Strategizing the Direction of Your Coworking Space
So you're planning on opening a coworking space. You start to plan what it will look like, where it will be located, and the materials you’ll need. You're daydreaming of all the amazing people and fun productive times to be had once it's built. These are all great things to consider, but what is the strategy behind your new coworking space? How will you establish the culture of your brand?
There are three things need to be created and executed during the entire life cycle of your business. They work together to create a foundation and direction, to establish the culture, to ensure understanding of what your space represents, and to stand out in the coworking industry. Let’s break these concepts down.
A Mission Statement
A mission statement identifies the company’s business aspects and objectives. It's very useful to drive the culture through the veins of every person in the company and space.
It’s the how/who/what:
- How will you get to where you want to be?
- How will you be different in this industry?
- Who are your customers?
- Who is the key audience?
- Who are your stockholders, employees, and suppliers?
- What are your customer’s needs?
- What are your core values?
- What is the benefit of your company?
Example: “A workspace that fosters innovation, productivity, and community while providing a work-home away from home”
A Vision Statement
Your vision statement illustrates the desired future of the company. It’s how your coworking space will look if it executes its mission statement successfully. It's often assumed that the mission statement and vision statement are interchangeable; however, that is not the case.
It’s the where/when:
- Where will the company be in 1, 5 and 10 years?
- What are your primary goals and when do you need to reach them?
Example: “Using our unlimited passion for community and helping others, to provide the best place to work, as only we [insert space name] can.”
Values
Define what the company believes in and how everyone is expected to behave with one another. Values are used to provide moral direction as well as fuel the mission statement. These values need to be engrained to each person, in all levels of the organization.
Click here to see an example of our values or “norms” for our Montrose, CO location of Proximity Space.
These three things will help guide the management of your space with a big-picture framework. They'll create a culture you desire and ensure everything (from employees to marketing campaigns) is cohesive with what your space is striving to achieve. Now that these pivotal steps have been created you’ll start to notice the difference between coworking spaces and maybe be able to fine-tune your own strategic direction. Cowork on!
Setting Up Membership Types
One of the best things about working at Proximity is interacting with individuals who are opening coworking spaces for the first time. Over the last year, I’ve had one question come up time and time again. “How should I structure and set up my membership types?”
There are three simple things I like to consider when setting up membership types:
Step 1: KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid)
This is a good time to visit the acronym KISS, (Keep it Simple, Stupid) and it’s great advice for setting up memberships within your space. Coworking is still a relatively new concept, and it oftentimes requires a lot of education for new members who may not be familiar with the concept of coworking. Because of this, it’s important to make sure that you set up your membership types in a way that is simple and easy to understand. I recommend only having 3-5 options for people to choose from.
Step 2: Price to Value Equation
Have you ever gone to purchase something and realized that the more expensive option was not necessarily the better deal? This is because the price to value equation was misaligned. When setting up your membership types it’s important to ensure that for each price increase, there should be an equal or greater increase in value for the purchaser.
Step 3: Tools for Increasing Value
Now that you’ve got the first two steps down, the only thing left is to list out all of the service offerings that you have available at your coworking space. Once you’ve done that, you can start bundling your offerings together to create your membership types. Remember, just because there is not a dollar amount associated with some of your service offerings does not mean it is without value.
Service Offering Examples
- Newsletter
- Community Profile
- Company Profile
- Events/Classes
- Access during open hours (M-F, 9-5)
- WiFi
- Printer, Copier, Scanner
- Coffee
- 27/7 Access
- Mailing Address
- Shared Desk/Chair
- Private Desk
- Personal Chair
- Filing Cabinet
- Private Office
- Team Member Passes
- Conference Rooms (price/hr)
- Free Conference Room Hours / Membership Type
- Discounted Conference Room Rates / Membership Type
Below is a video to help you lay out your membership types, their prices, and the service offerings that come with each. We are also happy to share our Membership Pricing Structures document for your use. Please be sure to copy and paste the document into a new excel sheet.
