One of the key components and reasons for coworking is the culture and
community created by coworking environments. Having a mix of dedicated
desk users and drop ins makes for a dynamic culture. And yet many
spaces face a chicken and egg problem in creating this community.
People don't want to work in an empty space if they are looking for an
alternative to the isolation of working at home. At the same time
some person and/or people have to be the pioneers in any one space aiming to
get others to join in the fun of the coworking environment.
That's why many people start with a jelly. A Jelly is a bunch of people getting together to work side by side in a cafe, home, or business. "You bring your laptop and some work, and Jelly provides wifi, a chair,
and smart people to bounce ideas off of and collaborate with." A great way to get going on finding out if others want to reap the benefits of coworking to the point of renting and developing an actual space for your Jelly.
The interesting thing, whether in a coworking space or an informal Jelly, is the different culture that emerges. Each individual brings its own dynamic to the group. There are the steadies - in most days, at the same desk, some with heads down focused on the computer, but most stretching, talking at the proverbial "water cooler", and collaborating with the mix of talents they discover in the space. The professions range from managment consultant to writer to VP of marketing. The sometimes drop-in a few times a month. They like to get mixed in with the vibe of people and throw some ideas up on a white board and see what sticks, but because of travel schedule or budget or hesitation they aren't ready to take the plunge and keep a desk at the space. And finally the once-offs drop-in rarely and are just checking it out. You might meet them once and not see them for three months or may not ever see them again. Maybe they become steadies, but maybe they just explore and get the lay of the land.
The best part of this is that each person mixes into the recipe to create a different flavor to the culture. A strong culture guided by the steadies may develop, but because other people are constantly coming and going, the culture is a fluid dynamic that keeps life interesting. And someday, I will get to all the coworking spaces, because the different cultures and communities in each space are what make coworking exceptional.
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