We’re Growing! AKA How To Be Nice To A Coworking Newb
May 15th, 2012
As you may or may not have noticed, there are some unfamiliar faces around Cohere Coworking Community these days (and we’re not just talking about Eva, although hers is arguably the cutest).
Please join me in welcoming….
Madison Crowley, Social media specialist
Chris Lenfert, Freelance designer
Derek Haynes, Co-founder at Scout Monitoring
Dani Grant, serial entrepreneur
Lauren Garrison, independent contractor at Cognitive Change Concepts
Lee Porter, Founder of Innovation News
All of these new members are great because it means the message of coworking is reaching a greater number of the Northern Colorado entrepreneurs who need to hear it. It also means that we’ve got work to do.
The main benefit of coworking is the community and camaraderie it provides. In traditional work environments, this community forms around water cooler chatter or mutual hatred for the TPS Report. As a coworking space, most of us love what we do, so we form connections based on skill sets, or hobbies, or caffeine addiction levels.
Many of us are seasoned veterans of the coworking scene, and it’s easy to forget what it was like to be newb (more on that in a future post). Before you can drink the kool-aid, someone has to invite you to the compound. And in order for new members to have their “aha” moment and become firmly rooted in our community, we’ve got to show them how awesome it is to be here.
Of course, we can’t make people love us. But we can make it hard for them not to. Tomorrow (or the next time you’re here) try a few of these (newbs, this goes for you too!):
1. Sit at a completely different desk than you usually do.
2. If someone comes in that you’ve never seen before, take out your earbuds and introduce yourself.
3. Come to Uncles Pizzeria next Monday, and find out what the heck colunching is.
4. Ask the person next to you what their ideal project would be.
5. Bring donuts (this will automatically make you VIP for the day)
Most of all, just be your awesome, creative selves and never become so buried in your work that you can’t flash someone a smile. Sometimes that’s all that’s necessary to go from feeling like an outsider to a cool kid!
Image via Alan O’Rourke/Flickr
Tags: community, connections, Coworking, growth, new members
Posted in Advice/Tips, Community, Coworking | 3 Comments »
Friday’s Featured Cohere Member: Meet Derek Haynes
May 4th, 2012
Meet Derek Haynes, Web Developer
Co-founder of Scout
When Derek Haynes uprooted his life in San Francisco and made the trek to “the Fort” (as he lovingly calls it), one of the first things in his cross-hairs was a coworking office. Luckily, he found Cohere, which he says far exceeded his big-city expectations with its strong community, central location, comfortable space, amenities and the dedication and involvement of Cohere’s founder, Angel. He signed up for a membership after his first day checking the place out and can’t imagine working from anywhere else.
“When you’re working for yourself, you’re often doing it because you love the challenge of working on many different things. Everyday I meet someone at Cohere that’s better than me at many of things I do and it’s great to see how they do it,” Derek explained. Derek’s co-workers surely have a lot to learn from him as well – he is the co-founder of Scout, a performance monitoring service that companies like Zynga, The New York Times and Skype love to use. Being surrounded by local talent in diverse fields not only inspires and pushes Derek in his own professional work, but allows him to enjoy encounters that make life special, such as meeting new people, getting coffee with friends and giving and receiving advice. Derek adds, “Working for yourself or remotely for a large company from home can be very isolating. You lose out on a lot of those impromptu things. Cohere makes it easier to experience these moments. It makes me a happier person, which is great all-around.”
Living and working “the good life” is important to Derek and his typical day at Cohere reflects that, starting with a morning bike ride to Cohere, putting his nose to the grindstone for a good chunk of the day and then off to Old Town for lunch – perhaps stopping at 415, a foodie hot-spot behind Cohere that is quickly becoming popular with fellow Coherians.
“Cohere is a terrific melting pot – because it’s a shared space, it attracts people that really want to help and learn from each other. As a new father, it’s incredible to watch our daughter soak up things around her without any direct instruction. The same thing happens at Cohere with the great people that work from there,” Derek explained. How Cohere’s coworking osmosis phenomena works, no one really knows, but Derek knows for sure that Cohere adds to his happiness and success – both personally and professionally.
Tags: blogger, Cohere, Coworking, Featured Member, web developer
Posted in Coworking, Current Members, Friday's Featured Member | 1 Comment »
3 Reasons To Grow Your Small Business In A Coworking Space
May 2nd, 2012
Are you the next big thing? Has your fledgling company just taken on its first two employees because business is pouring in faster than you can handle it? Right now you’re working around the kitchen table (like those guys up there) but between kids, spouses, and a menagerie of pets, it’s becoming impossible to get anything done.
