Spring Forward! New Technologies For The Modern Entrepreneur
March 12th, 2012
In honor of Daylight Savings (yeah, that might why your day feels a little off) Cohere members are springing forward in time–and chiming in on futuristic inventions that would help them at work. Take a look at these clever ideas—this office is brimming with creativity!
Hologram Meetings
Many independent professionals have clients and customers all over the country (or world). In-person meetings are the best way to gauge a client’s character because so much is communicated without words. Skype is an improvement over the regular phone call, but it’s still not as good as the real thing. That’s why we want holographic screens already. Then we can interface with our computer by simply gesturing with our hands at a holographic image. We’ll never misunderstand someone’s tone again. Win.
IT-Person-In-A-Sack
Computer glitches, bugs, freezes, and crashes are the bane of our mobile, online existence. We want a single USB device that can be plugged in without installing a driver, then diagnose and fix our laptop’s ailment. No warranty needed.
Transportation Tubes
We like working in different places with different people. We like going to conferences and meetups, and festivals that allows us to make new connections and learn new things. But long distance travel is for the birds, and flying is a drag. We want pneumatic tubes that will allow us to travel in a fraction of the time, all while playing relaxing music. C’mon, we’ve all seen Futurama–we know the technology exists! (We will also accept the transporter beam from Star Trek).
The Holo-Desk
Speaking of Star Trek…coworkers are fine with working at a different desk everyday, but sometimes we just wish that desk was in Paris, or the beach, or in a peaceful meadow. Instead of the Holodeck, we want a desk that allows us to invent our own surroundings, depending on mood and the type of work we’ve got to do. Cranking out a project while enjoying own personal paradise? Yes please :)
OK, most of these are a little silly, but hey, we can dream right? Besides the “Easy Button,” what futuristic technologies would make your life easier as a business owner or freelancer? Tell us in the comments!
Image credit: Flickr – opensourceway
Tags: Coworking, daylight savings, future, inventions, technology
Posted in Celebrations, Community, Coworking | 3 Comments »
Friday’s Featured Cohere Member: Meet Matt Rose
March 9th, 2012
Matt Rose, Web Application Developer
Owner of Composition 9
www.composition9.com
Want to double your productivity as a freelancer? Meet one of our 40-hours-per-weekers, our very own Matt Rose, owner of Composition 9—as he talks about why coworking is working extra well for him.
To say that Matt Rose has been at Cohere from day one would be an understatement. Having previously heard of the concept of coworking, Matt was on the hunt for a Fort Collins based space before Cohere ever came to be. So sure that it was exactly what he needed to make his business a success, he was one of the very first people at the front door–showing up before Cohere had even celebrated its grand opening. Today, he confirmed that he had been spot on—coworking is indeed working for him.
“I’ve seen my productivity double since coming to Cohere,” Matt said. Owner of his own web application development company, Composition 9, Matt originally started working out of his own home and like many found it more challenging than he had expected. “For me, the main (reason for working from Cohere) is getting out of the house. Structurally, life balance wise—I’ve found that it’s really good to separate home and work. Otherwise it starts to bleed together and you don’t have really clear lines of when you’re working or when you’re not—and it’s frustrating.”
Matt now spends 100% of his work time at Cohere—a balance that feels like a much better fit. In addition to noticing how much more he gets done, Matt also gives a shout out to the added “bonus” of the great community. “Working alongside others who really like what they do, and being around other people who are doing the same thing (freelancing) and enjoying it is motivating,” he says, “And also getting to bounce ideas off of people. That’s one of the things that you don’t normally get as a freelancer…is getting to bounce ideas off each other—turns out that’s really important.”
With Cohere being THE place that he calls his home office, Matt is particularly appreciative of Cohere’s new, larger Fort Collins location. The addition of several private offices off of the main shared space is ideal for Matt and others who also happen to need the flexibility of being able to duck into a private room from time to time for their work. Also mentioning the improved cozy feel, the great location in town, and the much larger conference room—Matt is happy to say that the recent move was the right move for the Cohere community.
