I love hittin' up Borders to read, think & work. I agree 100% that bookstores are a great place to work. There is also something about them that put's me in a creative/work place - it's weird, but true for me.
yeah bookstores are inspirational but I like my hectic office with lots of raw emotion and regulated corporate discipline. Too much freedom can be distracting sometimes.....
George Snell
· 9 months ago
Wow, I thought I was only one who liked working in bookstores. It's great to take a break and browse the stacks. The only problem with some bookstores, however, is the lack of power outlets (especially at the Burlington, MA Barnes & Noble).
Coffee shops are much better for that. And, well, coffee. Panara sells you a bottomless cup O Joe for a buck and half. That's a deal that keeps addicts coming back for more. And - lots of power outlets and free Web access. What's not to like?
Stacy Lukas
· 9 months ago
I'm going to have to try working in a bookstore sometime. I think my nearest Borders actually charges for their wifi, though, which I'm not fond of. I buy enough coffee there to pay for it many times over.
None of my local coffee shops are "Digital Nomad"-friendly, at least not to me. I don't have much selection - the chain one is the size of my closet and super loud, the homey-one is my former workplace and people won't leave me alone when I'm in there, and the other one has coffee so bad they couldn't pay me to drink it.
Today I tried going to a public library, thinking it would be a good choice, and it was by far the worst "I'm doing to get stuff done in public" experience I've had to date. This library was louder than my local mall with kids and parents, and the wireless was slower than dialup. Total waste of time. I can't complain too much because it was free, but at least at my local Borders there's a good chance I'll walk out of there buying at least a book.
Emily Metzgar
· 9 months ago
I love working in bookstores and coffee shops! I much prefer them to my office or my home. I studied for my comprehensive exams in coffee shops and that's where I wrote most of my dissertation, too. Bookstores and coffee shops feel less isolating than working behind a closed door, they offer moderate opportunities to be social (as needed), free wifi, and not only do they provide fresh food, they also usually offer a steady supply of caffeine. All important variables as far as I'm concerned.
Melody Campbell, The Small Bus
· 9 months ago
You asked "What does the whole web commuting experience mean to what you’re doing?" In line with what you shared about you working in bookstores - I like that because of my online business, my office is wherever I am. A couple of years ago my "office" was standing in line at Disneyland. You're right, I didn't get much done but I didn't have to let my calls go to voice mail. I literally took thousands of dollars worth of order over the phone while I enjoyed a family vacation.
I recently moved to Montana where I wake up to more sky than I ever thought existed (you know, Big Sky Country) I live right on the edge of a little town with 2500 population. Out my back door is prairie as far as my eyes can see, except way in the edge of the horizon the jagged edge of the Rockies rips across the sky. Why would I want to be anywhere else? Well, at least for now it's here. But ultimately my office is where I am and I like it that way.
Susan Weinschenk
· 9 months ago
Hmmm... what do you guys do about phone calls? I'm on the phone most of the day (unfortunately) and either it's too noisy to work at a bookstore or I'm afraid I will bother other people with all my talking.
Barry Wright, III
· 9 months ago
Great post. I completely agree (and work in my fair share of Starbucks, even though I hate coffee).
I've found that the environment is something of a placebo effect; all those people moving around, going quickly about their business somehow makes your work feel all the more important.
For some people, it could definitely be a distraction; on the other hand, for people like me, it can actually be quite a productivity boost. You just have to see for yourself.
Sarah
· 9 months ago
I would dearly love to work in a bookstore, but my management is in need of some tweaking. I was actually told there is a value to my ass being in my chair! Seriously.
margaret chaidez
· 9 months ago
Agree 100% with you Chris. My best work and most productive days happen outside of the office. I think to be creative and productive you have to break up your routine, explore new environments and change the way you look at the screen. There is something comfortable and familiar about coffee shops, bookstores and libraries. Cube land screams sterile isolation with dull colors and harsh lighting. I get some of my best ideas just sifting through other magazines, store displays and products. If only I could do it 3x/week versus once in awhile.
nikipaniki
· 9 months ago
I definitely want to work from home, if I could, or just work anywhere I want. When I was unemployed, I loved hanging out at the library and that made things easier for me. The environment helped with less distraction and the abundance of books and reference materials sure helped if I needed to ask questions. Sure, everything can be searched via Google, but there's nothing like working at the library. Even better, Borders has a cafe, and that works well for me too. :)
LisaNewton
· 9 months ago
My "office" is a space I've created at home which I call my "office," however, recently my office has moved locations. So far, my office has visisted Wisconsinand on Wednesday, my office will visit Sabino Canyon, located in Arizona. You see, via ,Travelin' Local, people are able to visit other locations, share their experiences, and their love of where they live.
Places to visit are what Travelin' Local are all about................:)
Graeme Sacks
· 9 months ago
I'm a musician. I have spent many hours in bookshops writing lyrics with my songwriting partner. We've probably written 2 albums almost entirely in bookshops!
The coffee is great and, as you say there, is so much inspiration around in the way of books and people.
Corvida
· 9 months ago
I have to agree with you there. If I had a car, I'd be at my local Barnes & Nobles a lot more often. I have to admit I love working in that type of atmosphere. It just feels so much more productive, plus you meet people from all walks of life.
I'll have to remember your tip about using the books there for new ideas. Never really thought to do that, but it makes perfect sense. Why not put their products to use if you're going to use the space.
John R. Carman
· 9 months ago
Sometimes I work from home, and sometimes I work from AlphaLab, usually depending on the type of work I'm doing and where I have meetings that day. What is the value of my office, besides the people?