Or perhaps you’re a seasoned entrepreneur who knows the wisdom of taking it slow, but you lack a network of talented designers and marketers that can help ease your workload. You’ve got the capital for your own office space, but often find yourself meeting clients at coffee shops or working at the library, because you can’t stand the isolation.
I know, I know. You’ve heard your freelance friends talking about how much they love coworking, but you don’t think it’s for you. You’re not just taking on contract work. You’re building a business. You’ve got proprietary information to protect, and need space for meetings with your 2, 3, or 6 member team.
Coworking is still for you.
According to the hundreds of international coworkers who responded to the 2010/11 Global Coworking Survey…
The following things are important to entrepreneurs and likely, your employees.
86% value flexible work times and the ability to interact with new people
82% value sharing knowledge with others
79% place high value on the random opportunities and discoveries made inside coworking spaces
What benefits can you expect your employees to experience?
85% saw an increase in daily motivation
88% have better interactions with other people
60% organize their working day better so they can relax more at home
86% reported meeting at least 3 helpful acquaintances in the first two months of membership
91% of coworkers are either very satisfied or satisfied with their overall coworking experience
85% plan on staying in their coworking community for at least another year
(OK that’s way more than three reasons…)
Coworking with us at Cohere will unleash the true potential of your employees, and as a result, your company. Instead of limiting your pool of ideas or subcontractors in a tiny office (or kitchen), coworking incubates your business through instant connections to a city-wide network of motivated independent professionals.
In a coworking space, asking for advice, feedback, or parsing out contract work is as hard as turning around in your chair. (The people who can do these things are sitting right next to you, see?) Also, it will give your employees a change of scenery, and a chance to learn from the seasoned designers, marketers, writers, and programmers who work with us every day.
Learn more about the benefits of coworking for small business here, or send us an email about what you’re budget can handle. We’ll work something out.
Image via cyberhill/Flickr
Tags: benefits of coworking, Coworking, grow your business, small business
Posted in Benefits of Coworking, Coworking | 27 Comments »
Saving The Planet: Yet Another Good Reason To Try Coworking
April 23rd, 2012
Going green is more than a passing trend—it’s just smart business. Cohere is committed to being as environmentally conscious as we can in our 1,600-square-feet of Earth space, and there are lots of ways that coworking can help your small business reduce its own carbon footprint as well.
Coworking with us instead of making the daily commute into the office can save you (and your company) a bundle of money, fuel, and carbon emissions. If you haven’t yet found a compelling way to convince your boss to let you try coworking, this infographic might help:
Thanks to WordStream.com for letting us use this graphic!
Image via zoovroo/Flickr
Tags: carbon footprint, commute, Coworking, go green, small business, sustainability, telecommuting
Posted in Advice/Tips, Benefits of Coworking, Coworking | 11 Comments »
5 Easy Ways To Be An Eco-Friendly Entrepreneur
April 18th, 2012
Earth Day is almost here! This holiday has brought out the green in people since the 1970′s, but one day isn’t enough. The environment is affected most by the little choices we make every day. Planting a tree or recycling more are nice initiatives, but incorporating sustainable practices into our daily and business operations has an even greater impact.
As entrepreneurs we’re very busy, and time is money. You may think that your business is too small to bother about being green, but earth-friendly choices are actually good for the pocket book as well. And getting involved with local green initiatives can be a great way to build a positive reputation and valuable contacts in the community.
5 Easy Ways To Be An Eco-Friendly Entrepreneur
1. Go Paperless – Printer paper and ink are an unnecessary expense in this digital world. Except when it’s absolutely essential, create all documents and marketing materials in a digital form, and store them in the cloud. Send and receive virtual faxes rather than paper ones. Send your invoices via email rather than mailing them. Send digital PDF proofs instead of print outs. When you must create a hard copy of something, always print double sided.
2. Go Virtual – It’s nice to have face to face meetings, but driving or flying is expensive and leaves a huge carbon footprint. Thanks to free technologies like Skype or Google+ Hangouts, it’s possible to see and be seen by out of town clients without the hassle of traveling.
3. Go Gasless – Since most of us have local clients, it’s not always smart to avoid face to face meetings. But there’s still no reason to get your car involved. Fort Collins is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, so why use four wheels when two will do? Not only will you save on gas, but you’ll never have to worry about finding a parking spot when you’re running late.
4. Go Shareably – Think before you buy, especially if it’s something that you only need for a few hours or days. Cohere creates the perfect environment for recycling things you no longer need or scoring things that would have otherwise been thrown away. Before buying that new office chair, pedal crank, or bunt pan, throw up a request on the Cohere Facebook Group (if you’re a Cohere member and have not yet been added, tell us!). Chance are, we’ve got one lying around.
