Space Logix

This blog is past due, however I must give myself somewhat of break.  Over the past 2 months I have been rather busy trying to bring the first “coworking” space to Greensboro, North Carolina. After 9 months of planning, the past 2 months have involved, contractors, electricians, painters, sign people, plumbers, security companies and a whole host of others building our space here at 301 State Street. Now that all this has been done and the doors are open the proverbial “honeymoon” is over. No more talking, dreaming, planning and everything else that has gone on to get to this point. This is where the rubber hits the road as they say. Time to find some customers and make this happen.

So, what is the concept of “coworking” and what is Space Logix all about?  Well, it is certainly not about space or offices or wireless or free coffee or anything that is material. Yes we have all the expected amenities and yes we have a very unique location and working environment. In fact I still believe we are the most dynamic work space in the Triad. Got to believe in what you do. But, I think that what we are about is not just meeting a need for people but more about enhancing our community with a location that helps people be productive and creative.

Many times I have used a tag line “create, collaborate and connect”. My logo’s tag line reads “Creative Work Environments”. But the 4th “C” that is the most important I believe is the “Community” part. Growing our community and developing a place where people want to live and work should be our priority one. All the news we have heard over the past couple of years with the economic environment is “where are the jobs”? The jobs don’t get built by bringing large corporations to the area and expanding their presence. Jobs get built from people who want to build communities where they want to live and want to raise their children and where they want to contribute.

In Richard Florida’s book “The Rise of the Creative Class” he speaks of how this class of individuals will determine how work is organized, what corporations will prosper and what cities people will “want” to live in. Richard Florida worked with Action Greensboro in 2003 to help us better understand what talents and asset’s our city has. This “creative class” is found in a variety of fields, from engineering to theater, biotech to education, architecture to small business. Greensboro, North Carolina is a great place to live and work. Personally, I believe that it has a large population of the “creative class” that if found out more about each other could create a greater city and community. It’s worth a shot. Hopefully, we can be a part of it.

Darryl Howard

Creative Director

So, I have not written a blog in some time as working with contractors, electricians, city officials, interior designers, space planners and every other partner that is assisting with getting the doors open for Space Logix has consumed every minute of my time. I realize that to be successful in any endeavor the key to success is to be surrounded with highly competent individuals. I have been blessed that I have found a superior group of partners that have been with me through this long process. On October 11^th, 2010 we will open the doors to Space Logix. This effort brings this dream to realization that has been over one year in the making. Before this opening date we will hold a “Launch Party” to thank these partners as well as family and friends that have provided an immeasurable amount of support to get the business off the ground. We thank them for their dedication and support. Getting paid to supply a service is one thing, having passion and sharing a vision with someone is another.

One thing that I continue to realize and understand over the last year is that many people are still hurting in this economy. All of us have heard the news and know many people that have lost their jobs, lost their homes, unable to send their kids to college and have had their whole world turned upside down. The news we hear every night ask the question “when will the jobs return?” The bad news is that many of them will never return. However, what will return and what will continue is our resilience and ability to transition to the next phase of our lives. That is something that is ingrained in all of us.

Our work and the contribution we provide through its execution, lies far beyond the ability to make money and provide for our family. Our work is our identity and how we value our part in society. William James the philosopher once quoted “compared to what we ought to be, we are half awake”. The vision for Space Logix has always been to provide a community for individuals that are not half awake.  Everyone wants to find somewhere where they can create something beyond what and who they are. How we work, along with where and when we work has changed dramatically. The internet, downsizing, and our own creativity continue to drive us towards building, changing and learning. I believe and have always said that “money follows”. Work hard, treat people right, dream large and believe with all your heart in what you do.

Come check us out on October 11th, I believe you will find something very unique here in Greensboro.

Darryl Howard – Creative Director

I joke around about the social media movement that I am not all that interesting of a person, that I am not sure why anyone would want to “Follow, Tweet, Like, look at my YouTube videos or read this blog. (Ok, hopefully somebody will read this). Now, I have read several books on using social media for my business and I have hired some really smart people to help me better understand its use.  My previous career was in “IT”. You know the ones that put in the plumbing for the internet. Well to be truthful I was one of those “sales guys” so let’s be honest, I could not be all that smart.  Web 2.0 which social media too often is referred to, is something I am continually working to better understand. Web 1.0 I got. Web 2.0 is the “new” web I understand. I certainly wonder what the next version will bring.

