you can hold other events, foster community in more ways. Whatever the model the fact remains that we are doing more than just working and randomly talking with people who are there. I think making it a verb and trying to make it individuals working and interacting is reductive, it takes away from what a coworking space wants to / should be building; a group, a community. Working next to someone and socialising is being a normal human with human contact needs. Working together and building something more together is coworking. The place can be a permanent physical place, it can be a place the group swarms to but the ulterior motives are more than just socializing because you happen to be next to each other. Finally, I think if this had come from someone hosting a coworking session that just happens to change location, it would have been better received. In this case it's a way of making a business center be able to sound like a coworking space. I think you have a great project ramping up, I also think the fact you are involved and trying to find a way to fit your model with the original vision of coworking shows you pretty much get what the thing is and want to be part of it. I'd suggest, if I may, finding ways to have people in your future space become a community and start putting emphasis on that instead of on the huge investment and responding to every hint of
[Coworking] Re: Redefining Coworking
On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 9:15 PM, Dusty [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everyone! After many discussions about what coworking entails (including things like non-profit vs for-profit), I've been feeling a bit like there's some confusion about what exactly coworking is. I'd like to propose that coworking is not a noun but a verb. So, coworking is not a space, a community, a set of values, a business model, or any combination of those things. It's an activity like swimming is an activity. If we look at the definition of coworking on the Coworking Wiki, we read that coworking is a cafe-like community/collaboration space for developers, writers and independents. This defines coworking as a noun and as a type of community space. Wikipedia does a bit better at defining coworking in my mind, but still places a lot of emphases on the space. From my experience with Jelly, coworking is something you are doing. For example, I'd use it in a sentence like this: Today I am coworking at Jelly. Or, I might go to Citizen Space to cowork. From this usage I'd like to propose the following definition. - Coworking is two or more individuals working independently or collaboratively who are socially interacting while they work. As a verb you can cowork with people, you can be coworking, or you may have coworked. You may even go to a designated coworking space. Also note, that this definition does not mention anything about a space or even proximity. This leaves the possibility to cowork remotely. Second Life and Yahoo! Live come to mind. When we talk about creating a coworking space, coworking community, or having a specific set of values, we're really talking about how to create an environment or community that will encourage the activity of coworking. Arguments over values, profits, business models, and furniture can neither undermine nor enhance the definition of coworking. Build a pool and I may go swimming. Is it a free pool? Do I have to pay to swim? Is the water clean? Are kids allowed in the pool? Is there a swim team that meets at this pool? Is the pool's owner honest? All of these thing may affect my decision to swim in the pool, but are ultimately a matter of taste. In this vein, the coworking movement is a movement of coworking enthusiasts. We participate in, promote, and discuss the activity of coworking. In summary, I'm proposing that coworking is NOT a cafe-like community/ collaboration space. That's like saying swimming is a pool. And arguments such as for-profit versus non-profit need not become heated. Coworking is coworking regardless of where it's at, what values people share, or how big the community is. If you're working and socializing, you're coworking. What do you think? PS. I originally wrote this on my blog: http://dustyreagan.com/redefining-coworking/ but I wanted to bring the discussion here. Dusty I gotta say that you can use the word however you want. I couldn't stop you anyhow. But If you decide you want to chill at a coworking, or start a coworking, or arrange a mutiny at a coworking, I'll know what you mean. Define it however you want, I won't be referring to your dictionary when next I hear the word. Further, you're welcome to pretend you have no idea what I mean when I say I'm trying to start a coworking. But don't tell me I'm wrong. If I was wrong, either you'd have no idea what I meant, or misinterpret my meaning. If you know what I mean refuse to acknowledge it, then that's pretty pedantic. Almost at pedantic as writing a critique on the internet wherein your subject is deemed pedantic. Almost as bad as that last sentence. Anyway: I don't care how you define things. How about we agree that if I don't know what you mean, I'll ask for an explanation nicely. http:// Joseph Holsten .com PS If I misunderstood anything, sorry. But I've abused the right to define things to great (that is, ill) effect over the years. It lets me be both formally correct and an asshat all at once. I try to stick to purely consensus definitions whenever possible now. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking
Joseph, I'm not trying to be a poop head. I agree you can use the word however you want. No need for a vote. Just discussing semantics. :) On Jun 4, 11:05 am, Joseph Holsten [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 9:15 PM, Dusty [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everyone! After many discussions about what coworking entails (including things like non-profit vs for-profit), I've been feeling a bit like there's some confusion about what exactly coworking is. I'd like to propose that coworking is not a noun but a verb. So, coworking is not a space, a community, a set of values, a business model, or any combination of those things. It's an activity like swimming is an activity. If we look at the definition of coworking on the Coworking Wiki, we read that coworking is a cafe-like community/collaboration space for developers, writers and independents. This defines coworking as a noun and as a type of community space. Wikipedia does a bit better at defining coworking in my mind, but still places a lot of emphases on the space. From my experience with Jelly, coworking is something you are doing. For example, I'd use it in a sentence like this: Today I am coworking at Jelly. Or, I might go to Citizen Space to cowork. From this usage I'd like to propose the following definition. - Coworking is two or more individuals working independently or collaboratively who are socially interacting while they work. As a verb you can cowork with people, you can be coworking, or you may have coworked. You may even go to a designated coworking space. Also note, that this definition does not mention anything about a space or even proximity. This leaves the possibility to cowork remotely. Second Life and Yahoo! Live come to mind. When we talk about creating a coworking space, coworking community, or having a specific set of values, we're really talking about how to create an environment or community that will encourage the activity of coworking. Arguments over values, profits, business models, and furniture can neither undermine nor enhance the definition of coworking. Build a pool and I may go swimming. Is it a free pool? Do I have to pay to swim? Is the water clean? Are kids allowed in the pool? Is there a swim team that meets at this pool? Is the pool's owner honest? All of these thing may affect my decision to swim in the pool, but are ultimately a matter of taste. In this vein, the coworking movement is a movement of coworking enthusiasts. We participate in, promote, and discuss the activity of coworking. In summary, I'm proposing that coworking is NOT a cafe-like community/ collaboration space. That's like saying swimming is a pool. And arguments such as for-profit versus non-profit need not become heated. Coworking is coworking regardless of where it's at, what values people share, or how big the community is. If you're working and socializing, you're coworking. What do you think? PS. I originally wrote this on my blog:http://dustyreagan.com/redefining-coworking/ but I wanted to bring the discussion here. Dusty I gotta say that you can use the word however you want. I couldn't stop you anyhow. But If you decide you want to chill at a coworking, or start a coworking, or arrange a mutiny at a coworking, I'll know what you mean. Define it however you want, I won't be referring to your dictionary when next I hear the word. Further, you're welcome to pretend you have no idea what I mean when I say I'm trying to start a coworking. But don't tell me I'm wrong. If I was wrong, either you'd have no idea what I meant, or misinterpret my meaning. If you know what I mean refuse to acknowledge it, then that's pretty pedantic. Almost at pedantic as writing a critique on the internet wherein your subject is deemed pedantic. Almost as bad as that last sentence. Anyway: I don't care how you define things. How about we agree that if I don't know what you mean, I'll ask for an explanation nicely. http:// Joseph Holsten .com PS If I misunderstood anything, sorry. But I've abused the right to define things to great (that is, ill) effect over the years. It lets me be both formally correct and an asshat all at once. I try to stick to purely consensus definitions whenever possible now. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking
I have not read anyone's response carefully, but I would say that what I like about the discussion is that coworking as a verb attempts to get to the spirit of things. Coworking as a space is not that interesting to me. Spirit is interesting to me. Geoff, Indy Hall -- Geoff DiMasi P'unk Avenue 215 755 1330 punkave.com window.punkave.com On Jun 4, 2008, at 12:22 PM, Dusty wrote: Joseph, I'm not trying to be a poop head. I agree you can use the word however you want. No need for a vote. Just discussing semantics. :) On Jun 4, 11:05 am, Joseph Holsten [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 9:15 PM, Dusty [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everyone! After many discussions about what coworking entails (including things like non-profit vs for-profit), I've been feeling a bit like there's some confusion about what exactly coworking is. I'd like to propose that coworking is not a noun but a verb. So, coworking is not a space, a community, a set of values, a business model, or any combination of those things. It's an activity like swimming is an