Coworking Playlists
Many studies have shown that music is effective in raising efficiency while working. Whether you’re checking your email, filling out a spreadsheet, or working on tasks that require more creativity, playing some tunes will make your work day go by that much faster while being more enjoyable. There have also been multiple studies where participants who listened to music completed their work faster and came up with better ideas than those who didn’t because the music improved their mood.
Finding a good playlist for your coworking space can be difficult. There are so many genres and moods to choose from, and you want to find the perfect balance. Luckily, we've created some playlists for you!
CLICK HERE for our Spotify account.
Follow us and check out our specialized playlists, including:
Monday Motivation, for when you've had a great weekend and need to come back into focus.
Workday Focus, in times when you need to buckle down and finish that project.
Happy Friday, perfect when the weekend is so close you can taste it!
Road Trip, for when you're Nomading around and have many hours and miles ahead of you.
Get Energized, a favorite for an afternoon pick-me-up!
Quiet Mornings, for when you need to gently ease into your day, along with lots of coffee.
Instrumental Covers, when you want to listen to your favorites, but not be distracted by lyrics.
Proximity Favorites, if you're interested in hearing what we've been jamming to!
Our account and playlists will update regularly, so follow along and play them for your members. Do you have recommendations of your own for more playlists or songs? Let us know!
Introducing Balance Space
Founded by three "mompreneurs", Balance Space in Henrico, Virginia has recently opened its doors as a place for parents to get some uninterrupted work done. Here's what owner Courtney Buzzell has to say about their new coworking space.
When did you open your coworking space and what enticed you to do so?
The idea was originally launched in July of 2017 when one of our owners had her second child and found that she could accomplish more in 2 hours of kid-free time as an entrepreneur than most could in a 40 hour work week (or at least she felt that way). We launched The Balance Space December 2018, as three mompreneurs that know the real value (and challenge) of work-life balance as a mompreneur. We wanted to empower other mommas (and dads) to keep killin' it in the workplace without compromising on their number 1 priority...the kiddos. It was a great combination of having support from others running businesses while being present for families, coaching and business advice, productivity, time to actually nurse instead of pump, and peace-of-mind from the mom guilt.
Tell us about your space. How big is it? What kinds of amenities do you have? What sort of quirks make it special?
We have over 10,000 sq ft of space with 2 lounges, a gym, a wellness area, homework room, healthy vending machine, kids area, catering kitchen, and so much more. Some of the perks include a podcast room, dimming light switches, TONS of storage. Of course, childcare - so kids can be on-site while parents get uninterrupted work time, for meetings and for productivity in general.
We also have a board of advisors that dedicate time each month to mentor our members and provide guidance, they are truly invested in the success of each part of our community.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
My business partners and coming to work with my WHOLE self (all the "little pieces" too) ;)
What has been the most surprising/unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
How much time people spend in the communal area to chat and lend support even when they have their own private office. Coworking is so different than "renting space." It's building and nurturing a community. Regardless of where the physical space is, what we are building goes way beyond the four (or four hundred LOL) walls of our space. We are empowering people to build their dreams and to teach their mini-me's that life CAN be a balance.
What’s your favorite story about one of your members?
Our first member, Optimum Ed owner, Tom Leahy, was so excited about his office that he began meeting with people in the space before his office was even fully painted. We loved watching give tours of not just his own office, but the entire space with such pride and excitement [in regards to] what the space would do for him and his business. We could FEEL the community already coming together.
What is your biggest piece of advice for someone wanting to open a space?
Coworking is about a community not about a space. The space is just one piece of what the community is all about. Build the community first and allow the space to follow.
How To Partner With Local Coffee Shops
We like to describe coworking as "a coffee shop in reverse": shared space where you can get some work done, and the coffee happens to be unlimited and free. However, we never want to compete with our local coffee shops, and they can actually be a great resource for new coworkers. Here are a few cool ways to build a great relationship with your local coffee shop.
