Regus doth protest too much, me thinks...

[Will Bennis, Locus Workspace]

Go New Work City, getting a rise out of the Man:
http://realbusiness.co.uk/news/lets-work-together

The defensive undercurrent of the article aside, however, part of me
agrees with Dixon: Coworking isn't a new invention, it's been going on
for millenia, no doubt, and in many stellar examples in ways that many
coworking spaces can only long for. Arguing that coworking didn't
begin until 2005 because that's when the word was first used to
describe a particular set of values about how to cowork seems to me to
be a bit off the mark and to focus on labels over content (especially
since there are so many self-identified coworking spaces that have not
yet achieved their lofty ideals, my own space included).

That said, Regus is clearly not one of those venues where coworking
(between independent workers or members of different organizations)
tends to happen. And if their way of "coworking" counts, then they
clearly aren't the first, since there have been business lounges since
long-before Regus was founded in 1989, I'm sure some airport or dozens
of hotel chains could make better claims to being the first. :)

[Alex Hillman]

One of my favorite interactions is when an artist visits Indy Hall and says "oh, I wish I had a place like this!" and my response is, "you do realize that we stole this idea from artists, right?"

Of course, lessons from arts communities, writing communities, and many others that have been around for centuries are baked into coworking. Steven Johnson's book "Where good ideas come from" points to the existence of unique and serendipitous "3rd places" during every period of innovation in history. Cafes, salons, and other casual gathering places weren't necessarily places of business, but became the rooted origins of many business innovations. (Got 10 mins? Watch this video version of the book for a quick redux: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NugRZGDbPFU)

Point is, of course this isn't a new idea, which makes it hilarious that anyone defends it. 

But it is a new way of executing it, led with different intents and purposes (or in some cases, less intents and purposes). 

Further, it's not just one, but many, many new ways of executing it. 

 

Well that’s just great, and I have no doubt that New Work City is a healthy development. But it’s not for everyone

It's interesting that he can say that about NWC, but not realize the same about his own company. I wonder what else is missing from his worldview that's impacting Regus' members, let alone Regus itself.

-Alex

 

/ah
indyhall.org
coworking in philadelphia

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[Alex Hillman]

Also, a had to remind myself as we consider this reaction that even within our own community there is more than one "origin story" for coworking as we know and embrace it. This was one of my major takeaways from the Coworking EU conference:

I led a Barcamp-style session at Coworking Europe called “Coworking History 101″ where I kicked off by telling the origin story that I knew, as far back and as detailed as I could go. I then suggested that others in the room tell their origin stories, knowing full well that they would be different. Even in this self-selecting group – our experiences of “when coworking began” were varied.

What was common, in some cases, was relative time period. What was common, in some cases, was the experience we had right before discovering coworking. And in some cases, specific people and times wove through our stories as if they were connected.

My point was well illustrated: there’s no single history of coworking, and just like there is no single history of Rock and Roll.

Music history does a good job of describing such histories, though and I think there’s lessons to be learned there.

Much like coworking in the last decade, “Rock and Roll” was a disruptive force in the 1950s. And like coworking being a style of work, Rock and Roll is a style of music, with endless room for invention and reinvention, for classification and interpretation.

Also like Rock and Roll, I believe that once coworking enters this collective consciousness, it’s here to stay and at the same time, will continue to evolve into countless additional genres.

Reference: http://dangerouslyawesome.com/2011/11/sex-coworking-and-rock-n-roll/ 

-Alex

/ah
indyhall.org
coworking in philadelphia

[Craig Baute - Creative Density Coworking]

Hey Alex and Will,

I often love telling people that coworking was pretty much stolen from
artist that have been sharing resources and finding inspiration from
each other for centuries. I think it is the finding inspiration and
building camaraderie in a shared space in ancient artist communes that
most resembles what coworking is about.

I recently was published on the a post on the blog.coworking.com about
this subject called Evolved: Regus to Coworking. I discussed how the
coworking movement learned some things from Regus and how technology
advancements allowed for coworking to exsits and how those changes
allowed for coworking managers to create a space that fosters a new
type of relationship between the people and space.