I'm not sure there is one for me. It's important to have a supply of food and drinks on hand, and AlphaLab has basically every beverage I could want (since Scott brought in the espresso machine, and I brought in the Scotch). It's convenient not to have to leave the building for a drink or a snack, but I have a lot of drinks and snacks at home, so I can hardly call that an advantage.
Distractions? I prefer not having distractions, which is a distinct advantage at the office. Sometimes the great conversations I get into at AlphaLab can be distracting, but we're not talking about the people, right? So I won't mention collaboration either.
Oh, I know what it is: the printer. The printer at work can scan, email, staple, even print, and it never bitches at me in CMYK. I'm going to miss that machine in 10 weeks.
Candice
· 9 months ago
I would be about 100% more productive if I were allowed to work in a space which I found inspiring. Everybody works differently so I think options should be there for the employee to choose which works best for them.
Lina
· 9 months ago
I've been lucky enough to have an internship where I'm able to choose when and where I can work (when I'm doing tasks flying solo). I love changing my environment. One day I'm at the office, one at my computer at home and other days I'll be at a coffeeshop/library/or other. And sometimes I work really early in the morning, still in my PJ's and sometimes late at night, right before bed. Wich makes it possible for me to have some free time in the middle of the day - office hours.
And I think my work benefits from it too.
Atlanta Private Investigator
· 9 months ago
Bookstores are awesome, but I LOVE the library. True, no food, and not too much chatter, but the wealth of ideas there is phenomenal. I've often gone there looking for one thing, only to end up spending hours in the place!
mitchjoel
· 9 months ago
Great post Chris. I think you know how much I agree (and love) working amidst all of those great pieces of work and inspiration. My problem with working in bookstores though is:
1. Power - both outlets and Internet connectivity (as described above). 2. Seats - They're either too comfortable or too uncomfortable (I realize that sounds a lot like Goldilocks and the Three Bears). 3. Collaboration - great for one-on-one, but I feel like I'm bothering the patrons if a full-on meeting breaks out. 4. They're either too quiet (so I can't do a quick chat on the phone with a semblance of privacy) or too noisy (so I can't concentrate on what needs to get done). 5. My biggest problem is guilt. I feel guilty for sitting there all day/night, taking up a space for other patrons, and not helping them to turn those tables.
I also hate it that I have to shut-down and pack up to take my stuff with me for every bathroom run ;)
All that being said, The Economist has an amazing piece on being a Digital Nomad and what it is doing to our society. It's a worthy read: http://is.gd/oGDF.
Susan Murphy
· 9 months ago
We had an office last year. It was a nice space, in a really funky neighbourhood. We gave it up last year for a few reasons.
Our team now works remotely, and to be honest we don't miss the office. If we need to meet in person or with clients, we are fortunate to have access to meeting room space at one of our partner companies.
I rotate my office from home to coffee shop depending on what I'm working on, and I love the flexibility of being able to work when I need to. I especially love not having to commute. I especially especially love not having to run to the office to check video renders in the middle of the night.
The more time goes on, the more widely accepted the "digital nomad" will be, I think. Places like the Code Factory here in Ottawa http://www.thecodefactory.ca/ are making it even more accessible and acceptable. My next office will not be an office at all. It will be a functional video studio, and it will only be elsewhere because it won't fit in my basement. :)
Sharon
· 9 months ago
What a great idea but here in my corner of England we haven't yet evolved into bookshops with food - or even space to work. I do go into my local juice & coffee bar to work but it can get expensive.
Gillian
· 9 months ago
Hmmm - find the ones here in Monteal a bit overrun with students talking very loudly so concentration is difficult; can't print anything; have to pack up the laptop whenever you want to go to the bathroom or get another coffee. One thing I do is work from home but hook up with someone on Skype - intermittently exchange a few words of conversation, bounce ideas but mostly work quietly - however have the human contact as you can hear them breathe, turn pages, answer the phone and vice versa for them.
Shauna Nicholson
· 9 months ago
I loved my college library where we had conference rooms, white boards, etc. It was quiet, but included space for group collaboration.
Not all libraries enforce quietness, but I've found a few much like that college one. It's a great change of scenery and provides endless inspiration.
Thanks for the post, Chris.
derekshowerman
· 9 months ago
Chris, well said man. My girlfriend (@hadley36) works at the Andover Bookstore (indie bookstore) and I have been saying live events/comfortable environment for virtual office folks to hang & meet will keep Indie bookstores relevant in the Kindle/Sony eReader age. Thanks for this post, she can use this to push the point home. :)
Malcolm Bastien
· 9 months ago
Places where I love to hang out and spend time, are places I like to work at. Whether in my room, the local cafe, or at the school, each of these places has its own appeal to me. I would agree with a lot of Mitch's points as well, I hate the idea of leaving my equipment out when I'm at school for other people to watch. Even though other people ask me to watch their stuff all the time - I trust no one!
Jamie Lee
· 9 months ago
Since all I need to work is a laptop and some elbow room, I'm lucky enough to be able to take advantage of one of freelancing's greatest pleasures - working in bookstores and coffee shops.
Though I put in the bulk of my hours in my home office, I find that I'm able to muster up a whole different energy when I am out and about in the world. People are always amazed that I'm able to work through all the chatter and ambient noise of public places, but the truth is that I find it soothing. It's hard to work in silence all day long - alone with only the voices in my head to keep me company. ;) Being around other people while I work in my virtual profession is a nice change of pace. It's also an excuse to put on something other than pajamas.
Since I have a pretty set routine around which days/times I do my office-away-from-the-office, my "outings" also provide a great opportunity for planned and impromptu meetings. I've handled all kinds of business meetings from the corner table at my local coffee shop - it gives the engagement a nice, easy, personal feel.