Offer a free day of (or discount on) drop-in coworking to anyone with a same-day receipt from a local coffee shop. We've found that coffee shops love this plan. They can keep customers moving through their shops without them parking in a chair all day while still selling their delicious goods. If you provide the coffee shop with a catchy sign or flyer, it makes it super easy for them to get the word out.
Reverse that plan and ask the coffee shop to offer a discount to anyone who works in your space that day. This gives you a great way to incentivize your coworkers to visit a shop they may have never been to before and strengthens your relationship with the coffee shop.
Brew their beans in your space. Ask the coffee shop for some kind of signage so your coworkers know where their daily fuel is coming from.
Offer your event space to the coffee shop for coffee cuppings or latte art competitions. This will bring a new audience into your space and will provide your favorite shop with a more spacious venue.
That's it! We've found that these tactics bring awareness to potential new members, enhance your brand reputation by promoting local, and even create opportunities for business partnerships beyond the coffee shops. Happy coworking!
P.S. Have you partnered with your local coffee shop? We'd love to hear how you did it!
Introducing The Commons on Champa
We love having the Commons on Champa in the Proximity Network! Located in Denver, Colorado, this space is unique in that they have free workspaces that are open and available to the public. We recently sat down with Strategic Manager, Jacqui Dietrich to talk about her coworking space.
Tell us about your coworking space.
The Commons on Champa is Denver’s hub for entrepreneurship. It was founded in 2015 and was a vision to be a public/private partnership that would advance innovation and entrepreneurship in our city by offering a public space that’s open to any innovator. [It's a] space for them to do their best thinking, to collaborate with others or simply to be in a place with great wifi or any other of our resources.
What is your favorite thing about operating this space?
My favorite thing about being a part of the Commons on Champa community is that every day is completely different. Every day an entrepreneur walks through our doors with a new idea or brings in someone new that they want to introduce to our resources. We love that so many people feel like they belong or are co-owners in everything that we do here. The entrepreneurs themselves bring so much energy into inspiring other people and pushing each other forward. It makes every day something to look forward to.
What is your favorite story about one of your members?
The Commons on Champa is unique in that we have workspaces that are free and open to the public, and over the last year, we’ve helped entrepreneurs that were a part of our accelerator programs get their business started. I can’t really pick one favorite, but the best part is seeing an entrepreneur that we saw 6 months ago that walked in our front door with just an idea and a lot of nervous energy. They find a community that inspires them and a mentor that really helps them out, or a resource that helps them figure out the technical aspects of what they’re working on. 6 months later, they have the confidence to launch their business and are helping others take their ideas to the next level.
What is your biggest piece of advice for someone working out of a coworking space?
You can feel like part of a team even if you’re all working on different ideas, so if you really think of other people in this coworking space as potential collaborators and people who might need your support as much as you need theirs, it makes for a great day spent working long hours.
Introducing the (co)working space
Introducing Campus Coworking
We're so excited to be able to welcome Campus Coworking to the Proximity Network! Campus Coworking is a new space that just opened this January in Jefferson City, Missouri. We recently spoke with co-founders Missy and Sarah to find out what makes their space special.
When did you open your coworking space and what enticed you to do so?
Sarah: We opened January 1, 2019. As of right now, we have been open 24 days! Whoohoo! This whole idea of bringing coworking to Jefferson City came from our local 1 Million Cups organizers. When they launched 1 Million Cups in Jefferson City it was, and still is, a huge success. Because of their success, people on the organizing team thought our city would be ready for coworking space. At the time, I was a full-time high school teacher, but I wanted to help and be a part of this. After the end of last school year, I decided it was time to move on to something else and Missy and I haven’t looked back.
Tell us about your space. How big is it? What kinds of amenities do you have?
Missy: Our space is 5,000sqft
Sarah: We offer Fiber internet, 24/7 access, a large conference room and small conference room with whiteboards, printing, office supplies, classes offered by local business experts, free parking, incoming and outgoing mail, phone booths for private calls, short term lockers, onsite food, a shared retail space for local makers, and coffee!
What sort of quirks make it special?
