29 Insights I learned while interviewing Global Coworking Leaders — Part 1
Why I create remoteoffice.fm?
Flashback
Why RemoteOffice.fm exist? it was my second year as freelance UX designer when i realize what are being full-time freelancer mean, it was on 2016. I learned a lot what exactly being fulltime freelancer look like. There was be a time when i got plenty in my plate or nothing at all, happened in consecutively months. Boredom was unavoidable and unbearable. Beside thought of back to working with another company again, I thought it will be better to tried another year do freelance job and build product. Even though i don’t have full rounded activity, I always do other stuff which kept me busy.
At the beginning 2017, I tried every possible product i able to do independently. I made sideprojectlauncher — a blog that I dedicated to people who trying to create side project but lots of procrastination. In April 2017, I tried to made remoteoffice.co similar to Airbnb for coworking spaces, coliving, and incubator around the world. Unfortunately, nothing works well.
I was in the middle of doubting my ability back then. I’m sure coworking have a lot of potentials that I could be part of. And it is deeply aligned with the work I’ve done now which is freelancing — The future of job.
Honestly, I was thinking to build an app for coworking at first. Either helping coworking operator, landlord, and the member located their location with nearby coworking spaces. Unfortunately again, I couldn’t code myself. Such an irony! I remember one of Product People Club — Justin Jackson member said, all of her customers mostly come from her podcast. That was when my Aha moment come.
How about I create a podcast for coworking? I begin to check every coworking podcast out there from Dangerously Awesome — Alex Hillman, Everything Coworking — Jamie Russo, GCUC Radio — Tony Bacigalupo. Again, they’re coworking operator, they had an experience in coworking. Who am I? But fuck it, as I always told myself. Just fucking doing it. In the end, it worth a try. It will not be a problem.
After I research about coworking podcast that available, I thought i need to differentiate RemoteOffice.fm than others. In my vision, Coworking is the future of work. People could get inspiration, share and get a solution for their business problem in coworking spaces. Especially for coworking community built by the niche of their community itself. For instance, food tech, design, healthcare, fintech, lawyer, clean energy, just name it. Another reason why I put tech and innovation as my intersection of coworking topic. As for my mission, I hope people could learn about coworking or even build coworking space on their own.
Surprisingly, I learned a lot of things and understood on definition of coworking itself. From shared workspace, workation retreat concept, such as rural coworking, corporate coworking, mixed with travel and obviously coworking based on the niche of their community.
Below are insight I learned from interviewing 29 Global Coworking Leaders — Part 1:
1. Coworking support special needs for their member.
If you are a parent, working from home could be tough when you need privacy while your children are around and close on your very heartbeat. That was the idea behind Coworking mixed nurseries concept happen. Parentspreneurs could have benefit, they able to do the work without feeling guilty can’t see their children grow up.
There’s a few factor that most challenging when combining coworking with childcare concept from safety, hygiene, illnesses, satisfaction or engagement of the child and demands of the parents.
2. Coworking is social relationship.
Coworking is an activity when people who don’t work together, working alongside each other. The way to manage Coworking space depends on the type of community member and locations. Events and workshop are a few ways to add revenue. Community could valuable for coworking if it could bring certain value to the member.
3. Coliving is part of coworking movement
Coliving is another way coworking spaces boost their revenue. Coliving is coworking with like-minded community. Similar like coworking, coliving also offer support and network or connections to the member depends on what industry that coliving want to focused on. It could be digital nomad, people who trying to create or honed their new business idea.
4. Rural Coworking
Rural coworking taking place in rural area or countryside to find a better place when people can recharge themselves especially if come with a fellow likeminded community. Sometimes traveler who also had sort of lifestyle being more productive if surrounded other people working while traveling aka digital nomad or location independent.
5. Shared workspace with niche community
Some of coworking space are in partnership with startup or others organization giving all support related to helping the member in their business depends on the type of community. It could be startup or design etc. The virtual office feature also could bring other revenue for coworking space.
6. Coworking is a hospitality service in the working industry
When you build coworking space with almost zero capital, what you need to prepare; first, finding deals with furniture companies or buy second-hand furniture; second, convince to landlord about sharing revenue deal; the least, you need to invest in proper Wi-Fi connection.
7. Another way to expand coworking space is by creating a product
If you create a product that helps, let say support your productivity of the member that could bring not just additional revenue but you will create brand then you can use to promote the coworking space itself.
8. Coworking mixed with Retreat Workation
Since coworking trends happen at the same time remote worker or freelancer workforce coming in, the need for a place that can help you more focus on the project you working on is increased.
9. Coworking is the most dynamic creative business community
Most coworking space offers monthly membership package which includes renting the workspace itself in addition social events that build loyalty. Socializing isn’t forced, but happens naturally. It’s like an ecosystem that drives other industry.
10. Coworking is the future of workplace
Coworking is a place for people not just to work but to meet people, having a network that helps enhance their business.
This only teaser, I wouldn’t put all insight here. If you think you may gain knowledge when listening, I appreciate if you put ratings on iTunes. It will help people discover Remote Office Podcast.
Stay tuned for part 2 and part 3!
Enjoy ;)