5. Go Local – Being an entrepreneur has lots of benefits, not the least of which is complete control of your supply chain and the clients with whom you work. This probably goes without saying, but choosing local businesses for office supplies, catering, web hosting, graphic design, copy writing, marketing, legal advice, or happy hour is the single most important way to go green (Hint: a lot of these business owners sit right next to you!). Keeping it in town enhances the local economy, reduces carbon emissions from shipping, allows you to choose sustainable materials, and builds good karma.
Image via opensourceway/Flickr
Tags: Earth Day, entrepreneur, green, local economy, small business
Posted in Advice/Tips, Celebrations, Coworking | 28 Comments »
Friday’s Featured Cohere Member: Meet Kristin Mastre
April 13th, 2012
Kristin Mastre
Food Blogger/Restaurant Critic, Owner of Feasting Fort Collins
www.feastingfortcollins.com
Three years ago, Kristin Mastre would never have guessed that her life would look like what it does today. When she decided to casually take on the role of restaurant critic and food blogger for the local Ft. Collins area—she imagined an outlet for her creative writing and passion for nutrition—not the unexpected twist of unprecedented, straight-out-of-the-gate success and local celebrity that she actually experienced. Her writing and reviews for her site, FeastingFortCollins.com, were so well received that she went from casual hobby writer, to professional blogger within a year’s time—a true rarity in the blogosphere and entrepreneurial world. And, if you were to ask Kristin how she did it—she’d say that she’s not sure she could have done it without Cohere.
Hearing Cohere owner Angel Kwiatkowski, speak locally on the subject of coworking, Kristin immediately connected with the idea. “(The coworking) concept was amazing. Being at home with two kids, it was so appealing to me—I need to get out and talk to other adults. (My coworkers) are going to know about adult things like SEO and advertising and I can talk about something other than Playdoh and diapers.” Little did she know at the time, a break from the isolation of working from home and the perks of adult conversation would be just the beginning of all of the other incredible ways that her colleagues at Cohere would contribute to her professional life.
After just six months of blogging, Kristin was being approached by local businesses who wanted to advertise—something she knew nothing about setting up, and was quickly realizing that the technical side of running a website was beyond the scope of her expertise. And, right off the bat, her new Cohere community showed up for her. “I needed to switch blogging platforms—and there was someone there willing to help. And we’re talking—they are openly giving me help, expecting nothing in return. It’s just this unspoken understanding, when you’re part of the community—you give help and receive help. It’s been incredible to be part of this collaborative environment.”
For Kristin’s family, working in the evenings was ideal for maintaining her work/life balance, an option she has been elated to have available at Cohere. During the nighttime shift, she’s met others who are in her same situation—working odd hours to make staying at home with kids possible, or operating additional businesses on the side—connections that make her feel right at home. Other things that have made her feel at home? Realizing that these supportive work relationships had evolved beyond the confines of her work life, and that the support she receives is not only for her business—but also, genuinely, for her.
“There was a time when my husband was between jobs, and things were difficult. During one of the Thursday morning pancake breakfasts (a weekly Cohere social event), they were talking about what they all wanted out of their businesses for the coming year. I wasn’t able to make it—but (my coworkers) went out of their way to tell me that they had talked about, for me, wanting my business to be so successful that my husband wouldn’t even have to work,” a sentiment that is still incredibly moving and meaningful to her. Kristin went on, “The thing with freelancing is that it’s not only that it can be lonely—but sometimes you also really don’t feel supported. Everyone at Cohere has this unwavering, undying support. It’s not just a space to do your stuff—it’s a work family.” And that, to Kristin, means more than anything.
Tags: blogger, Cohere, Coworking, Featured Member, food critic, working mom
Posted in Current Members, Friday's Featured Member | 3 Comments »
The Morning After: Our Favorite April Fool’s Day Pranks!
April 2nd, 2012
Hands down one of the best parts of working at Cohere versus working at home is the sheer camaraderie! The community aspect has led and continues to lead to genuine friendships/work relationships—and of course—fun! Even on a Sunday, April Fool’s Day is widely celebrated in the online world. We asked Cohere members about the best internet pranks they saw yesterday.
Here’s what they had to say!
Google, as should be expected, pulled some of the best online pranks. Not only did they recreate Google Maps in a 8-bit version that made the whole world look like it was straight out of the original Mario Brothers, they also launched “Really Advanced Search.” The Next Web points out that ”Google Really Advanced Search goes beyond anything mere Advanced Search can do, bringing options like “rhyming slang for” and the “this exact word or phrase, whose sum of unicode code points is a mersenne prime.” Really Advanced Search even lets you filter by “embarrassing grammatical faux pas” and font.”
Adblock, which offers software that removes online advertising from Web browsers, launched a new feature that replaces ads with photos of felines. Waaaay more cute.