activity. If we look at the definition of coworking on the Coworking Wiki, we read that coworking is a cafe-like community/collaboration space for developers, writers and independents. This defines coworking as a noun and as a type of community space. Wikipedia does a bit better at defining coworking in my mind, but still places a lot of emphases on the space. From my experience with Jelly, coworking is something you are doing. For example, I'd use it in a sentence like this: Today I am coworking at Jelly. Or, I might go to Citizen Space to cowork. From this usage I'd like to propose the following definition. - Coworking is two or more individuals working independently or collaboratively who are socially interacting while they work. As a verb you can cowork with people, you can be coworking, or you may have coworked. You may even go to a designated coworking space. Also note, that this definition does not mention anything about a space or even proximity. This leaves the possibility to cowork remotely. Second Life and Yahoo! Live come to mind. When we talk about creating a coworking space, coworking community, or having a specific set of values, we're really talking about how to create an environment or community that will encourage the activity of coworking. Arguments over values, profits, business models, and furniture can neither undermine nor enhance the definition of coworking. Build a pool and I may go swimming. Is it a free pool? Do I have to pay to swim? Is the water clean? Are kids allowed in the pool? Is there a swim team that meets at this pool? Is the pool's owner honest? All of these thing may affect my decision to swim in the pool, but are ultimately a matter of taste. In this vein, the coworking movement is a movement of coworking enthusiasts. We participate in, promote, and discuss the activity of coworking. In summary, I'm proposing that coworking is NOT a cafe-like community/ collaboration space. That's like saying swimming is a pool. And arguments such as for-profit versus non-profit need not become heated. Coworking is coworking regardless of where it's at, what values people share, or how big the community is. If you're working and socializing, you're coworking. What do you think? PS. I originally wrote this on my blog:http://dustyreagan.com/redefining-coworking/ but I wanted to bring the discussion here. Dusty I gotta say that you can use the word however you want. I couldn't stop you anyhow. But If you decide you want to chill at a coworking, or start a coworking, or arrange a mutiny at a coworking, I'll know what you mean. Define it however you want, I won't be referring to your dictionary when next I hear the word. Further, you're welcome to pretend you have no idea what I mean when I say I'm trying to start a coworking. But don't tell me I'm wrong. If I was wrong, either you'd have no idea what I meant, or misinterpret my meaning. If you know what I mean refuse to acknowledge it, then that's pretty pedantic. Almost at pedantic as writing a critique on the internet wherein your subject is deemed pedantic. Almost as bad as that last sentence. Anyway: I don't care how you define things. How about we agree that if I don't know what you mean, I'll ask for an explanation nicely. http:// Joseph Holsten .com PS If I misunderstood anything, sorry. But I've abused the right to define things to great (that is, ill) effect over the years. It lets me be both formally correct and an asshat all at once. I try to stick to purely consensus definitions whenever possible now. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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
[Coworking] Re: Redefining Coworking
Oh- and my last I agree comment was at Dusty; although it seems the beauty of coworking is that everyone is adding their own take to enhance the experience and I wouldn't be surprised if Austin coworking had a slightly different feel from NYC or London coworking as a result. On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 10:15 PM, Dusty [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everyone! After many discussions about what coworking entails (including things like non-profit vs for-profit), I've been feeling a bit like there's some confusion about what exactly coworking is. I'd like to propose that coworking is not a noun but a verb. So, coworking is not a space, a community, a set of values, a business model, or any combination of those things. It's an activity like swimming is an activity. If we look at the definition of coworking on the Coworking Wiki, we read that coworking is a cafe-like community/collaboration space for developers, writers and independents. This defines coworking as a noun and as a type of community space. Wikipedia does a bit better at defining coworking in my mind, but still places a lot of emphases on the space. From my experience with Jelly, coworking is something you are doing. For example, I'd use it in a sentence like this: Today I am coworking at Jelly. Or, I might go to Citizen Space to cowork. From this usage I'd like to propose the following definition. - Coworking is two or more individuals working independently or collaboratively who are socially interacting while they work. As a verb you can cowork with people, you can be coworking, or you may have coworked. You may even go to a designated coworking space. Also note, that this definition does not mention anything about a space or even proximity. This leaves the