Missy: One of my favorite things is that we have pieces of furniture from all of these old, iconic businesses that have existed or still do exist in Jefferson City. We have lockers that the nurses used at a major hospital that closed a few years ago. We have wooden tables that have been resealed from an old shoe factory - it still had square nails! We have chairs from a beloved clothing store and we have the perfect storage cabinet that we use for members’ mailboxes from the oldest plumbing company in town. They’re unique, can’t be found again, and represent a line of history and successful businesses in our hometown.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
Missy: The opportunity to learn something completely out of my wheelhouse. We’re learning how to be great operators, how to manage more people in our other businesses, how to run a retail store (it’s in the front of the space), and all kinds of good things about construction and city code.
Sarah: I love getting to work around so many different people who are experts in so many different fields. I know that each day when I go to work, I will get to learn something new.
What has been the most surprising/unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
Missy: How generous our friends, colleagues, family, clients, and strangers have been to help us get started on the right foot. I mean, we always knew there are great people here, but oh. my. gosh. They’re incredible people.
Sarah: I have to totally agree with Missy! One of our members put it out there that we were looking for plants and at our grand opening, so many people walked in the door with plants. We also had people get us cleaning supplies, coffee makers, a microwave, or they just came in and helped us get the space ready. It was truly a team effort.
What’s your favorite story about one of your members?
Missy: Cassie. She’s a poster child. She reached out to us to take part in a giveaway for a blog we write and when she came to deliver her goods we had her meet us at the coworking space while it was still under construction. It was there we learned that she was a full-time nurse about to quit her job and go full time with her business My Fair Ellie selling hair bows. She signed up that week and has used the space to network and find other entrepreneurs in the area. Being in the medical field, she knew no one in this network. It really was perfect timing. Her last day was December 31st and we opened the doors on January 1.
What is your biggest piece of advice for someone wanting to open a space?
Missy: I’m not sure we’re experienced enough to give advice yet, but what I’m learning is that you’re going to need a runway of time for your space to fill so be sure that you don’t take on a space too expensive that you can’t give yourself the necessary time it’s going to take. You (most likely) won’t be full on day one, so know you’ll be upside down for a bit. It’s a matter of how long can you be upside down and is that enough time for your space to take shape?
Sarah: Make sure you work hard every single day (especially in the beginning) to get people through the door. Even if they aren’t looking for a membership, they probably know someone who can use it.
Introducing Block Forty45
Named after their address on 4045 Pecos Street in Denver, Block Forty45 is a coworking space in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Sunnyside. Here's what Community Director, Nina Khosravi, has to say about her space.
Tell us about your space. What makes it special?
Our space is 4045 coworking in Sunnyside, it is 7000 sq ft. 15 private offices, 4 dedicated desks, and 8 hot desks. We offer community events and 24/7 access to our space. I think what makes us special is our community. We have a lot of people who are local tenants and the vibe and energy are very familia-esque.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
My favorite thing about operating a coworking space is that I get to help people feel like they're a part of something. It’s important to be excited to go to work every day. I personally hate working from home, so it makes me excited to come into work every day, see these people, catch up, and the fact that we can all help each other feel like we’re a part of a group is what makes it special.
What is the most surprising or unexpected thing about operating this space?
I think one of the most surprising things is to see how organic the connections are that grow and how many business opportunities people get. I know that's a big incentive to work out of coworking spaces, but to actually see it live in-action is surprising to me. One of our tenants just made a new hire, and the tenant two doors down is the one who referred the new hire. There has just been a really cool, amazing way that everyone has been working together or joining forces and it just happens on its own so it’s awesome.
What is your favorite story about one of your members?
One of my favorite stories is about my tenant David Herrero, he was actually, before we opened, in contact about leasing space. He drifted on and off my radar, but I was very persistent and kept following up with him, so after about 2 and half months of going back and forth, he moved to Colorado. He was living out-of-state and now we’ve become really good friends. He’s everyone's favorite in coworking.
What’s your biggest piece of advice for someone wanting to work out of a coworking space?