For those poor souls still chained to their office space, I say - GET OUT! The idea that physical proximity is critical to good collaboration is bunk. I am - among other things - a Web Dev Project Manager. I manage teams who are scattered across the US without ever leaving my home town. Easy peasy. As for needing to ensure that people are working ... if that's your concern, you need to either hire better people, or treat your people better.
Great post (as usual) ... hope to run into you at the bookstore or coffee shop sometime!
Erica Bell
· 9 months ago
That's so true, getting out from the office provides a new creative and freedom that allows you to relax and actually get some work done. The office is good sometimes just you can touch base with coworkers and management can actually see your face. Its really great for people who need independence and the work is so much more productive that way and you don't feel like you are so confined all the time.
Erica
Adrienne Fritze
· 9 months ago
I still go to my office. All three of them. I have two spaces in my home - one is my "official" office - a corner in the dining room, the other my grandfather's desk in my bedroom upon which he wrote his books. Then I have a studio/gallery/creative office space that's my HQ. In all three places I'm surrounded by yummy food, great fresh coffee, gorgeous art and crative activity, and places to take a power snooze [I need those..um hm, yep...I really really need those].
I also use brew pubs, coffee shops, bookstores (that have a coffee shop or brewpub inside!), grocery stores (my neighborhood Fred Meyer!), libraries, City Hall, etc. for a change of scenery and a place to gather folks (like you).
I'm well on the way to reaching my REAL goal which is to reduce my entire business to my laptop. [Well, except for the art studio part. But for that I even have a "mobile" kit - an ink drawing pad and FAB pens and markers].
So, I do still use my office...because it makes me happy.
I think the biggest thing for me is, I have a bad back and working at these places really don't have good chairs. At the office I have a great chair that makes it easy to work. Its hard for me to find the right chair.
Anna
· 9 months ago
I used to be a bookseller at a B&N with a huge cafe space, and this great bar-height counter-top area going along the wall, with tons of outlets. They ended up taking it out. They were tired of people sitting around all day taking up space and electricity to work out of the store. So the problem (with that B&N, at least) is no accessible outlets. The wireless isn't free either, unless you're an at&t customer.
Maggie
· 9 months ago
While I can't work in a bookstore, coffee shop--or even with the radio or TV on at home--I definitely think that any job that primarily involves writing or creating or anything other than having to actually interact face-to-face would be better accomplished in a non-office setting. There are certainly plenty of jobs that don't fall into this category, but speaking for myself--web writing/social media for a nonprofit--I can absolutely say I get LESS done at the office. Let's face it--most people are probably not that productive when sitting in a cubicle among a bunch of other people talking, phones ringing, people walking by, etc.
To me, the main value of the office is the socializing that goes on there...but that's the people part you said not to count. The office building I work in is very nice, so there's a lot to be said for working in that environment if you have to work at an office, but most people are not fortunate enough to work in a brand-new LEED gold certified building like I do.
I personally hate the whole "if you're not in the office how will we know you're working" mentality. When I'm in the office you can see that half the time I'm NOT working...yet that's ok. It's somehow ok to have people show up to the office from 9-5 and possibly accomplish nothing, but unthinkable at most companies to give people the opportunity to work from home. Why the work world isn't results-based is a mystery to me--to me it's about control and an inherent distrust of people.
Rob Banks
· 9 months ago
I'm not knocking bookstores because I spend time there as well, but if you are feeling guilty about taking up space in a retail establishment, check out your local library. Not all will meet every need, but ask the staff, they may have services you don't know about. Some have meeting rooms or other quieter places if you need the seclusion. Our library has wifi, lots of electrical outlets, allows food and drink in the library or has a cafe if you want a change of scenery or more substantial food. We have several areas with varying degrees of quietness enforced from absolutely no talking to a room with Xbox 360/Wii/Playstation for the teens - which can get pretty loud at times. You can spend all day if you want, after all that's what it's for and you are surrounded by books and ideas and you don't have to feel that you need to buy something to compensate for taking up the space. However, you can check out stuff if you want to - your choice! As a librarian, I'm biased. We have a lot of local small businesses which run out of the library because they can't afford to do anything else and they like the atmosphere.
Psiplex
· 9 months ago
Bookstores and coffee shops beat the office hands down. You can put on some weight though! Just best to pick your best times once you have been there a few times to max out efficiency.
One Love
Brit Chris
· 9 months ago
Bookstores are bawdy, mate.
Limbo
· 9 months ago
I love working in coffee shops and bookstores, but my office has a hard time converting to more web-based communication simply because our tech is so low. I think with new infrastructure programs around the corner, a lot of business in the US will be able to take advantage!
Simon Stapleton
· 9 months ago
I share this with you Chris. Coffee shops have everything I need for a productive day! I don't need to walk far for a java fix, the staff are always happy to help, they know what I drink, and I've found too that if I share with them an idea, they tend to have an interesting angle on it that I hadn't thought of. Holding meetings is great too - they create a relaxed an informal environment and if I was to be vain, the familiarity with the staff creates a good image with clients.
Ellyn Davidson
· 9 months ago
I get more done anyplace but my office--too many distractions. Love being able to work from anywhere--especially my comfy house.
garrett.scott
· 9 months ago
Working for a collaboration company, working in the office is a rarity. I recently made a move extending my commute from 15 minutes to over an hour. Luckily with the advances in technology I only need to be in the office 2 or 3 days a week. Only for large face to face meetings with the higher ups.
ralf schwartz
· 9 months ago
You are right about that part of the story.