Those Coherians who remember the glorious days of the “You Are Definitely Doing It Wrong” parenting blog will appreciate this: WestJet airlines introduced Kargo Kids, a new program that requires children to fly in a “special VIP” area of the aircraft. The video is a must-watch.
Did you or a friend pull get the better of someone with a clever April Fool’s joke? Please share your antic in the comments section below.
Tags: April Fool's, camaraderie, Cohere members, community, Coworking, jokes
Posted in Celebrations, Community, Current Members | 1 Comment »
It’s “Make Up Your Own Holiday” Day!
March 28th, 2012
It’s the middle of the week. We’re all pining for the weekend (or whatever day means a day off for you). Time to have some fun!
For no good reason at all—except to keep our creative minds sharp—we asked Cohere’s members, “What holiday would you declare if you had the opportunity to do so?” National Peanut Month, Build A Scarecrow Day, and Work-a-holics Day were already taken, but here’s what our crew came up with:
“Coffee Appreciation Day! I’ve been celebrating it pretty heavily today…” -Andrea Rooney
“If I have to talk again, my vocal chords will explode” day. 9-3 webinars last week, 8-2 webinars this week. Two more days. Then I may have to use a computer to speak for me instead.” -Nick Armstrong
“National No Phone Call Day” -Angel K.
Got ideas to add to the list? Share them in a comment!
Image via shirtoid
Tags: community, day off, fun, holidays, hump day
Posted in Celebrations, Community | 4 Comments »
Spring It On! Top 5 Ways To Be More Productive
March 20th, 2012
Happy First Day of Spring! It’s a fresh, new season, and that means it’s time to de-clutter both your space and your mind so you can be more efficient throughout the workday. We took some time to compile our collective business “best practices” to work—and from our desks to yours—here’s our Top 5 Ways to Be More Productive at Work.
1. Clean Up Your Work Space: You can’t be productive when you’re surrounded by chaos. If your desk is buried in papers, books, power cords, and unread mail, you’re going to feel distracted and boxed in. Bonus: if you don’t feel like cleaning, just come work at Cohere, where the desks are always clutter free!
2. Set Manageable Goals: This probably sounds obvious, but how many of us actually begin the day with a clear strategy for productivity? Make a list of small, easy to accomplish goals that can be tackled as soon as you sit down. Don’t overwhelm yourself with large bulk tasks that you know you can’t do in a single sitting. Crossing things off the list will motivate you to do more.
3. Start A Social Media Diet: How many of you start your day by sleepily opening email and dicking around on social media until you remember something that needed to be done 10 minutes ago? Social media is fun and for many, a necessary part of marketing our businesses. But it can also be a huge time sink and distraction. Find tools that will allow you to schedule business-related social media posts throughout the day, so you can keep the tab closed for most of it. Set boundaries as to when and how much time you will spend monitoring your profiles, so productivity continues uninterrupted.
4. Track Your Time: The level of productivity you achieve is not directly proportionate with the amount of time you spend staring at your screen. The key is to be more mindful of your time and understanding your own internal work flow. Using a time tracking tool can help you understand how and when you work, so that you can make the most of your time. Check out Last5 (created by a San Francisco coworker!) a time tracking tool that improves mindfulness by managing and recording where your attention goes when you’re working on the computer. Tracking your time also makes invoicing way easier.
5. Delegate and Collaborate: News Flash – You can’t do everything. As your business grows, you’ll find yourself turning down work because there just aren’t enough hours in the day. And that blows. But why limit yourself when there’s an entire community of coworkers that can be your wingmen (and wingwomen)?! Instead of turning down that new project, think about delegating some of the tasks to a coworker who’s going through a dry spell. If the project’s scope exceeds your capabilities, think about collaborating with one or more coworkers to provide comprehensive services your client wasn’t expecting. You’ll forge new working relationships, and everyone gets a slice of the spoils. #win.
How productive have you been this week? Do you have more productivity tips to share? Go ahead and share them in the comments below!
Image via Flickr/Pink Sherbet Photography
Tags: business tips, collaboration, Coworking, productivity, Spring
Posted in Advice/Tips, Community, Coworking | 21 Comments »
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Show Your Green To Win A Free Week Of Coworking
March 16th, 2012
Is GREEN Your Color? Want to keep a little extra “green” in the bank?
We know there are more than a few of you with the luck o’ the Irish on your side. Post a picture of you proudly wearing green today on our Facebook page and we’ll enter you to win a free week at Cohere!
Tell your friends! And Members—you’re eligible to win too—so let’s see it!
Image via Flickr/nagobe
Tags: celebration, contest, Coworking, promotion, St. Patrick's Day
Posted in Celebrations, Current Members, Promotions | 2 Comments »