possibility to cowork remotely. Second Life and Yahoo! Live come to mind. When we talk about creating a coworking space, coworking community, or having a specific set of values, we're really talking about how to create an environment or community that will encourage the activity of coworking. Arguments over values, profits, business models, and furniture can neither undermine nor enhance the definition of coworking. Build a pool and I may go swimming. Is it a free pool? Do I have to pay to swim? Is the water clean? Are kids allowed in the pool? Is there a swim team that meets at this pool? Is the pool's owner honest? All of these thing may affect my decision to swim in the pool, but are ultimately a matter of taste. In this vein, the coworking movement is a movement of coworking enthusiasts. We participate in, promote, and discuss the activity of coworking. In summary, I'm proposing that coworking is NOT a cafe-like community/ collaboration space. That's like saying swimming is a pool. And arguments such as for-profit versus non-profit need not become heated. Coworking is coworking regardless of where it's at, what values people share, or how big the community is. If you're working and socializing, you're coworking. What do you think? PS. I originally wrote this on my blog: http://dustyreagan.com/redefining-coworking/ but I wanted to bring the discussion here. Dusty --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking
This thread is a good indication that we are all participating in an innovative, evolving concept. It's wonderful to see everyone so passionate. Up till now I haven't thought explicitly about what constitutes the coworking movement. My experience has been focused on the nuts and bolts of establishing a collaborative coworking space that does, indeed, have two people on the lease and a steering committee making key decisions. I have been involved in a number of social movements. (I have to say disability has never had the almost immediate media attention that coworking has.) Here's a few things I've learned. Discussing and arguing semantics illustrates the vibrancy of an emerging movement. The words we use helps to define the new vision we’re seeking. It’s important to remember that we all want essentially the same thing. Exactly how achieve that is the discussion. Remembering we all want the same thing means we have to listen to what others are saying and be respectful of them and their opinions. Sometimes that’s hard because of our passion and fear that this wonderful thing might slip away. All that being said, four years ago I read about the then 9 year old San Francisco Writers’ Grotto. I knew I desperately needed to work in a space like the Grotto, where there were other like-minded people and I didn’t have to give up my self-employment. Then, when I googled coworking last September I saw how I could help create a coworking space here in Sonoma County. I became part of a supportive community that reflects the values of coworking. From the beginning coworking for me has been the space. I’ve worked in collegial offices and while they might have many of the benefits of coworking I didn’t have the freedom I do now as a consultant. I’ve participated in online communities that provide the support of coworking, but it’s not the same as face to face. Our original core group looked at different coworking spaces. We talked about what kind of building we should rent. It was, for us the coworking space that made it real and satisfied our needs. For me coworking is a space that incorporates key values. Anthony http://www.SoCoDepot.com --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking - WHY?
Hear, hear, Patrick. I think the definition of working + being social is FAR too generic to define coworking. I don't really care if it's a noun, verb, or an adjective -- Geoff said it best, that the *spirit* of coworking is what's unique and has ultimately drawn us all to this concept and movement. Coworking is a movement that has taken several forms -- and I've made my qualms with some of those forms public. But as long as you are fostering and preaching the core values (collaboration, openness, community, accessibility, sustainability), I don't care how, where, or why you are doing it. And on that note -- we should probably put those core values on the main page of the wiki. Tara summed them up nicely for the Citizen Space web site here: http://citizenspace.us/about/our-philosophy/ I removed most of Patrick's email, and left the two paragraphs that really get to the heart of it for me... Hillary [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Jelly and Cream Cheese, not being location based were making the act of coworking be the community event. The secret sauce is/was the act of going there together and working and more. When you have a space, you can hold other events, foster community in more ways. Whatever the model the fact remains that we are doing more than just working and randomly talking with people who are there. I think making it a verb and trying to make it individuals working and interacting is reductive, it takes away from what a coworking space wants to / should be building; a group, a community. Working next to someone and socialising is being a normal human with human contact needs. Working together and building something more together is coworking. The place can be a permanent physical place, it can be a place the group swarms to but the ulterior motives are more than just socializing because you happen to be next to each other. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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: Redefining Coworking