My biggest piece of advice is to go off of your gut and see how it feels. The amenities and space itself are very important, but at the end of the day, you want to feel comfortable there with the people [in the space]. Pay attention to the community manager and other tenants that are there to see if it's the kind of vibe that you want. If you’re a hard worker and very motivated, you want to surround yourself by other companies that are doing that.
For us, it's personal
At Proximity we often say that we're not a software company, we're a people company. Sure, we're in business because we want to be successful, but what really drives us is the people we get to work with every day. Our customers, our employees, and our families are what matter most. For us, our mission to support coworking spaces is not just business, it's personal.
The other day, we received the nicest email from Caroline Thornton with WacoWork in Waco, Texas. She reached out to express her gratitude and to share with us the role that Proximity played in the growth of her coworking space. We're just so floored by the sincerity of her message and we couldn't help but share it with you.
Proximity Team,
I have tried to start this letter many times and each time coming up shy of conveying the gratitude I have in my heart for you all. LONG story short, Proximity quite literally saved my coworking space. Let me explain briefly so I can get to the good part of thanking individuals on your team. I am a founder of a coworking space in Waco, Texas. We opened in April of 2018. Coworking did not exist in Waco Texas. Waco is smack dab in between Austin and Dallas Fort Worth and always about 5-10 years behind those two cities and getting a coworking space was no different. Dennis came by after we had been opened 4ish months on his way from Dallas area to Austin and we gabbed all things coworking spaces, startup spaces, and coworking software for at least 2 hours. Dennis may not know it but that day and the next day following, he breathed life into not only my space but myself, creating fire to pivot where things weren’t working, sprint in the areas they were, and have the grit to see this thing through. He still encourages me each month we catch up. I immediately changed my tactics, focus, and went into overdrive. So Dennis, thank you. There really aren’t enough thank yous but I will do my best to always make Proximity proud and shout y’all’s praises!
While I haven’t met everyone on the incredible Proximity team - the few I have, have gone above and beyond to meet our needs. Will was the first person I met on the team. Will was getting ready to go out of town but ensured I would have access to get ahold of him if needed, reassured me this was the right step we needed to move in and was a wonderful first impression of the Proximity team. Will, thank you for being just the person I needed to talk to in order to feel peace of mind in a time of anxiousness. Montana, oh my gah. Montana is a rockstar who deals with my millions of questions, walked me through step-by-step of switching everything over to Proximity from our former software and I feel a genuine friendship with her. I love to hear about her boys and family and she always asks how I am doing, how the holidays are and gives encouragement when I need it as a Community Manager. Montana, thank you for being more than a relationship coordinator and someone I can call a friend! PS ask Montana how she pronounces the name of my city/coworking space ;) . Nathan is another rockstar. We had a previous door access control and he worked quite literally 8 hours on and off (or maybe more honestly) with our tech guy to figure out the mess the previous company had made when installing the door access system. Nathan, THANK YOU for your patience and willingness to not give up. Brian! Brian - you are doing a phenomenal job leading and facilitating the School of Coworking convos. Today was the second one and I learned so much, but more importantly felt not so alone listening to Josh and others express hardships they too have faced but felt encouraged, challenged, and supported! Thank you.
I know there are so many others on the team that I haven’t gotten the pleasure to meet yet, but I truly cannot wait to work with each of you. I know that more than the few individuals I listed makeup all that Proximity does and offers and I thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart.
Alright - enough of me. Time to get more shit done so Proximity can continue to sweep the world of coworking. Go get em.
Caroline Thornton
Community Director at WacoWork
Introducing The Wayne Smith
Introducing Catalyst
Catalyst in Denver, Colorado is a coworking space meant to bring together people in the healthcare industry. It boasts an unbeatable view of downtown Denver, a spacious kitchen with booths to work out of, and is Well Building Certified, meaning the building has been designed for improving the health and well being on the inside. We talked to Koleby Margoles, the Community Manager of Catalyst about the space.
When did this space open? What enticed you to do so?