Even worse about the office is: people leaving their personality, talents, creativity at the door and becoming managers, workers, analysts - bot not that what they wanted to be! Perhaps they left it on the commute. Perhaps offices are our own Room 101s. What do you guys think?
Karen Talavera
· 9 months ago
It's really interesting reading the comments from this post. What the preference for bookstores and coffeeshops seems to indicate is that these are spaces which 1) harbor and inspire creative flow, 2) allow for small group collaboration, 3) provide comfort and sustenance and 4) offer shared solitude (you can be off to yourself without feeling totally alone), and that conventional business offices lack in one or all of these areas.
I personally think the conventional corporate office model has slowly been getting dimantled ever since "flex-time" and "work-at-home" entered our lexicon and that we're on the cusp of it being completely reinvented. Once it was necessary for us all to physically gather in order to communicate, collaborate and create - now it no longer is, at least not as often and not for everything. Sure we might still need the technical infrastructure an office provides (the high speed copier/printer/behind the firewall computing, etc.) but probably not as often as we need creative flow, comfort, and flexibility.
Also the current corporate structure is the outcome of a male-influenced legacy. The corporate culture was originated by men and over the last century built by men. I wonder how differently it might look if women were the creators? And of course, I wonder how it will change now that all people regardless of gender are more in touch with both their achetypical "male" and "female" aspects than ever before.
As for me I've been self-employed and home-officed for six years and can't imagine going back to a commute and a corporate work environment. Instead my office is wherever I am - home/client site/travel/beach. While there are home office challenges and considerations unique to it (I happen to not have small children or other family members at home during the day so it works great), overall it beats the conventional office and former gueling commute by about 1000%. Everyone should have it this good if that's what they want!
Joel Warady
· 9 months ago
Chris:
I'm curious if you ever purchase a book while you are working in their space? As you probably know, book chains are getting killed, and their sales are way down. I know that you receive a lot of books for reviewing purposes. But you mention in your Blog that you use the books on the shelves to spark new ideas. Do you purchase these books? You know that these stores are not libraries. And the fact that you might buy a cup of coffee is not enough to sustain this business model.
I think it would be great that for all people who choose to use bookstores as their "other" office, commit to purchasing a book before you leave the store. It will allow the office to be there six months from now.
Kate
· 9 months ago
I go to the office to pay the rent. I'm a little fish - I dream of the day that I can work from wherever it is I please and I'm doing what I can to get there.
John E. Bredehoft (Empoprises)
· 9 months ago
Joel,
Andrew C mentioned your concerns via FriendFeed. While the first thing that popped into my mind is "fair use," I now realize that your concerns are more economic in nature, having to do with the viability of the bookstore itself.
As for whether browsing the books for ideas is proper, it depends upon the bookstore. Some bookstores have a business model that encourages people to browse - the very fact that they have coffee & food in the bookstore indicates that they would like people to linger - while other bookstores are designed more like McDonalds, with loud plastic surfaces that encourage patrons to buy their stuff and get the heck out as quickly as possible.
And if Chris is truly meeting people at the bookstore, then he's bringing in traffic, which could be a good thing.
Of course, the ideal situation would be if Chris says, "I got this idea from a book that I found at Barnes & Noble at 5183 Montclair Plaza Lane in aisle 10..."
JRMoreau
· 9 months ago
Co-working seems to me one of the best one of the best middle grounds between socialization and ability to get stuff done. I love to do work in cafes and books stores a lot, but often times the variation of people bugs me. If I get comfortable and in a work grove, I can stay all day.
I've considered starting a co-working space in my hometown (West of Boston). The toughest challenge with that (so far) is getting people to sign up or express interest. Still working on that though.
Erika Owens
· 9 months ago
The Coffee shop is my office most often. I like it because it is easy to concentrate, there is food (as you stated) and drinks. I also just feel a sense of calm when i am there and can get a lot done.
lewishowes
· 9 months ago
Chris,
I spend most of my time a local coffee shops in Columbus, and get out of my office as well. Chris Hawker and I have been trying to talk to one of our favorite local chains to have them create a coffee workspace where you can rent a desk for a day/week/month and have kind of a co-op work share space. We think this is what the future is holding especially since people are losing their jobs and everyone is a "consultant" now. What do you think? Mutacious or not?
Lewis
williamarruda
· 9 months ago
Hello Chris,
I work in all the same places you do for pretty much the same reason. I do admit that I miss the brief chats at the coffee machine when I worked for IBM.
I think management processes and performance metrics haven't caught up with the reality of a virtual world. Many managers just think if they can see you that you are doing work. And 'doing work' is what is being measured, not 'delivering value.'
“we can’t tell when people are working or not.” That’s the one that bugs me. It just means that management and measurements need tweaking.
It bugs me too. Firstly, either folks are producing results or not. All else is mindless micro-management.
It's also slightly freaky because secondly, if you don't trust the folks you hire to deliver then that says more about you then them.
As for working in a bookstore - If everyone's happy and productive then that's great. I am sure that if either party, you or the bookstore, found the arrangement troublesome then an alternative mode or venue could be arranged.
JR Moreau
· 9 months ago
Here here Tom! Down with micro-management!
Roger Kondrat
· 9 months ago
I love working from coffee shops. I can hover near clients that are needy but not make myself appear 'too' available but when necessary go onsite when required. Also its more fun when working with my team as the atmosphere is more stimulating and the baristas treat us like gold.
Pick a good place where the owner appreciates your presence and remember he/she is there to make money so don't buy a $2 cup of Joe and then stagnate for 5 hours. If you do you are a leech and no one will respect you.