I'm wondering why there is a need to redefine it. It seems to be doing pretty well as it is. Plus, it has a great deal to do with the vision of a small group of people (including myself) who had a very specific type of space in mind. There have been shared office spaces and coffee shops for a long time. Coworking is very different. That being said, it is BOTH a verb and a noun. The noun describes something rooted in this movement and in a very strong philosophy and is what has driven a great deal of growth where it wasn't before. It IS a starfish organization. But then again, I may be too attached to it. Tara On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 7:15 PM, Dusty [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everyone! After many discussions about what coworking entails (including things like non-profit vs for-profit), I've been feeling a bit like there's some confusion about what exactly coworking is. I'd like to propose that coworking is not a noun but a verb. So, coworking is not a space, a community, a set of values, a business model, or any combination of those things. It's an activity like swimming is an activity. If we look at the definition of coworking on the Coworking Wiki, we read that coworking is a cafe-like community/collaboration space for developers, writers and independents. This defines coworking as a noun and as a type of community space. Wikipedia does a bit better at defining coworking in my mind, but still places a lot of emphases on the space. From my experience with Jelly, coworking is something you are doing. For example, I'd use it in a sentence like this: Today I am coworking at Jelly. Or, I might go to Citizen Space to cowork. From this usage I'd like to propose the following definition. - Coworking is two or more individuals working independently or collaboratively who are socially interacting while they work. As a verb you can cowork with people, you can be coworking, or you may have coworked. You may even go to a designated coworking space. Also note, that this definition does not mention anything about a space or even proximity. This leaves the possibility to cowork remotely. Second Life and Yahoo! Live come to mind. When we talk about creating a coworking space, coworking community, or having a specific set of values, we're really talking about how to create an environment or community that will encourage the activity of coworking. Arguments over values, profits, business models, and furniture can neither undermine nor enhance the definition of coworking. Build a pool and I may go swimming. Is it a free pool? Do I have to pay to swim? Is the water clean? Are kids allowed in the pool? Is there a swim team that meets at this pool? Is the pool's owner honest? All of these thing may affect my decision to swim in the pool, but are ultimately a matter of taste. In this vein, the coworking movement is a movement of coworking enthusiasts. We participate in, promote, and discuss the activity of coworking. In summary, I'm proposing that coworking is NOT a cafe-like community/ collaboration space. That's like saying swimming is a pool. And arguments such as for-profit versus non-profit need not become heated. Coworking is coworking regardless of where it's at, what values people share, or how big the community is. If you're working and socializing, you're coworking. What do you think? PS. I originally wrote this on my blog: http://dustyreagan.com/redefining-coworking/ but I wanted to bring the discussion here. Dusty -- 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: Redefining Coworking
At Bucketworks we have the physical location which is an old lighting store, but the idea and motion of the space is very different. We are a health club for the brain and a co-working space. We want to facilitate people makeing and doing what they are passionate about. So Bucketworks.org is a website and location, but the people and their work is pure verb. -KeVroN On Jun 3, 2008, at 9:56 PM, Tara Hunt wrote: I'm wondering why there is a need to redefine it. It seems to be doing pretty well as it is. Plus, it has a great deal to do with the vision of a small group of people (including myself) who had a very specific type of space in mind. There have been shared office spaces and coffee shops for a long time. Coworking is very different. That being said, it is BOTH a verb and a noun. The noun describes something rooted in this movement and in a very strong philosophy and is what has driven a great deal of growth where it wasn't before. It IS a starfish organization. But then again, I may be too attached to it. Tara On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 7:15 PM, Dusty [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi everyone! After many discussions about what coworking entails (including things like non-profit vs for-profit), I've been feeling a bit like there's some confusion about what exactly coworking is. I'd like to propose that coworking is not a noun but a verb. So, coworking is not a space, a community, a set of values, a business model, or any combination of those things. It's an activity like swimming is an activity. If we look at the definition of coworking on the Coworking Wiki, we read that coworking is a