5 Co-Working Spaces in Auckland, The 6 Lessons I Learnt

Last week I visited all 5 of the co-working spaces in Auckland:

I am honoured that every single one of the founders/owners made time for me and my questions. I loved hearing their stories.

Have wow factor when people walk in the door
Eg 1 Movers And Shakers has a giant inflatable brain-shaped meeting room, all lit up with LED’s + the desks made with old pallets and ply wood + globes of light hang down at irregular heights
Eg 2 Loft503 has sleek modern high-end glossy black furniture
Eg 3 Generator has a bar in the lounge with a full time barman/barista
Eg 4 The Kitchen has a lunchroom kitchen where they all get around the dinning room table for lunch every day
Eg 5 The Bizdojo has set up a creative space (across the road, called a “co.space”) which has high-end business machines, a photography studio, 3D printing, and industrial sewing machines. Their attitude is “we have built it so come and use it and create something awesome”

I’m not talking about boozing, I’m talking about making a place for people to come and talk with each other
If you’re huge, host weekly get-togethers for the co-workers to ensure they mingle
At least every month host a get-together for the co-workers, their networks, and other connected people you know (and want to know) in your city
This is just about the only marketing you need. People experience the space and tell others about it, and these messages filter through the eco-system to potential co-workers

If you think providing desks for hot deskers is a gold mine, think again
Their commitment is low, the terms are short, your income from them is small, and worst of all, the disruption to permanent co-workers is high
To make money on them you have to oversell the space (just like gyms do), and hope they don’t all turn up on the same day (don’t worry, the chances are low)
The lesson for me is: Have 1 or 2 hot desks that people can use to trial the space for a few days or a week and then sell them on a permanent spot

As the founder, it’s your job to help your co-workers succeed. Do lots of one-on-one sessions. If they don’t succeed, it’s your fault
Help them discover what they need, and then help them get it
Help them out grow you
Connect them with who and what they need to connect with
Delegate and share jobs amongst the co-workers. This eases the burden on you and helps them give back to the community

Over a hundred years ago factories were invented. Thanks to the internet now you don’t have to work in a factory, you can work for yourself, in your bedroom, wearing your pj’s and work for clients that you choose
The problem is, even with all this awesome hardware (Smart Phones, Laptops, Tablets, PC’s – which are so cheap you can have all 4) and communication software (Email, cheap mobile calls, SMS, Facebook, Skype), you can be “connected” but lonely and isolated at the same time
That’s were co-working is awesome because it brings the face-to-face back into your life that so many of us crave. Here are 14 more reasons why co-working is awesome.
(If you are going to continue wearing pj’s to your co-working space, at least get ones with a very secure button at the front)