Arron Lorenz

@jack_ola pointed out this live snow cam of downtown Davenport, Iowa during #deathstorm2009

Online video chat by Ustream

Check out my mother Tracy Dorgan doing an interview on WQAD!

My first post about Coworking brought in a few comments online, and a ton of interest offline. Many questions have been brought up, and many questions have turned into many more. As an experiment I will be opening up Lakeside RV, and my home for Coworking every other Wednesday starting on 21 October 2009. Next Wednesday I will be opening my home to friends, and friends of friends. Wired & Wireless Internet is available across the entire park.

I’m hoping that something productive/interesting/neat/cool/fun will come of this. Work doesn’t have to be a 9-5 in a cube. Work SHOULD BE FUN. Work should be something you love to do. Work should produce something not just produce productivity.

So I’ll be back in a few weeks to present you with Coworking Quads part 2, along with notes on the first Coworking experiment.

I for one will be working on a web design project for a new website. What will you work on?

I will be delivering a 3 to 4 part series of articles that I’m calling Coworking Quads. This is obviously the first part and will be an introduction to co-working. The second part will focus us why now is a prime time for the Quad Cities to invest in a coworking community system, and the third part will be a plan of action. If needed I’m planning on using the fourth article to address any concerns or ideas that are brought up directly to me, or via the web.

Coworking Quads | Part One

Definition of Coworking:

Well for the most part defining Coworking is to each their own. Some refer to these as shared workspace, work jams, jammies, jellies, etc… The way that I see Coworking is similar to any open source movement in that it’s a shared working area that has security, professional amenities, and like minded folks.

Wikipedia’s Definition: Coworking is an emerging trend for a new pattern for working. Typically work-at-home professionals or independent contractors or people who travel frequently end up working in relative isolation. Coworking is the social gathering of a group of people, who are still working independently, but who share values and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space.

Coworking must defined by the individual coworkers. What we need to do in the Quad Cities is embrace the fact that our younger generation is bringing game changing ideas to the table. Young people are bucking the old school mentality that we must be stuck in a cubical 8-5, m-f. We work hard when we want and where we want. With the advent and popularization of small technical tools such as Laptops, Netbooks, iPhones, Blackberry’s, WIFI, and GoToMyPC we can work anywhere with the same power of an office. What you don’t get by working from home or a coffee shop is usually a high quality printer/copier, fax machine, long term storage/lockers, whiteboards, meeting rooms, projectors, and most importantly other people.

What does Coworking do?

One of the biggest complaints that I’ve heard from independent workers, or teleworkers is the lack of day-to-day interactions with people who share similarities. An office does make some social interactions easier. E-mail still cannot convey facial expressions, or tone of voice. Some ideas cannot be shared remotely. Your passion for your work cannot be expressed in words, but is usually shown.

So how can you enjoy the freedom of metalworking, independent development, or being a small business owner while still having the normal social interactions? How can you have brain storming sessions at home? How can you get a fresh perspective of an idea? COWORKING!

What if there was a place that had all of the amenities of a high class development office, with the freedom of working from home? Conference rooms that could be rented for a moderate amount, open work areas, computer desks, laptop stations, lockers, large monitor storage, fax machines, laser printers, research materials, high speed Internet, couches, bean bag chairs, wifi, a kitchen, bathrooms, art, murals, and long term offices, tools, tools, tools, network testers, Dremels, screw drivers, soldiering kits, metal benders, circuit board fabrication, small electronic parts sales, classes, working groups, speakers, learning events, social events, and best of all independent coworkers like you.

What if there was a place where new ideas could grow! Where new ideas could EXPLODE! I’m talking about giving Quad Citians the tools that they need to have the next big thing! Last but certainly not least I’m talking about giving Quad City business’ a great tool for attracting younger technically active, and independently motivated employees to the area.

Really? A real place for ideas?

In Iowa we already have a few coworking facilities. Currently Foundry Coworking in Des Moines is the most promising where you’ll be able to find “Shared, collaborative workspace in Des Moines, Iowa” It is coworking in action.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="404" caption="3D layout of Foundry Coworking in Des Moines, Iowa by Workspace, Inc and Turnstone"][/caption]

You’ll see from the example layout above that there is plenty of space. All of the amenities of a professional office space designed by a professional office design partner. You’ll see a meeting room, a conference space, open work area, tables, desks, and a lounge area. They also offer mail service. Doesn’t that look like a place where you could get some work done?

Iowa Coworking Links:

Foundry Coworking – http://www.FoundryCoworking.com – Des Moines, Iowa

Impromptu Studio – http://impromptustudio.com/ – Des Moines, Iowa

Cowrk – http://cowrk.com/ – Iowa City, Iowa

Corridor Coworks – http://www.corridorcoworks.com/ Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Iowa Coworking in the News:

Reuters – Impromptu Studio – http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE51G49R20090217

Silicon Prairie News – Impromptu Studio http://www.siliconprairienews.com/2008/12/spn-interviews-impromptu-studio-coworking-in-des-moines/

Edge Business Magazine – Corridor Coworks – http://edgebusinessmagazine.com/2009/03/01/what-is-coworking-anyway/

Please look back over the next few weeks to check out the rest of the Coworking Quads series. With business, youth, and Coworking together we can help the Quad Cities lead technology advancement into 2020 and beyond.