The coffee shops I go to I often get discounts, favorable treatment and guided to the freshest best food. This only happens because I make his business my business.
Tia Singh aka @TiaSparkles
· 9 months ago
While I love love love bookstores and cafes, I get too distracted with people watching and engaging with others in cafes to get much work done. A bookstore might be a better idea but I can`t stop browsing and reading when I`m there!
Not a fan of offices and that`s why I work from home in a very non office looking envt.
Any tips for not getting distracted when working at cafes then?
TopViet
· 9 months ago
This is a good article. With today technology, we can work anywhere, any time.
Chris Brogan
· 9 months ago
I buy about 4 books a week, one way or another. It's a bit incurable at this point.
Christian
· 9 months ago
bookstores are the bomb. and panera. panera is my favorite corporate headquarters right now. great place to meet with a client, then sit for hours on free wifi. nothing better :)
Christian
· 9 months ago
dude I totally don't get why people go to the office anymore. i have a meeting with my team once a week. besides that, i'm gone.
greg cryns
· 9 months ago
I was out walking around my little town of Paso Robles today. As usual the farmer's market was open in the square.
I stopped at each booth taking time to strike up conversations with each business owner. Some sold fruits and veggies, of course. Others sold olives and juices.
I forgot how much fun it can be to chat about business with people you never met before. They all were anxious to talk to someone who offered a free ad on the front page of his local website. That's a great ice breaker.
The point is that I was away from home, away from the phone, TV and other mundane disturbances. My office was on the streets of Paso Robles and I was enjoying myself immensely.
Tom Martin
· 9 months ago
Chris
Love the post and think that a lot of folks, especially freelancers are trading office rent for the daily latte. But as someone who's done it both ways, I have to say that the value of an office is that it creates intersections. While you and I can quickly chat about an idea (IM or Twitter) you can't overhear my conversation with another member of the team in the hallway.
Some of the best ideas I've ever been around have come from a chance intersection where I and another staffer were both in the right zone or frame of mind and a spark happens. I guess that can happen in the virtual world and it does, but an office seems to create more sparks.
My .02.
Andrew Lightheart @alightheart
· 9 months ago
Since I got a netbook with mobile broadband, I have a category in my business expenses called 'Mobile Office'.
I figure a few coffees is way cheaper than keeping a separate space and being able to get up and browse some books makes my inner writer feel like it's playing hooky.
Ajay Gupta
· 9 months ago
I work in bookstores (Barnes & Nobel), coffee shops (Starbucks), etc. too. I own a small business and we are a 100% telework shop - mainly to reduce our carbon footprint and let people spend the commuting time with their families. As long as you trust your staff to be accountable for their productivity, there are no problems.
I do have an office though, when clients want to meet us there.
Jamie Sanford
· 9 months ago
I have been meaning to try out one of my "working from home" days in the bookstore instead of in my living room. Great list of reasons why I should definitely do that. Thanks Chris.
Amanda Denton @amandala
· 9 months ago
I am preparing to transition from working in an office environment to the digital nomad work/lifestyle. I appreciate all the insights shared here on the pros and cons of each and while I will miss the conversations sparked in the hallway and the ease of walking in my colleagues' offices, I am excited about the new opportunities posed by working in varied environments. Thanks everyone for sharing your insight, it's great to hear your collective thoughts on what "going to work" means today.
Barb Giamanco
· 9 months ago
What a great topic! I don't necessarily go to bookstores to work, but I certainly do spend a fair amount of time there, because I'm addicted to reading:). To stir my creative juices, I often take the laptop to the park or just sit outside in the backyard when the weather is nice.
Surprising that we still don't see more people tele-commuting for work. The "we can't tell if people are working or not" comment is so crazy to me. I totally agree that it is a management/measurement issue. Maybe more on the management side. Managers need to do a good job setting expectations, make sure people have the tools to get the job done and stay involved in the process (not micro-managing mind you). If you are paying attention, you know pretty quickly if the RESULTS are happening or not. Seems to me there is a trust issue for many managers. They assume that if they can't "see their people" then they will take advantage of the situation. Any manager who mistakenly believes that seeing someone's body in the office means they are working effectively may well be in the wrong job. As we all know, that is not necessarily the case.
On the flip side, not everyone is ready to work virtually. You can't be home doing laundry while trying to get the job done. Many new business owners figure out the hard way that "working from home or in the coffee shop" isn't always easy. You have to have a certain amount of discipline or you'll just flounder around.
After all this time, it is still surprising that companies don't get the virtual office, tele-commuting idea.
Daina
· 9 months ago
I fortunately live in Tel Aviv which is full of cafes. While I miss stores like Borders dearly...we have no such concept here...However here in Israel, unlike the states, you can sit in cafes for hours without a bill being delivered. In fact sometimes it takes me 40 minutes just to get my check!
I am a freelance web designer and I sit in a cafe nearly everyday to work for about 5 hours. If I stayed home I would get hungry and preparing a meal would be a 3 hour event for me. My time is more valuable...I don't pay for an office and my cafe bills are very reasonable compared to what office rent would be...and no one is going to serve me food there! (well delivery I guess? but I don't like to waste all that plastic containers everyday into the earth).
I like the sunlight and windows..my apt is a cave...However. I'd like to see more cafes built on the concept of a "working" cafe...ie...no loud cell phone yakkers...or big party groups...or music that is disruptive to work ...sometimes I have bad cafe days where the people that come or music that's played just don't go with my cafe workday vibe...often though, I find at least 3-5 others doing exactly what I'm doing...seems like there is a huge audience in this city for a freelancers work cafe! I would love to help start a cafe built on that concept...