We opened our space in July of 2018. The entire goal of Catalyst is to put different players within the healthcare industry into one physical location. The coworking space is just an aspect of that. We have 7 floors of a large building and the idea was just to have all these different providers within healthcare, systems, and organizations together in one physical location to help break down those barriers to see what is really bringing healthcare down and create direct change.
What type of amenities do you have and what makes Catalyst special?
Our coworking space itself is about 20,000 sq ft. We have 60 different offices ranging from 1 to 6 people, and 32 individual reserved desks. The entire building of Catalyst is around 250,000 sq ft, so we have a lot of office space, but the coworking space operates the entire 4th floor.
What is your favorite thing about operating a space?
Getting to work with so many different people. Every day is a new challenge, and a new experience and that’s why I love it so much. I’ve worked in coworking before and I find it to be really inspiring that we have all these different people from all walks of life in one physical location, and working with them is so fascinating and fun for me.
What is the most unexpected or surprising thing you’ve come across?
The most surprising thing, specifically about Catalyst has just been the excitement people have just being here. When I first signed on, I thought, it’s just a coworking space - but people are so excited to be here and interact with one another. It’s really inspiring for me to be here every day. I see all these collaborations in meetings happening organically which is so rewarding for me.
What is your biggest piece of advice for someone wanting to open a coworking space?
I would say the advice I have for someone wanting to open a coworking space, which is now a huge booming industry, is to have your focus and what your why is. Why are you opening up your space? What’s the reason for you being there? Yes, you can just be a space where people need a spot to work, but what’s your goal and what’s your focus. What are you going to be providing them that’s going to help them achieve their goals in their business. Having the why is really important to be able to achieve that success.
Top 50 book Recommendations for Coworking Space Owners, Community Builders, and Entrepreneurs
One of the most challenging yet exhilarating parts about being an entrepreneur is what I like to call, wading through obscurity, which is when you’re in the process of creating something new. For me, the process of creating something new always starts with a feeling of something I want, or something I think would be helpful for my community. Personally, that process can often take a long time, and one of the things that I’ve found most helpful in allowing me to refine those thoughts is turning to books. Whether it's paperback, hardcover, or audiobook, it’s always helpful to hear about the solutions that other men and women have come up with for their particular challenges.
Below is a list of my top 50 book recommendations for coworking space owners, community builders, and entrepreneurs.
Ecosystem/Community Building
- Startup Communities: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your City - Brad Feld
- The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur’s Vision of the Future - Steve Case
- Innovation Blindspot: Why We Back The Wrong Ideas - And What To Do About It - Ross Baird
- The Launchpad: Inside Y Combinator - Randall Stross
- Makers & Takers: The Rise of Finance and the fall of American Small Business - Rana Foroohar
- Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community - Robert D. Putnam
- The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters - Priya Parker
- The Coming Jobs War: What Every Leader Must Know About The Future Of Job Creation - Jim Clifton
- Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier - Edward Gleaser
Building your business
- Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business - Gino Wickman
- Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field - Mike Michalowicz
- Blue Ocean Strategy: Beyond Competing - Proven Steps to Inspire Confidence and Seize New Growth - W. Chan Kim & Renee Mauborgne
- Clock Work: Design Your Business to Run Itself - Mike Michalowicz
- Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKR’s - John Doerr
- The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses - Eric Rise
- Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It… and Why the Rest Don’t - Verne Harnish
- Expert Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Creating a Mass Movement of People Who Will Pay for Your Advice - Russell Brunson & Robert Kiyosaki
- The Startup Checklist: 25 Steps to a Scalable, High-Growth Business - David S. Rose
- Hug your Customers: The Proven Way to Personalize Sales and Achieve Astounding Results - Jack Mitchell
- The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement - Eliyahu M. Goldratt & Jeff Cox
- Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine - Mike Michalowicz
- Do More Faster: TechStart Lessons to Accelerate Your Startup - Brad Feld & David B. Cohen
Personal Development
- High Performance Habits: How Extaordinary People Become That Way - Brendon Burchard
- Inside the Box: A Proven System of Creativity for Breakthrough Results - Drew Boyd & Jacob Goldenberg
- Leadership Pain: The Classroom for Growth - Samuel Chand
- Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity - David Allen & James Fallows
- Be Obsessed or Be Average - Grant Cardone
- The Sell: The Secrets of Selling Anything to Anyone - Fredrik Eklund & Bruce Littlefield