Tags: community, Coworking, interview, member profiles
Posted in Community, Current Members, Friday's Featured Member | 6 Comments »
Leap Into Action With Smart Business Planning
February 29th, 2012
Unless it happens to be your birthday—in which case, we raise our coffee mugs to you—Leap Day is usually an uneventful happening. But it is an extra day, and anytime the universe gives us more time in which to be productive, it’s a good policy to take advantage of it.
We say, with an inspiring action word like “LEAP” in the title, why not make it an every-four-year prompt to take action? As freelancers and entrepreneurs, we’re all challenged to stick to our business growth plans—or even to make them in the first place. Here are some ideas on how to make Leap Day a day of forward momentum in your business planning initiatives.
1. Be A Business
When you’re first testing the waters of freelancing or running a side business, it’s fine to simply count the profits as an extra blessing. But if you’re interested in taking the next step, to full time freelancing or entrepreneurship, it’s important to indicate to the universe (and yourself) that you mean business. Whether this is creating your LLC or INC., or finally opening a separate business bank account, it’s time to do what’s necessary to make it official.
2. Create A Brand
Once you business is official, it’s time to introduce yourself to the world. They need to get to know your personality, your strengths, your expertise. They need to trust that you can get the job done, on time, for the right price. In order to properly convey these characteristics to your audience, you need a brand. Maybe it’s finally creating a logo, or switching your site URL from “iamanexpert.blogspot.com” to a bonafide web address. Maybe it’s finally making a list of your ideal project, client, and pay rate, and then finding out a way to get there. Yes, maybe it’s finally setting up professional profiles on the most popular social media sites. Growing a business means marketing yourself, and unless you have a brand, your message will be muddled.
3. Have A Contract
This could probably have been lumped under point #1, but it’s so important, it needed to be stated all by itself. The comprehensive contract is the freelancers’ first (and sometimes only) line of defense against crappy clients or slacker sub-contractors. Use one, every time. If you’re not sure how to make one that covers all the bases, ask around to some of the more experienced freelancers at Cohere. You can also take advantage of this handy contract creator tool over at Freelancers Union.
4. Track Your Time (Accurately)
It took you days (maybe weeks) to settle on an hourly rate that would keep you away from Ramen noodles while accurately reflecting your experience and portfolio. But all that agony does you know good if you’re always guesstimating hours when it comes time to draw up the invoice. Talk to member Matt Rose about the time tracking software he created for himself, or check out these six cool tools for tracking your time (some are free!).
5. Delegate/Collaborate
If this isn’t your first time around the calendar as a business owner, you’ve managed to stay in the black most of the time. That means soon (if not already) you’ll find yourself with more work on your plate than you can handle. Don’t fret–just look around you. Cohere is a honey pot of other independent professionals looking to pick up work or collaborate on projects. If a client is demanding work that you just don’t have time for right now, ask around to see if anyone’s interested in subcontracting for you. If this high demand is an every day occurrence, you might talk to some of the other members about how to go about hiring an intern to whom you could delegate some less-than-essential tasks.
These are only a few ideas of how to use Leap Day as a chance to get more organized for the year ahead. Got some more? Share them in the comments!
Image Credit: Flickr – dnorman
Tags: business planning, entrepreneurs, extra time, freelance, leap day, leap year, productivity
Posted in Advice/Tips, Coworking, entrepreneurship | 11 Comments »
It’s Fat Tuesday! Cohere Celebrates Mardi Gras In Style
February 21st, 2012
Today is Fat Tuesday, and those who were lucky enough to be at Cohere today were treated to some Mardi Gras treats!
Member Jennifer Davey brought in a King Cake–crazy sweet danish thing that people in New Orleans eat to celebrate Fat Tuesday–so that everyone could have their dose of sugar for the day. Here’s a little background in case you’ve never heard of this tradition:
“The King Cake tradition came to New Orleans with the first French settlers and has stayed ever since. Like the rest of Mardi Gras during those early days, the king cake was a part of the family’s celebration, and really didn’t take on a public role until after the Civil War. In 1870, the Twelfth Night Revelers held their ball, with a large king cake as the main attraction. Instead of choosing a sacred king to be sacrificed, the TNR used the bean in the cake to choose the queen of the ball. This tradition has carried on to this day, although the TNR now use a wooden replica of a large king cake. The ladies of the court pull open little drawers in the cake’s lower layer which contain the silver and gold beans. Silver means you’re on the court; gold is for the queen.