Craig
Creative Density

> <dangerouslyawes...@gmail.com>wrote:

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > One of my favorite interactions is when an artist visits Indy Hall and
> > says "oh, I wish I had a place like this!" and my response is, "you do
> > realize that we stole this idea from artists, right?"
>
> > Of course, lessons from arts communities, writing communities, and many
> > others that have been around for centuries are baked into coworking. Steven
> > Johnson's book "Where good ideas come from" points to the existence of
> > unique and serendipitous "3rd places" during every period of innovation in
> > history. Cafes, salons, and other casual gathering places weren't
> > necessarily places of business, but became the rooted origins of many
> > business innovations. (Got 10 mins? Watch this video version of the book
> > for a quick redux:
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NugRZGDbPFU)
>

> > Point is, of *course* this isn't a new idea, which makes it hilarious
> > that anyone defends it.
>
> > But it *is* a new way of executing it, led with different intents and

> > purposes (or in some cases, less intents and purposes).
>
> > Further, it's not just one, but many, many new ways of executing it.
>
> >> Well that’s just great, and I have no doubt that New Work City is a

> >> healthy development. *But it’s not for everyone*

[Jordan Running]

I don't know if this is new, but I thought others might be interested that Regus is advertising against "coworking" on Google search results. See attached screenshot. The ad links to this page: http://www.regus.com/zsys/ncms/en-us/landing/searchengine/default-office-coworking.aspx?keyword=Coworking

Jordan Running

Busy Coworking

Iowa City, IA

[Alex Hillman]

They've been doing that for quite a while. 

I doubt it's having a significant impact or converting well for them. People who are actively looking for Coworking generally don't find what they want at Regus. And even if they do, awesome!

--

/ah
indyhall.org
coworking in philadelphia

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Attachments:

- Screen Shot 2012-07-02 at 4.21.53 PM.png

[Matthew Arkin]

yea, I got the whole sales pitch from Regus when I was looking for some office space. "Coworking" (at least in Fort Lauderdale) = sharing a bigger office with 2 or 3 people for quite a lot of money with a contract and security deposit. 

--

[Toni Hogan]

If my memory serves me correctly, I recently saw an ad from Regus (of
similar) saying they invented coworking.

TH

On Jul 2, 4:29 pm, Jordan Running <jrunn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I don't know if this is new, but I thought others might be interested that
> Regus is advertising against "coworking" on Google search results. See
> attached screenshot. The ad links to this

> page:http://www.regus.com/zsys/ncms/en-us/landing/searchengine/default-off...

>
> Jordan Running
> Busy Coworking
> Iowa City, IA
>
> On Thursday, December 8, 2011 12:40:38 AM UTC-6, Will Bennis, Locus
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Workspace wrote:
>
> > Go New Work City, getting a rise out of the Man:
> >http://realbusiness.co.uk/news/lets-work-together
>
> > The defensive undercurrent of the article aside, however, part of me
> > agrees with Dixon: Coworking isn't a new invention, it's been going on
> > for millenia, no doubt, and in many stellar examples in ways that many
> > coworking spaces can only long for. Arguing that coworking didn't
> > begin until 2005 because that's when the word was first used to
> > describe a particular set of values about how to cowork seems to me to
> > be a bit off the mark and to focus on labels over content (especially
> > since there are so many self-identified coworking spaces that have not
> > yet achieved their lofty ideals, my own space included).
>
> > That said, Regus is clearly not one of those venues where coworking
> > (between independent workers or members of different organizations)
> > tends to happen. And if their way of "coworking" counts, then they
> > clearly aren't the first, since there have been business lounges since
> > long-before Regus was founded in 1989, I'm sure some airport or dozens
> > of hotel chains could make better claims to being the first. :)
>
>
>

>  Screen Shot 2012-07-02 at 4.21.53 PM.png

> 16KViewDownload

[Coworking Akademie]

Don't worry, Will, it's the same here in Germany.
If you search for coworking and any bigger town with Google, two business center companies - Regus and ExcellentBC - are listed as first via adwords. These companies try to fill their empty rooms using the keyword "coworking", but contracts of at least three montha are not really that kind of coworking I know. Also there is no community and no competence-network at these places, it's just sharing an office there. So don't be bothered, the customers of coworking spaces and business centers are not the same, maybe a little intersection, but not more.

