So where do you work? Let’s look at some obvious and less obvious places. Most of us have a “primary office” that could be formal or less formal. If you are in “job jail”, you probably have a range of working platforms, from the corporate cubicle to the private corner office, from a shared desk facility to being part of an office pod. If you are an independent coworker or telecommuter, you probably have a “home office” that may range from the kitchen table, to the corner of your bedroom or guestroom, or a full-blown separate office in your house. And, as an independent or virtual professional, you probably have some other locations: the local coffee shop, a local coworking facility (such as DurangoSpace) or the local library. And when you are on the road, it could be your hotel room, the local “business center”, an Internet cafe or the airport terminal (which can range from really cramped & lousy to wide open & spacious).
Welcome to the “work anywhere platform”! Actually the place where we work depends on the work we are doing. At DurangoSpace we have discovered five types of workers that are part of the coworking community here. In their own way, they each utilize the “work anywhere platform”, which includes coworking and community at DurangoSpace. First, we’ll look at the example of the virtual professional or corporate telecommuter, who works for a company or major client elsewhere. We have a DgoSpace member (Mark Fei) whose company www.cloudera.com is based in Palo Alto, CA. In between delivering Cloudera training around the US and abroad, Mark is based in Durango, CO. Another member (Jim MacKay @canuckinco) is working with several start-up companies based in Colorado; after completing an assignment with an enterprise software company based in LA. These coworking members use DurangoSpace as part of their “work anywhere platform” when they are home in the Durango area and working on pre and post travel follow-up for projects and clients. Secondly, there are the creative professionals, such as graphic designers, videographers, and web designers. Creative artists, such as Cindy Cowan www.duckgirlart.com has a 15-day DurangoSpace pass, so she can work out of her art studio at home, or DurangoSpace (both for creative workspace and meeting with clients) or at her client’s office. The third group of DurangoSpace members are the technologists (IT, software, programming), such as Shane Larson with http://www.samadhisoftware.com Many of the professionals in the software business need flexible space, high-speed connections, and meeting space—all resources that DurangoSpace can provide. The fourth group of DurangoSpace members are the independent professionals, such as independent insurance agents, legal advisors, management consultants and financial advisors. While this group may have a private office in the Four Corners region, they need meeting space for their client work. Or they travel and need a base of operations in Durango. Steve Schlagel, CPA, CVA, CPF & attorney http://www.my-small-business-mentor.com has his principal office in Farmington, NM and meets with his Durango-based clients on Thursdays at DurangoSpace. The fifth group of DurangoSpace professionals are the virtual coworkers who can work anywhere. The have quickly adapted to the DurangoSpace community and our “work anywhere platform”. Members such as Matt Kelly http://www.debtfreetribe.com provide personal finance coaching and debt reduction strategies to his clients.
With these examples, we can see that coworking at DurangoSpace is just a part of the overall “work anywhere platform” that our members utilize as their 21st Century work model. You just need an Internet connection, a laptop or iPad, a coworking community and location, your home or private office and the compliment of social media & web site access and…voila, you are able to work anywhere, have access to and with your clients from multiple locations. All the while, you are able to leave the burdensome costs of fixed offices and high overhead behind. This is the new world of coworking.
Are you ready to work anywhere and experience the virtual work platform? Give us a call at DurangoSpace, and begin your new “work anywhere” adventures.