“”With the TNR making a big deal over the king cake in the society circles, others in the city started having king cake parties. These parties particularly among children, became very popular and have also continued to today. The focus of today’s king cake party for kids has shifted more to the school classroom than the home, however. Up through the 1950s, neighborhoods would have parties. One family would start the ball rolling after Twelfth Night, and they’d continue on weekends through Carnival. Whoever got the baby (the coin or bean had changed to a ceramic or porcelain baby about an inch long by then) in the king cake was to hold the next party.”
Be sure to stop by Cohere this week to find out who earned the privilege of supplying next year’s King Cake!
Source: GumboPages.com
Tags: celebrations, Cohere, holiday, Mardi Gras, members
Posted in Celebrations, Current Members | 1 Comment »
Valentine’s Day Giveaway: Here Are The Winners!
February 14th, 2012
Happy Valentine’s Day! We’re sweet on coworking, and we thought you might be too.
We had so much fun with our Valentine’s Day giveaway! Congratulations to Alice Ashmore, Vicki Wilson Conley and Suz for winning a free three-day pass to Cohere!
We look forward to seeing you around the “office” for some coworking, collaboration, and fun.
Image Credit: Flickr – butterflysha
Tags: Cohere, contest, Coworking, day pass, love, promotion, sharing, valentine's day
Posted in Coworking, Promotions | 2 Comments »
Friday’s Featured Cohere Member: Meet Ellen Bryant
February 10th, 2012
WHY work at Cohere? Meet one of our members, the marvelously talented Ellen Bryant, owner of Ellen Bryant Design—as she reflects on her personal WHY.
Ellen Bryant, Graphic Designer
Owner of Ellen Bryant Design
www.ellenbryantdesign.com
A little over a year ago, Ellen had one of those fork-in-the-road type of moments in her career. As a freelancer and business owner operating her design studio out of her house, it was suddenly clear to her that she couldn’t sit around waiting for business to come to her—she needed to leave the confines of her home office and get out there and meet people. She gave traditional networking a fair shake, attending groups and passing out business cards, but didn’t feel like it was working for her—it was uncomfortable and didn’t seem to be producing the results she was after. She came across Cohere, purely by chance, on Facebook. Admitting happily that she slightly stalked this bustling community—she started following Cohere’s blog, checking in on their Facebook dialogue, and checking out their website. It didn’t take long for her to recognize that this might be the perfect fit.
“This was a group of people that I could see myself not only doing business with, but also wanting to spend time with. They were funny and seemed to always be having a good time, but were also clearly professionals. It was obvious right away that they were great enough at what they each do to be successful at freelancing.” She decided, “I could really use these type of people in my life as friends and co-workers.”
After a brief trial run, Ellen was hooked. “I love the collaborative energy—when someone is stuck on something they throw it out and get tons of great feedback. There is a very strong sense of community—and it makes a huge difference when you go from working in vacuum to having a professional community.”
From a business angle, working at Cohere has done more to boost her bottom line than anything else she’s ever tried. “It’s definitely changed my personal revenue stream,” she says, “Because of the collaborative nature—you’re pulling together professionals from different fields who are able to refer business to each other, work together on projects, and connect with new clients. This has made a huge impact—I’ve worked directly with Cohere members, and with businesses that they’ve then referred me to, who have then referred me to still other businesses. I told Angel I call it ‘six degrees of Cohere’. Steady clients have come out of it.”
Other perks of working at Cohere? Ellen says that although she still works from home on certain days, the break in her week is a welcome refresher—a change of pace and scenery. She mentions the improvements in the quality of her work and credits challenging herself more when she’s surrounded by others that she admires and respects—knowing that she’ll look to them for input on her projects, and striving to show them her best work.
When asked what she believes she lends to the Cohere workspace, Ellen reflected, “I think just being a collaborative team member. The biggest thing that we ALL bring to each other is a sense of humor and community, and support to each other’s professional goals.”
Tags: community, Coworking, interview, member profiles
Posted in Community, Coworking, Current Members | 4 Comments »
Home Is Where The Cohere Community Is: Check Out Our New Place!
February 8th, 2012
Our collaboration-loving crew has taken up a new residence–Cohere is now located HERE: 418 South Howes Street, Fort Collins, Colo. 80521.