cafe-like community/collaboration space for developers, writers and independents. This defines coworking as a noun and as a type of community space. Wikipedia does a bit better at defining coworking in my mind, but still places a lot of emphases on the space. From my experience with Jelly, coworking is something you are doing. For example, I'd use it in a sentence like this: Today I am coworking at Jelly. Or, I might go to Citizen Space to cowork. From this usage I'd like to propose the following definition. - Coworking is two or more individuals working independently or collaboratively who are socially interacting while they work. As a verb you can cowork with people, you can be coworking, or you may have coworked. You may even go to a designated coworking space. Also note, that this definition does not mention anything about a space or even proximity. This leaves the possibility to cowork remotely. Second Life and Yahoo! Live come to mind. When we talk about creating a coworking space, coworking community, or having a specific set of values, we're really talking about how to create an environment or community that will encourage the activity of coworking. Arguments over values, profits, business models, and furniture can neither undermine nor enhance the definition of coworking. Build a pool and I may go swimming. Is it a free pool? Do I have to pay to swim? Is the water clean? Are kids allowed in the pool? Is there a swim team that meets at this pool? Is the pool's owner honest? All of these thing may affect my decision to swim in the pool, but are ultimately a matter of taste. In this vein, the coworking movement is a movement of coworking enthusiasts. We participate in, promote, and discuss the activity of coworking. In summary, I'm proposing that coworking is NOT a cafe-like community/ collaboration space. That's like saying swimming is a pool. And arguments such as for-profit versus non-profit need not become heated. Coworking is coworking regardless of where it's at, what values people share, or how big the community is. If you're working and socializing, you're coworking. What do you think? PS. I originally wrote this on my blog: http://dustyreagan.com/redefining-coworking/ but I wanted to bring the discussion here. Dusty -- 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: Redefining Coworking
I think you are making a lot of sense. Geoff, Indy Hall -- Geoff DiMasi P'unk Avenue 215 755 1330 punkave.com window.punkave.com On Jun 3, 2008, at 10:15 PM, Dusty wrote: Hi everyone! After many discussions about what coworking entails (including things like non-profit vs for-profit), I've been feeling a bit like there's some confusion about what exactly coworking is. I'd like to propose that coworking is not a noun but a verb. So, coworking is not a space, a community, a set of values, a business model, or any combination of those things. It's an activity like swimming is an activity. If we look at the definition of coworking on the Coworking Wiki, we read that “coworking is a cafe-like community/collaboration space for developers, writers and independents.” This defines coworking as a noun and as a type of community space. Wikipedia does a bit better at defining coworking in my mind, but still places a lot of emphases on “the space.” From my experience with Jelly, coworking is something you are doing. For example, I’d use it in a sentence like this: “Today I am coworking at Jelly.” Or, “I might go to Citizen Space to cowork.” From this usage I’d like to propose the following definition. - Coworking is two or more individuals working independently or collaboratively who are socially interacting while they work. As a verb you can cowork with people, you can be coworking, or you may have coworked. You may even go to a designated coworking space. Also note, that this definition does not mention anything about a space or even proximity. This leaves the possibility to cowork remotely. Second Life and Yahoo! Live come to mind. When we talk about creating a “coworking space,” “coworking community,” or having a specific set of values, we’re really talking about how to create an environment or community that will encourage the activity of coworking. Arguments over values, profits, business models, and furniture can neither undermine nor enhance the definition of coworking. Build a pool and I may go swimming. Is it a free pool? Do I have to pay to swim? Is the water clean? Are kids allowed in the pool? Is there a swim team that meets at this pool? Is the pool’s owner honest? All of these thing may affect my decision to swim in the pool, but are ultimately a matter of taste. In this vein, the coworking movement is a movement of coworking enthusiasts. We participate in, promote, and discuss the activity of coworking. In summary, I'm proposing that coworking is NOT a cafe-like community/ collaboration space. That’s like saying swimming is a pool. And arguments such as for-profit versus non-profit need not become heated. Coworking is coworking regardless of where it’s at, what values people share, or how big the community is. If you’re working and socializing, you’re coworking. What do you think? PS. I originally wrote this on my blog: http://dustyreagan.com/redefining-coworking/ but I wanted to bring the discussion here. Dusty --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ 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 -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