Schalk Neethling
· 9 months ago
“we can’t tell when people are working or not.” - I have heard this and the alternative "we are not set-up for it" so many times I want to run to hills and scream. What a great article, thank so much I hope this gets read by everyone and I hope to meet you one day in a coffee shop over a cup of coffee and an inspiring book.
Conrad Buck
· 9 months ago
I have to agree with many of the comments here, mainly:
1.Hard to find a good, comfortable chair. 2.What about phone calls with all the noise going on around you?
I have a great independent coffee shop just down the road that has free wifi but because I am a regular and the cafe community is like a large family I can never get any work done as there is always someone there to chat to!!
Herb Jones
· 8 months ago
Chris - great post and comments. I too LOVE the bookstores (and my favorite local coffee shop) but it is entirely TASK dependent. I am completely addicted to my Matrox dual head to go and my 3 monitor setup in my home office when I am publishing, doing keyword research or landing page optimization but when I am writing, reading or just looking for ideas I always head out to the bookstores.
Beth Avery
· 8 months ago
Great post! If I wasn't working in the office, I'd love to be in a bookstore (or cafe).
I didn't realize you were from the Boston area - I grew up south of Boston, and now reside in DC.
I found you on Twitter recently, and I'm really enjoying your blog.
I'm in inside sales management, but have recently been asked to take on addition responsibilities for the time being.
I'm excited about getting involved with our marketing team, and your blog has been very insightful!
Yeah, I hated that second reason when I was a teacher. There was always this assumption on the part of admin that if they couldn't cage me somewhere, I wasn't thinking, creating and problem-solving in the name of education. I actually get great ideas walking or running and bookstores are awesome places to meet and collaborate (so is Panera).
I have a home office now, but I find that I work more diligently at Starbucks or the library.
Deb Ng
· 8 months ago
I enjoy working at the library for the same reason. it's quiet, there's free wifi and handy reference materials are all over. The coffee shop is missing but that's why Starbucks is on the way. Because I work at home along all day, I often work at the library just to be around people.
I think in this economy more employers should consider allowing employees to work remotely, not only to save expenses, but because of higher productivity and morale.
All Comments
http://twitter.com/franswaa
Coffee shops are much better for that. And, well, coffee. Panara sells you a bottomless cup O Joe for a buck and half. That's a deal that keeps addicts coming back for more. And - lots of power outlets and free Web access. What's not to like?
None of my local coffee shops are "Digital Nomad"-friendly, at least not to me. I don't have much selection - the chain one is the size of my closet and super loud, the homey-one is my former workplace and people won't leave me alone when I'm in there, and the other one has coffee so bad they couldn't pay me to drink it.
Today I tried going to a public library, thinking it would be a good choice, and it was by far the worst "I'm doing to get stuff done in public" experience I've had to date. This library was louder than my local mall with kids and parents, and the wireless was slower than dialup. Total waste of time. I can't complain too much because it was free, but at least at my local Borders there's a good chance I'll walk out of there buying at least a book.
I recently moved to Montana where I wake up to more sky than I ever thought existed (you know, Big Sky Country) I live right on the edge of a little town with 2500 population. Out my back door is prairie as far as my eyes can see, except way in the edge of the horizon the jagged edge of the Rockies rips across the sky. Why would I want to be anywhere else? Well, at least for now it's here. But ultimately my office is where I am and I like it that way.
I've found that the environment is something of a placebo effect; all those people moving around, going quickly about their business somehow makes your work feel all the more important.
For some people, it could definitely be a distraction; on the other hand, for people like me, it can actually be quite a productivity boost. You just have to see for yourself.
If only I could do it 3x/week versus once in awhile.
Places to visit are what Travelin' Local are all about................:)
The coffee is great and, as you say there, is so much inspiration around in the way of books and people.
I'll have to remember your tip about using the books there for new ideas. Never really thought to do that, but it makes perfect sense. Why not put their products to use if you're going to use the space.
I'm not sure there is one for me. It's important to have a supply of food and drinks on hand, and AlphaLab has basically every beverage I could want (since Scott brought in the espresso machine, and I brought in the Scotch). It's convenient not to have to leave the building for a drink or a snack, but I have a lot of drinks and snacks at home, so I can hardly call that an advantage.
Distractions? I prefer not having distractions, which is a distinct advantage at the office. Sometimes the great conversations I get into at AlphaLab can be distracting, but we're not talking about the people, right? So I won't mention collaboration either.
Oh, I know what it is: the printer. The printer at work can scan, email, staple, even print, and it never bitches at me in CMYK. I'm going to miss that machine in 10 weeks.
And I think my work benefits from it too.
1. Power - both outlets and Internet connectivity (as described above).
2. Seats - They're either too comfortable or too uncomfortable (I realize that sounds a lot like Goldilocks and the Three Bears).
3. Collaboration - great for one-on-one, but I feel like I'm bothering the patrons if a full-on meeting breaks out.
4. They're either too quiet (so I can't do a quick chat on the phone with a semblance of privacy) or too noisy (so I can't concentrate on what needs to get done).
5. My biggest problem is guilt. I feel guilty for sitting there all day/night, taking up a space for other patrons, and not helping them to turn those tables.
I also hate it that I have to shut-down and pack up to take my stuff with me for every bathroom run ;)
All that being said, The Economist has an amazing piece on being a Digital Nomad and what it is doing to our society. It's a worthy read: http://is.gd/oGDF.
Our team now works remotely, and to be honest we don't miss the office. If we need to meet in person or with clients, we are fortunate to have access to meeting room space at one of our partner companies.
