Syracuse Guru has big news! Our good friend Jamie White who you may know as SyracuseFirst’s Director of Communications is joining the Guru team! He’ll be providing you with interesting articles highlighting the many cool developments in Syracuse and CNY. We’re happy to have Jamie on board. Aside from being deeply involved with SyracuseFirst, he has his hands in many projects across town. He’s been curating the SyracuseFirst blog for the last few years, is a social media fanatic, and to those who know him–an all-around great guy. He believes in our city’s potential and is passionate about ‘Cuse just like the Guru. So without further ado, here’s Jamie’s first article as a Guru Contributor!
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42 million: The total number of people who are freelancers, independent workers, entrepreneurs, consultants, or self-employed. That’s over 30% of the entire US labor force. These numbers are projected to balloon to almost 65 million people and 40% of the workforce by 2020.
As you can imagine, these are people without traditional office environments–no cubicles, no water coolers, no break rooms, no meeting spaces. In fact, over 90% of independent workers take refuge at a home office. While working from home has its advantages (schedule flexibility, autonomy), it can provide real barriers to productivity (dishes, laundry, dogs, kids) and be isolating from other people (especially in the midst of a Central New York winter).
Enter Coworking.
Coworking spaces sprang to life in the mid-2000′s in response to the changing economy and burgeoning growth in independent workers. To understand Coworking and the people behind them, picture this: a room with no cubicles or partitions, people milling around between tables and chairs, an energetic hum of conversation and collaboration, the smell of coffee, a sense of community. Coworking is about providing a space for the entrepreneur, freelancer, consultant, and self-employed to work. It is the creation of a community of diverse professionals, learning from and connecting with each other.
The collaborative workspace model isn’t new, but it has proven successful. Steve Jobs built the Pixar campus to encourage employee connections. Coworking spaces in New York, London, Berlin, San Francisco have exploded with tenants, resulting in many having waiting lists or special application processes. Locally, Syracuse Media Group’s new offices in Merchant Commons resemble a coworking atmosphere. Other spaces attract a group with a particular talent. ForageSF, a San Francisco coworking facility, is geared toward budding chefs or “foodie-preneurs”. Members of Forage gain access to a shared garden, shared kitchen, and shared cafe – all to hone the process of bringing their craft from concept to market.
Sounds really cool, but what does this have to do with Syracuse?
Solid question. Here’s your answer: Syracuse Coworks. That’s right, we’ve got our very own coworking space right here in the ‘Cuse, born from a partnership between 40 Below and Harris Beach. Even better, it’s already filling up with marketers, social media pros, video production wizards, web/app developers, entrepreneurs, independent contractors, and others. An eclectic group that has come together to share ideas, learn new perspectives, and be a support each other in their endeavors. Syracuse Coworks is a unique ecosystem. Members are fueled by individual passion and a deep understanding of community (and quite a bit of Cafe Kubal coffee). The goal is professional achievement but not at the expense of personal growth.
Coworking is a new way to work, connect, collaborate, and succeed. And now it’s in Syracuse. FIND OUT MORE! Rates from $100 per month!
Syracuse Coworks
The Tech Garden
The Tech Garden
235 Harrison Street (Directions)
(315) 474-0910
Like Syracuse Coworks on Facebook
Follow Syracuse Coworks on Twitter: @syracuseCoworks
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