June 25th, 2009

Listen up, Señor T is talking to you. If you have ever tried to spend 8 hours working from a coffee shop, then I don't have to tell you that it's not all that it's cracked up to be. Yes, its a fun dynamic working environment, where people will make you coffee and tasty snacks. However, spotty internet connections, loud music, chatty patrons and lack of power outlets get old quick. But for a cybernomad like me, plopping down a monitor on a desk just isn't an option.

Shared Workspaces

In recent years, shared community orientated workspaces have been growing in numbers. Places like Souk, which we jokingly refer to as the ELC Portland office, are great places to drop in and work. They have flexible memberships and sport all the accommodations of a regular office (except a boss). I am currently at Office Nomads in Seattle and they even have a kegarator, a 48 inch TV and people doing Yoga.

Coworking Visas

But you still don't want to be stuck in the same city in the same shared office, because a shared office is still an office. Enter the Coworking Visa, which is a network of shared workspaces like Souk and Office Nomads that allow you to float between them if you have a membership at one location. This isn't a small network either. They are in most major and some not so major US cities and 13 countries around the world, including Buenos Aires where I spent the last month. Anyways, its totally amazing and I encourage you all to pick up your computer and wander with it. Sorry the pictures are so bad, I broke my camera.