I personally think some of the social media is a bit narcissistic. (Mind you as I write this blog). I hear of people that have 250000 followers on Twitter, 900 connections on LinkedIn and some ungodly amount of friends on Facebook. I usually ask a real stupid question such as “how many of these people do you think would show up at your funeral”? I love to listen to others thoughts and opinions face to face. I really like to take both sides of the party line just to see what reaction I can get.  Call it being dumb enough to listen and cruel enough to mess with them.

I spoke to someone the other day on the phone. Go figure, the actual phone. No curtain behind LinkedIn, Facebook, Tweeting him or email (email I understand is passé). He laughed as he said he does not like email because it is too slow in the communications process. Calling and speaking with someone he prefers because it is more personal. Again, go figure? Collaboration drives creativity and as well it drives well being.  Social media is a great tool and helps us stay connected with one another in both a personal and business environment. Get out from behind the curtain of social media at times. Coworking communities can help with feeling connected with others on a continued basis and therefore helps generate the flow of ideas and innovation. Create, collaborate and connect with others. It is good for the soul and the mind.

Darryl Howard

Founder – Space Logix – “Creative Work Environments

I’ve always liked the artist Cat Stevens. Now many of you may not remember him as he was very popular during the 70’s. Cat Stevens always represented the unique individual that has the capability of being both a poet and a musician. Bob Dylan also comes to mind. After a successful career as an artist Cat Stevens decided that his life was to take a new path. Cat Stevens converted to Islam and stayed out of the public spotlight for several decades donating royalties from his songs to charitable causes and devoting himself to educational and philanthropic causes. As of today Cat Stevens is known as Yusuf Islam. One of my favorite songs by Cat Stevens was the song “Bitterblue”. Cat Stevens wrote this song early in his career not knowing that it provided an insight into his dissatisfaction with his current path.

Second verse from the song “Bitterblue”

Yes, I’ve been running a long time
On this travelling ground
Wishing hard to be free
Of going round and round
Yes I’ve been moving a long time
But only up and down

After having immense popularity and financial success Cat Stevens became true to himself. His second act was a major transformation to his spiritual side that had laid dormant for most of his life. When we listen to that voice within us that tells us that who we are, is not what we will be for the future. Scary as hell. Holding on to the old is easy. Transitioning to the new will test you beyond what you think you are capable of handling. I have slowly learned to let go and follow what I want to do. This is inherent in all of us. Work is the expression of the true self.

“And can we ever know what art makes a man better, if we do not know what we are ourselves?” – Socrates
Darryl Howard – Founder

336-392-125

So my wife got an IPhone the other day. Unfortunately I believe I may have created a monster. Her first day with it and you would think that it was her first toy when she was young enough to remember. Web surfing, social media, email, pics, music and she is in heaven. She now wants to connect to any hotspot to check her email, pay her bills and basically become just another addict of a technology that has changed our lives. Not the first one in history to do such. Now my wife is no technology wizard. She relies on me for this. Absorbed with the technology and the “fix” we get from the constant stimulation from the communication with others and the flow of information we seem to have become disconnected from those around us.

Now I am a firm believer in the use of technology to better our lives and to provide quick access to information and the sharing of ideas. However, I also believe that interaction with others creates not only a strong personal bond with others but continues to enhance our creative energy and critical thought process. According to The Center on Media and Child Health, one study found 37 percent of teens surveyed became addicted to their phones. Heavy use is also linked to depression, anxiety and an impaired ability to express emotions. This is just too sad to put into words.

I told my wife that I believe that the cell phone manufacturers are putting something into the cell phone components that affects our brain to the addiction of their use. She stills thinks I am not all together in some areas.