Best regards,

Daniel

[Steve King]

One of the first forms of coworking may have been the chambers used by English barristers, a system that started in the 13th century and still exists today.  According to Wikipedia:

 

"Barristers are not employed in a law firm but associate fraternally with each other, sharing the burden of costs, in a set of chambers. They are legally considered to be self-employed."

Some of the guild systems also look a fair amount like coworking.  They started around the 13th century in Europe, but similar groups were common in China at least as far back as 200 BC. 

Cavemen probably coworded too.  It's human nature to work together.

[Glen Ferguson]

I actually consider myself lucky that a Regus just opened 2 miles away. A lot of that has to do with the manager; she gets the difference between our spaces. We opened 2 months ago, Regus opened 1 month ago. Even before our opening, Regus had visited ALL the local real estate offices to describe their offerings. By the time we opened, visitors would say something like "oh, you're like that Regus that's about to open" which gave me a perfect opportunity to explain how coworking was different.

The Regus manager and I talked at a business expo shortly after my opening. She invited me to their grand opening for a tour and to sit down  for a chat about what they offered vs. what we offered. Fortunately, whether because of their square footage limits or because we already had a presence, this Regus does not offer their "coworking/shared office" product. She came out to Cowork Frederick for a visit and two steps inside the building commented that we're nothing like Regus. After her tour, she had a much better idea of what we are, and now has a place she can refer people to that aren't a good fit for Regus. We also have larger meeting and conference room space than they do, so I get a few referrals from them when some business needs a place to hold an offsite meeting. On the other hand, I have a place I can steer folks to that aren't a good fit for us.

When talking about the two businesses as competitors, the analogy that seems to work well is comparing a sushi restaurant to a steakhouse. Once you refine your needs/wants any deeper than "food" or "work", there's enough differentiation that there isn't any real competition.

-- 
Glen Ferguson

@CoworkFrederick

coworkfrederick.com

--
Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com
 
 

[Alex Hillman]

When talking about the two businesses as competitors, the analogy that seems to work well is comparing a sushi restaurant to a steakhouse. Once you refine your needs/wants any deeper than "food" or "work", there's enough differentiation that there isn't any real competition.

A HUGE +1 to this. 

I'd add that the deeper you refine, the stronger your attraction will be for that given audience.

-Alex

--

/ah

indyhall.org

coworking in philadelphia

building a community? http://masterclass.indyhall.org

[Will Bennis, Locus Workspace]

Regina,

Thank you very much for taking the time to write this post. As part of the coworking community it's easy to get caught up in why we're better than the alternatives, and in the process to paint a somewhat one-sided view of the downside of those alternatives (and of our own upsides). IMO, it's really valuable get a post like yours--and presented in a way that doesn't disparage either side--as it helps balance our own perspectives of the pros and cons of coworking versus other models (as well as to consider ways some of us might want to adjust our own models to better fit someone in your position).

Best,

Will

On Saturday, November 3, 2012 6:48:36 PM UTC+1, Regina Walton wrote:

I'm a Regus customer simply because I mostly work from home and it's when I'm in NYC that I need work space.  Since they're worldwide, it just works out to be a better bargain for me.  I use their centers when I'm on the road. 

However, I heard of places like New Work City and other co-working spaces in NYC first.  In fact, I know people who work for NWC and work at NWC. I started my business in NYC and the tech community there is really active and social.  A lot of events happen at these spaces.  When I moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area, I joined HUB first.  They have two offices here: one in Berkeley and one in San Francisco.  Unfortunately, I just found HUB not to fit what I needed most because they don't have a NYC location: a place to set up my laptop, focus and work no matter where I am.  That's why I joined Regus.  If I'm in Manhattan, I've got a place to work rather than having to fight for a seat and access to a plug in Starbucks.  It's also convenient to be able to go to San Francisco and work.  It so happens that a friend's company is in the same building of the center I use.  We can meet up for lunch frequently and then head back to work.

It's clear that the article is biased.  The tone is dismissive and condescending too. Regus isn't going to work for everyone.  It's pretty sterile and massively corporate.  It's definitely not a place where there is a lot of brainstorming and interaction.  From what I've noticed the people using the lounges are like me: they're in town for business and simply need a place to get things done.  That doesn't build community except with the people at the front desk who end up knowing me well when I show up daily for a few days. It's just a very bad and biased article.