I rotate my office from home to coffee shop depending on what I'm working on, and I love the flexibility of being able to work when I need to. I especially love not having to commute. I especially especially love not having to run to the office to check video renders in the middle of the night.
The more time goes on, the more widely accepted the "digital nomad" will be, I think. Places like the Code Factory here in Ottawa http://www.thecodefactory.ca/ are making it even more accessible and acceptable. My next office will not be an office at all. It will be a functional video studio, and it will only be elsewhere because it won't fit in my basement. :)
One thing I do is work from home but hook up with someone on Skype - intermittently exchange a few words of conversation, bounce ideas but mostly work quietly - however have the human contact as you can hear them breathe, turn pages, answer the phone and vice versa for them.
Not all libraries enforce quietness, but I've found a few much like that college one. It's a great change of scenery and provides endless inspiration.
Thanks for the post, Chris.
Though I put in the bulk of my hours in my home office, I find that I'm able to muster up a whole different energy when I am out and about in the world. People are always amazed that I'm able to work through all the chatter and ambient noise of public places, but the truth is that I find it soothing. It's hard to work in silence all day long - alone with only the voices in my head to keep me company. ;) Being around other people while I work in my virtual profession is a nice change of pace. It's also an excuse to put on something other than pajamas.
Since I have a pretty set routine around which days/times I do my office-away-from-the-office, my "outings" also provide a great opportunity for planned and impromptu meetings. I've handled all kinds of business meetings from the corner table at my local coffee shop - it gives the engagement a nice, easy, personal feel.
For those poor souls still chained to their office space, I say - GET OUT! The idea that physical proximity is critical to good collaboration is bunk. I am - among other things - a Web Dev Project Manager. I manage teams who are scattered across the US without ever leaving my home town. Easy peasy. As for needing to ensure that people are working ... if that's your concern, you need to either hire better people, or treat your people better.
Great post (as usual) ... hope to run into you at the bookstore or coffee shop sometime!
Erica
I also use brew pubs, coffee shops, bookstores (that have a coffee shop or brewpub inside!), grocery stores (my neighborhood Fred Meyer!), libraries, City Hall, etc. for a change of scenery and a place to gather folks (like you).
I'm well on the way to reaching my REAL goal which is to reduce my entire business to my laptop. [Well, except for the art studio part. But for that I even have a "mobile" kit - an ink drawing pad and FAB pens and markers].
So, I do still use my office...because it makes me happy.
;-)
A.
Check out my "offices":
http://workingartistsonline.com/studios.html
http://workingartistsstudios.com (a site in progress - about the artists in my studios with me)
http://workingartistsnetwork.com (the vehicle that is driving my minimalistic need to reduce everything to my laptop).
To me, the main value of the office is the socializing that goes on there...but that's the people part you said not to count. The office building I work in is very nice, so there's a lot to be said for working in that environment if you have to work at an office, but most people are not fortunate enough to work in a brand-new LEED gold certified building like I do.
I personally hate the whole "if you're not in the office how will we know you're working" mentality. When I'm in the office you can see that half the time I'm NOT working...yet that's ok. It's somehow ok to have people show up to the office from 9-5 and possibly accomplish nothing, but unthinkable at most companies to give people the opportunity to work from home. Why the work world isn't results-based is a mystery to me--to me it's about control and an inherent distrust of people.
One Love
Holding meetings is great too - they create a relaxed an informal environment and if I was to be vain, the familiarity with the staff creates a good image with clients.
Even worse about the office is: people leaving their personality, talents, creativity at the door and becoming managers, workers, analysts - bot not that what they wanted to be!
Perhaps they left it on the commute. Perhaps offices are our own Room 101s. What do you guys think?
I personally think the conventional corporate office model has slowly been getting dimantled ever since "flex-time" and "work-at-home" entered our lexicon and that we're on the cusp of it being completely reinvented. Once it was necessary for us all to physically gather in order to communicate, collaborate and create - now it no longer is, at least not as often and not for everything. Sure we might still need the technical infrastructure an office provides (the high speed copier/printer/behind the firewall computing, etc.) but probably not as often as we need creative flow, comfort, and flexibility.
Also the current corporate structure is the outcome of a male-influenced legacy. The corporate culture was originated by men and over the last century built by men. I wonder how differently it might look if women were the creators? And of course, I wonder how it will change now that all people regardless of gender are more in touch with both their achetypical "male" and "female" aspects than ever before.
As for me I've been self-employed and home-officed for six years and can't imagine going back to a commute and a corporate work environment. Instead my office is wherever I am - home/client site/travel/beach. While there are home office challenges and considerations unique to it (I happen to not have small children or other family members at home during the day so it works great), overall it beats the conventional office and former gueling commute by about 1000%. Everyone should have it this good if that's what they want!
I'm curious if you ever purchase a book while you are working in their space? As you probably know, book chains are getting killed, and their sales are way down. I know that you receive a lot of books for reviewing purposes. But you mention in your Blog that you use the books on the shelves to spark new ideas. Do you purchase these books? You know that these stores are not libraries. And the fact that you might buy a cup of coffee is not enough to sustain this business model.
I think it would be great that for all people who choose to use bookstores as their "other" office, commit to purchasing a book before you leave the store. It will allow the office to be there six months from now.
Andrew C mentioned your concerns via FriendFeed. While the first thing that popped into my mind is "fair use," I now realize that your concerns are more economic in nature, having to do with the viability of the bookstore itself.
As for whether browsing the books for ideas is proper, it depends upon the bookstore. Some bookstores have a business model that encourages people to browse - the very fact that they have coffee & food in the bookstore indicates that they would like people to linger - while other bookstores are designed more like McDonalds, with loud plastic surfaces that encourage patrons to buy their stuff and get the heck out as quickly as possible.