I try to apply to my life what I believe may be a balance of information saturation and our creativity. I try to put the phone down, to read a book, talk to a friend and a stranger! Talking to people you don’t know and really listening to what they have to say and to show a sincere interest, can reveal a tremendous amount of information about them and yourself. Don’t lose touch with others. Trust me I know the affects of isolation from working at home for 15 years. This is why I have decided to start Space Logix. People need to be together. It’s what we are all about.

For a quick look at a poignant YouTube video on our working lives check this video out. It is so true.

Darryl Howard – Founder

darryl@spacelogix.com

So what the heck is coworking and what can it do for me? I spend a great deal of my time explaining what the concept of “coworking” is and how it can benefit many of us. In a nutshell as described by Wikipedia http://bit.ly/3IlGMo coworking is described as;

“Coworking is a style of work which involves a shared working environment, sometimes an office yet independent activity. Unlike in a typical office environment, those coworking are usually not employed by the same organization. Typically it is attractive to work-at-home professionals, independent contractors, or people who travel frequently who 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.”

Space Logix is a coworking space for entrepreneurs, freelancers, telecommuting remote workers, sales professionals and anyone seeking a working environment with community, professional business amenities and a dynamic environment with an emphasis on your surroundings. In fact there are over 200 coworking locations throughout the US and many others throughout the world. All are individually owned and built to support their respective community.

For some very interesting spaces that are throughout the world take a look at the following locations that offer an excellent visual representation of what we hope to create with Space Logix. Stay tuned as we provide updates on the creation of this first coworking facility in Greensboro! Darryl Howard – Founder

Blankspaces – Los Angeles

Hive at 55 – NYC

I spend a lot of time in coffee shops. I will use the term coffee shops to describe those locations that serve a variety of services including coffee and food. We all know the usual suspects in our local areas when we refer to “coffee shops”. Now this being said my reason for visiting these locations is for research on the business. In fact I have probably been to every coffee shop in the Greensboro area multiple times at multiple times of the day. I have noticed that coffee shop users are broken down into different types of customers. Especially when it comes down to the users of coffee shops using the space to conduct business. I will attempt to break down these users in the following classifications. First let’s start with; The “Real Customers” – You can imagine who these people are. They are the ones that actually come to coffee shops to do something like actually eat or get a cup of coffee. I actually think that these customers the shops may like as they spend the most money.

The “Professor” – These are the people who show up with their books, newspapers, magazines and other reading material and occupy space in a quiet corner. They look intelligent and very at peace in their little world. Have they never heard of product such as a Kindle? I like this people. They allow the chaos to not affect their enjoyment of simple pleasures in life.

The “Student” – I like these people. Show up with a load of books in their pajamas with a look like they stayed up all night possibly studying but probably not. We’ve all been here. Maybe one day they will be a real customer with real money. The parents hope so.

The “Junkies” – Normally show up with a coffee order that sounds more like a grocery list. Double latte, low-fat skim with a double shot of blah, blah, blah. Just like a drug addict. As a child of the 60’s and 70’s I really like these people.

And now for the rest of the crew. Those of us who have figured out what the shops have found are their repeat customers who actually spend the least of money and spend the greatest amount of time. I really believe that the owners of the shops feel like they have created a monster with us.

The “PHD’s” – those are the ones that take a large table and look like they are doing research on some new drug. Small lab and office combined with papers, books, laptops, stapler and anything else that they can fit into a massive backpack. I love these people as they need a new home!

The “Blue People” – The ones that are constantly on their Blue tooth and talking to someone like they got it together with some high-tech gadget. So passé.  Have they not figured out that we do not want to hear their entire conversation and at a volume that we can pick up from 50’ away. Enough said on these people.

The “Rest of Us” – And now for the rest of the crew. We are the home based, traveling people, need a place for a meeting – going crazy – working – out – of – the – house – people. We all know who we are. I like these people as they are the ones I want to serve. The ones that hate the coffee grinder, overhead (“Order up!”) speaker, no privacy, hard chairs, sticky, unleveled tables, no printers, slow wireless, – the have – no – other – choice – people.

We are like nomads in a new frontier without supplies. There is hope people! Stay tuned…