Check out our new digs!
We asked around the office, and here’s what the Cohere crew had to say about why the new space and creative community feels like “home”:
“The new location is the perfect distance from anything I could want to walk to: campus, old town, the bank, and numerous restaurants.” -Hannah
“The new space is much more open, great amenities and the kitchen is an incredible upgrade.” – Jerry
“As a college student with a busy schedule its incredibly helpful to have a reliable work space in close proximity to campus. I love space, the resources, and the environment.” – Andrea
“I feel the active energy of the new location, even though I’m hundreds of miles away :)” -Ashok
“The natural light, and house-like layout of this new space provides a really comfortable working environment even though it has all the professional amenities I need, like a conference room and places to take phone calls. Love it!” -Beth
If you’ve been looking for a way out of your home office or the coffee shop, coworking with us at Cohere could be the solution. Don’t forget to sign up for our free day pass and give it a no-risk try!
Tags: Cohere, community, day pass, new location, new members
Posted in Community, Current Members | 5 Comments »
Best of Cohere: Why A Coworking Space Is Important To The Local Economy
February 8th, 2012
There are some who still view coworking as a a quirky niche instead of the future of work. That might be hard for those of us who love coworking to believe, but important for us to remember as we try to grow our communities.
While it’s true that coworking isn’t for everyone, and certainly doesn’t work for every industry (we still need grocery stores and plumbers), coworking can serve as both a model and a hub for creating better communities at large.
Most people can imagine what shared office space looks like. It’s harder to understand the larger economic benefits of participating in such a space until you experience it first hand.
If you’re on the fence about joining a coworking space, here are some big picture positive impacts to think about.
Coworking Keeps Stellar Talent In Town
Coworking spaces are “office buildings” for those who had the talent (and balls) to create their own job in a crappy economy. Without coworking, many in mid-sized urban areas like Fort Collins would have to commute or move their families to bigger cities with more opportunities. Coworking helps them stay in town, preserving their money, talent, and enthusiasm for use in the local economy.
Coworking Supports Small Business
Don’t let the mega-corps fool you: they are not job creators. They employ people only because it’s necessary for the creation and dissemination of their products and services, not because they want to revitalize a town. Small to mid-sized businesses are the lifeblood of a local economy. They live and work and shop locally, and give a crap about the personal lives of their employees.
Shocking fact: 95% of coworking desks are occupied by a small business. (Ok I made that stat up, but you get the picture — most). It might be a freelance writer who just formed her LLC or couple of buddies who decided to create their own design company. Either way, these businesses are driving down unemployment rates at a time when multi-billion dollar companies are still laying people off. Joining a coworking space means these tiny businesses will have a safe place to grow and learn from more experienced members. When’s the last time you saw Wal-Mart swapping trade secrets with the new family-owned retailer?
Coworking Creates A Network For Collaborative Consumption
The quest for bigger, better, faster has crippled our economy. People are tired of keeping up with the Jones’ and just want to keep their families fed. Collaborative consumption means reusing, growing, renting, bartering and making instead of buying. But the sharing economy demands a network of friendly, trustworthy people to make it work. Like the people who work right next to you in a coworking space.
Yes, coworking allows you to share your professional expertise and network with other successful freelancers. But you could do that at a once a month meetup. What makes coworking unique is the sharing that takes place on a personal level–be it a potluck meal or vegetable seeds or a ride to a conference in Denver.
When a community is connected and open to sharing, people save money, learn new skills, and reduce their impact on the environment. New ideas emerge, problems are solved in creative ways, and the community at large reaps all the rewards of a happy independent workforce.
What other “trickle-down” benefits have you seen in the coworking community? Share your experience in a comment!
And if you’ve got friends who are still unsure that coworking is worth the monthly investment, share your experience (and this article) with them as well!
Image Credit: Flickr – mdanys
Tags: benefits, community, Coworking, freelance, local economy, small business
Posted in Benefits of Coworking, Community, Coworking, entrepreneurship | 74 Comments »
We Love It (Co)Here! Win A Free 3-Day Pass To Try Coworking
February 7th, 2012
It’s February, and that means Valentine’s Day is on it’s way! No, I won’t go on a rant about the silliness of this Hallmark holiday, instead, let’s focus on the spirits of the season–love and affection. I feel a lot of that for each and every one of the marvelous mobile professionals that call Cohere home!