- Mindset: The New Psychology of Success - Carol S. Dweck
- Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything - Joshua Foer
Inspirational Entrepreneurs
- Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future - Ashlee Vance
- Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike - Phil Knight
- Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson
- Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller - Ron Chernow
- The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World - Randall Stross
- Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story - Arnold Schwarzenegger
- When I stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man - Jerry Weintraub & Rich Cohen
- Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man’s First Journey to the Moon - Robert Kurson
- The Accidental billionaires: The Founding of Facebook - Ben Mezrich
Marketing Books
- This is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See - Seth Godin
- Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen - Donald Miller
- Hacking Growth: Silicon Valley’s Best Kept Secret - Raymond Fong & Chad Riddersen
- Growth Hacker: A Primer on the Future of PR, Marketing, and Advertising - Ryan Holiday
- Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? - Seth Godin
- Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us - Seth Godin
Hiring, Culture, and Leadership
- The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How. - Daniel Coyle
- The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups - Daniel Coyle
- 5 Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable - Patrick M. Lencioni
- The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues - Patrick M. Lencioni
- Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter - Liz Wiseman
(Bonus!) Other Kick-Ass Books that didn’t fall into a category but are still worth reading :)
- The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google - Scott Galloway
- Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle - Dan Senor
- Bad Blood: Secrets and lies in a Silicon Valley Startup - John Carreyrou
- Start with WHY: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action - Simon Sinek
- Modern Monopolies: What It Takes to Dominate the 21st Century Economy - Alex Moazed
- Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future - Peter Thiel
- The New New Thing: A Silicon Valley Story - Michael Lewis
- Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think - Peter H. Diamandis
- The Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World - Adam Grant
- The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand
I hope you find this list helpful. If you have questions or would like insight on which specific books to read for the challenges you are currently dealing with, please feel free to email me at Brian@beinproximity.com.
If you would like to join our online community of coworking space owners, managers, and community developers sign up here for free!
Introducing WacoWork
The first of its kind in Waco, Texas, we're so dang excited to welcome WacoWork into the Proximity Network! With beer on tap, a full-on photo studio, and some of the best murals around, this is a coworking space that you simply can't miss. Here's what space owner Caroline Thornton has to say about this beautiful place to work!
When did you open your coworking space and what enticed you to do so?
We opened in April of this year. We knew Waco was starting to grow and that Texas as a whole was seeing a massive influx of people moving from California to Texas. We saw the different groups of innovative and creative people in town start to take shape, yet they didn't have a place to call home as far as work goes. We opened WacoWork with the hopes of creating a physical space for family: individual to have a place to gather, create, work, and celebrate. Waco did not have a coworking space and we wanted to be the first on the ground to set the tone for why coworking is valuable to everyone who chooses to dive into it as a community member.
Tell us about your space. How big is it? What kinds of amenities do you have? What sort of quirks make it special?
Our space is a little over 5,000 sq feet. It is in an old 1920s renovated building, but much of the character and beauty is still intact. We are in a part of downtown that is being revived and WacoWork is one of the first on the block with this new life. We offer so much considering coworking spaces did not exist until we came along. Everything from bottomless coffee, beer on tap, an in-house photo studio (YES), event space, a 20ft whiteboard wall, and a rad community of individuals who didn't know each other before and now function as one working community.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
My favorite part about WacoWork and coworking spaces is the community that comes along with it. It is unlike any friendship or group I have been apart of prior. You get to know people of different ages, races, religions, professions, etc and become friends. You hang out with some of these people outside the walls of the space and others not, but everyone seems to genuinely have an interest in one another, what they are working on, and who they are.
What has been the most surprising/unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
The most surprising and unexpected thing about operating a coworking space has truly been how fun it can be. Who knew work could truly be SO enjoyable? From weekly happy hours, to being a part of a podcast society and book club, to walking to lunch with fellow members. This place gives me life and so much joy.