And if Chris is truly meeting people at the bookstore, then he's bringing in traffic, which could be a good thing.
Of course, the ideal situation would be if Chris says, "I got this idea from a book that I found at Barnes & Noble at 5183 Montclair Plaza Lane in aisle 10..."
I've considered starting a co-working space in my hometown (West of Boston). The toughest challenge with that (so far) is getting people to sign up or express interest. Still working on that though.
I spend most of my time a local coffee shops in Columbus, and get out of my office as well. Chris Hawker and I have been trying to talk to one of our favorite local chains to have them create a coffee workspace where you can rent a desk for a day/week/month and have kind of a co-op work share space. We think this is what the future is holding especially since people are losing their jobs and everyone is a "consultant" now. What do you think? Mutacious or not?
Lewis
I work in all the same places you do for pretty much the same reason. I do admit that I miss the brief chats at the coffee machine when I worked for IBM.
I think management processes and performance metrics haven't caught up with the reality of a virtual world. Many managers just think if they can see you that you are doing work. And 'doing work' is what is being measured, not 'delivering value.'
Best.
William
www.williamarruda.com
It bugs me too. Firstly, either folks are producing results or not. All else is mindless micro-management.
It's also slightly freaky because secondly, if you don't trust the folks you hire to deliver then that says more about you then them.
As for working in a bookstore - If everyone's happy and productive then that's great. I am sure that if either party, you or the bookstore, found the arrangement troublesome then an alternative mode or venue could be arranged.
Pick a good place where the owner appreciates your presence and remember he/she is there to make money so don't buy a $2 cup of Joe and then stagnate for 5 hours. If you do you are a leech and no one will respect you.
The coffee shops I go to I often get discounts, favorable treatment and guided to the freshest best food. This only happens because I make his business my business.
Not a fan of offices and that`s why I work from home in a very non office looking envt.
Any tips for not getting distracted when working at cafes then?
I stopped at each booth taking time to strike up conversations with each business owner. Some sold fruits and veggies, of course. Others sold olives and juices.
I forgot how much fun it can be to chat about business with people you never met before. They all were anxious to talk to someone who offered a free ad on the front page of his local website. That's a great ice breaker.
The point is that I was away from home, away from the phone, TV and other mundane disturbances. My office was on the streets of Paso Robles and I was enjoying myself immensely.
Love the post and think that a lot of folks, especially freelancers are trading office rent for the daily latte. But as someone who's done it both ways, I have to say that the value of an office is that it creates intersections. While you and I can quickly chat about an idea (IM or Twitter) you can't overhear my conversation with another member of the team in the hallway.
Some of the best ideas I've ever been around have come from a chance intersection where I and another staffer were both in the right zone or frame of mind and a spark happens. I guess that can happen in the virtual world and it does, but an office seems to create more sparks.
My .02.
I figure a few coffees is way cheaper than keeping a separate space and being able to get up and browse some books makes my inner writer feel like it's playing hooky.
I do have an office though, when clients want to meet us there.
Surprising that we still don't see more people tele-commuting for work. The "we can't tell if people are working or not" comment is so crazy to me. I totally agree that it is a management/measurement issue. Maybe more on the management side. Managers need to do a good job setting expectations, make sure people have the tools to get the job done and stay involved in the process (not micro-managing mind you). If you are paying attention, you know pretty quickly if the RESULTS are happening or not. Seems to me there is a trust issue for many managers. They assume that if they can't "see their people" then they will take advantage of the situation. Any manager who mistakenly believes that seeing someone's body in the office means they are working effectively may well be in the wrong job. As we all know, that is not necessarily the case.
On the flip side, not everyone is ready to work virtually. You can't be home doing laundry while trying to get the job done. Many new business owners figure out the hard way that "working from home or in the coffee shop" isn't always easy. You have to have a certain amount of discipline or you'll just flounder around.
After all this time, it is still surprising that companies don't get the virtual office, tele-commuting idea.
I am a freelance web designer and I sit in a cafe nearly everyday to work for about 5 hours. If I stayed home I would get hungry and preparing a meal would be a 3 hour event for me. My time is more valuable...I don't pay for an office and my cafe bills are very reasonable compared to what office rent would be...and no one is going to serve me food there! (well delivery I guess? but I don't like to waste all that plastic containers everyday into the earth).
I like the sunlight and windows..my apt is a cave...However. I'd like to see more cafes built on the concept of a "working" cafe...ie...no loud cell phone yakkers...or big party groups...or music that is disruptive to work ...sometimes I have bad cafe days where the people that come or music that's played just don't go with my cafe workday vibe...often though, I find at least 3-5 others doing exactly what I'm doing...seems like there is a huge audience in this city for a freelancers work cafe! I would love to help start a cafe built on that concept...
1.Hard to find a good, comfortable chair.
2.What about phone calls with all the noise going on around you?
I have a great independent coffee shop just down the road that has free wifi but because I am a regular and the cafe community is like a large family I can never get any work done as there is always someone there to chat to!!
I didn't realize you were from the Boston area - I grew up south of Boston, and now reside in DC.
I found you on Twitter recently, and I'm really enjoying your blog.
I'm in inside sales management, but have recently been asked to take on addition responsibilities for the time being.
I'm excited about getting involved with our marketing team, and your blog has been very insightful!
Beth
@bpvorsight
www.vorsight.com
I have a home office now, but I find that I work more diligently at Starbucks or the library.
I think in this economy more employers should consider allowing employees to work remotely, not only to save expenses, but because of higher productivity and morale.