If you’ve been meaning to give Cohere a try, but haven’t had time, energy, or just keep forgetting, we love you too…and we want you to come experience the myriad of benefits coworking will add to your life! We’ve got a great new building and lots of talented freelancers for you to rub shoulders with.
Because we think this place is pretty neat—the first three people that comment on this post will get a free 3-day pass to try it out for themselves. Sweet, huh? (Does not apply to current members—offer valid through Feb. 13).
Comments can be as simple as “I really want to win!” or you can tell us your entire freelancing life story. We like stories.
Current members, please tweet and post this to Facebook so your self-employed friends and neighbors will have an opportunity to win!
Image Credit: Flickr – WordRidden
Tags: Cohere, contest, Coworking, day pass, love, promotion, sharing, valentine's day
Posted in Community, Coworking, Promotions | 8 Comments »
The Cohere Quick-Start Guide For New Coworkers
January 30th, 2012
Cohere is preparing for it’s official launch at the new location, 418 Howes, in downtown Fort Collins. We soft launched last week, and since then, members new and old have stopped by to check out the hot pink desks, expanded kitchen and lunching area, and general good vibes that the new building has to offer.
The official grand re-opening of Cohere is February 1, so if you’ve been thinking about requesting a free day pass to check out the world of coworking for the first time, that would be a good day to do it!
To some the concept of a shared workspace might seem bizarre, and to others it comes naturally. It’s true that working in close proximity with other mobile professionals might take some getting used to in the beginning. It’s also important to note that what makes coworking at Cohere so special isn’t the location (or color) of the desks, but the talented freelancers and small business owners that will inhabit them on a daily basis.
In the spirit of welcoming you along on this coworking adventure, I’ve rounded up a few classic posts that examine the best ways to acclimate to and participate in our community. (It will also demonstrate in a nutshell why you should always read the weekly Cohere blog post). As always, please don’t hesitate to ask a Cohere staff member or veteran member if you’ve got questions about anything!
There are some universal attributes that apply to coworking in any setting, whether it’s a massive space in New York City or a tiny community in rural Virginia. The importance of community engagement and participation is one of these universal truths. Basically, the more you put in to your coworking experience, the more you’re going to get out of it. Period. This post includes quotes from current Cohere members about “getting what you give.”
How To Avoid Fragmentation In The Presence Of Private Offices
Private offices are a new feature of the new Cohere. In the past, everyone always worked in the same room. Without conscious effort from both office-dwellers and flex desk-sitters, there’s a risk our community could become fragmented. Isolation is bad for both groups and defeats the purpose of coworking. This post contains a quick list of reminders that I hope will help us maintain the level of communication and collaboration we’ve enjoyed in the past.
How To Collaborate With Other Freelancers
With the proper preparation and foresight, collaborating with fellow coworking members can reduce stress, improve the quality of your product, and enrich your life as a community member. This post points out some things to keep in mind when looking for a collaborator.
Sharing Your Work And (Co)Working To Share
The coworking movement is becoming huge, but it’s only one part of something even bigger–something we’ve talked about before called “collaborative consumption.” Learn more in this post.
Why Failure Is The Best Part Of Coworking
A community where everyone keeps their failures to themselves is shallow and uninteresting. It’s way more fun to be real. Life as an independent is messy and complex, and all we’ve got is each other! Here at Cohere, we want to see the roughest draft, hear the first/worst idea, and feel the pain of the client you knew you shouldn’t take. This posts explains why you should always show’n'tell us about your hot mess.
Why A Coworking Space Is Important To The Local Economy
Most people can imagine what shared office space looks like. It’s harder to understand the larger economic benefits of participating in such a space until you experience it first hand. If you’re on the fence about joining a coworking space (or just recently joined!), this post lists some big picture positive impacts to think about.
Is there an ancient Cohere blog post that really made your day? Share the link or title in the comments below!
Tags: Cohere, community, Coworking, new members, new space, participate, tips
Posted in Advice/Tips, Community, Coworking, Current Members | 14 Comments »