What’s your favorite story about one of your members?
I love the story of our member Meg who joined before our doors opened and as she was finishing her Masters of Social Work. She had a burning desire to start a non-profit of resources for people who are caregivers. Once our space opened she made so many connections with other coworkers who helped her create a website, a logo, and even became members on her board. SO neat. Coworking at its finest.
What is your biggest piece of advice for someone wanting to open a space?
Look to other spaces who you admire, meet with as many people as possible who have started and run coworking spaces, and pick their brain. People are more willing than you'd realize. Also, find the best coworking platform (Proximity all day every day, hands down) before you open. This can be a key for early success.
Introducing Wayfinder Co-op
We love stopping by Wayfinder Co-op. Located in Denver, Wayfinder is a coworking space for the outdoor-inspired. Brands and individuals working in the outdoor industry can become co-op members of Wayfinder, as it operates as a purchasing cooperative. We sat down with co-founder Britten Ferguson to find out more about this coworking space with an enthusiasm for the outdoors.
When did you open your coworking space?
We officially opened in April 2018. The idea started the summer of 2017, but we didn’t secure the space until September 2017.
Have you done coworking before this? Where did you get your concept/inspiration?
I don’t think any of us ever thought we would be owners of a coworking space. That was definitely not on the radar. We each run our own respective outdoor focused companies. Running our outdoor focused companies is what we do. Wayfinder was just finding a home for our projects. Initially, our idea was to get a house with a keg on tap and get our own room, and it turned into a fun base camp with everything we had going on. When we dug into the numbers and model, we realized it was kind of expensive for the three of us. Eventually, we reached out to a network that was smaller teams or entrepreneurs in the outdoor or recreation industry. The feedback was really positive, they were saying "Yes, if you build this I will come." This shifted from small-scale to maybe there is an opportunity here because Denver is such a hub for not only the outdoor industry, but Wayfinder is coworking for the outdoor-inspired.
We have a ton of people who work here who aren’t directly affiliated with the outdoor industry, they are just excited about the community that we’ve built here and the opportunities for connecting with that community and playing outside. A ton of our members go climbing together, there are a couple of hut trips organized for this winter we are going to do. We have developers, a law team, and people who aren’t working in the industry but love the culture.
What’s your favorite thing about coworking?
I’ve only ever been to a couple coworking spaces, but from the very beginning we were honestly never looking at this as a coworking space, but more of a hub and a cultural center for people who are interested in exploring and getting outside and those opportunities we have living in Colorado.
Introducing Triad Work Space
We're elated to have Triad Work Space joining the Proximity Network! Located in High Point, North Carolina, Triad Work Space is helping businesses thrive, all while being a place where people come together to create new connections and be productive. The space offers a podcast studio with quality audio equipment and a soundproof room; made available to both members and the public. Triad Work Space is now open for coworking and is already hosting several events over the holidays to support members in growing their businesses, and to share stories about the importance of coworking to them and the High Point area. Here's what owner Jackie has to say about their space!
When did you open your coworking space and what enticed you to do so?
Triad Work Space opened in Oct. 2018. We wanted to do coworking because we needed office space and we love coworking!
Tell us about your space. How big is it? What kinds of amenities do you have? What sort of quirks make it special?
Our space is 2,500 square-feet and it's very upbeat and lively! We offer FREE snacks and drinks, and a monthly Happy Hour Social! What makes us unique is we offer FREE business and marketing consulting for our members. We also have the only podcast studio in High Point, NC.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
The best thing about working here is the opportunity to see businesses present themselves professionally with little cost!
Find us on Instagram @triadworkspace
Introducing Back Office Studio
Introducing the Ski Locker
My favorite part about operating a coworking space is literally saying hello to my fellow coworkers. There's nothing better than that initial morning salutation to start my day. I'm simply a more productive person after greeting someone in the morning, especially on Monday's so I can see what people did outside over the weekend!
