Co-what? The Dream Workspace
by Andrea Cook 
Coworking.
What is coworking?
Good question!
Wikipedia defines it 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[1]. Typically it is attractive to work-at-home professionals, independent contractors, or people who travel frequently who end up working in relative isolation.[2] Coworking is the social gathering of a group of people, who are still working independently, but who share values,[3] and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space.[4][5]
My consultancy, The Midas Center offers coworking as one of the solutions to help businesses grow. The TMC Cowork Space is located in a historical downtown building in north central Indiana. It is the first cowork space available in the area and one of the first cowork options in the state. Why is coworking emerging as the dream workspace?
As an independent professional for over ten years, I have experienced the joys of being one of the first to "telecommute" or "work from home." Working from home, once was glamorized. It grew from the detest or opposition of working in a cubical, wasting hours each week commuting and it promised professionals the possibility for flexibility. It was a win-win for both the employee and employer. A significant cost savings in overhead from the eyes of the employer and a means to hold onto working moms, "working from home" quickly became what all the cool professionals were doing.
However, after converting two of my Chicago homes with unfinished attics into my dream home office spaces, the cool component of working from home wasn't cutting it for me. The flexibility was a mere mirage. I learned that I needed structure. I longed for space, professional space, outside of my home sweet, messy, loud, pug-barking home. When the only days I forced myself to change out of my robe was when I knew a messenger or UPS guy might stop by, I realized that the isolation was a drag and far from cool.
Robert California isn't the only change to today's office. Coworking is the new ideal workspace for most professionals.
Today, Robert California isn't the only fresh new topic that has come to The Office. There is a paradigm shift for the ideal office. Consider your dream office and what exactly makes a great workspace for you. I've come up with a list of my wish list. Here are the items from my office dream:
My dream office wish list:
- Facinating and inspiring people that I don't have to work for or manage, but, who are available to talk to, learn from, and possibly share work together, on a contractor basis. People who bring community to a solo enterprise operation help balance the highs and lows of entreprenuerial speeds. Being social and in community with others is healthy and provides accountability to brush your hair and not wear sweat pants every day.
- Open, breathable space that I can pop open my laptop, spread out my bag and get to work without worrying about feeling guilty taking the entire 4-top while sharing wifi at a coffee shop.
On-demand coffee bar at The Midas Center has a new fall drink for co-work members to enjoy. - GOOD COFFEE is a must. Although, I still love the power I feel while holding a Venti Starbucks in my left hand, I have learned that the time and money it takes to keep my Starbucks addiction thriving can be replaced by a relaxed coffee bar of tasty coffee on demand. Sharing a coffee bar offers a new water cooler experience at the office.
- Whiteboards galore to brainstorm and share lists, messages, sketches, gigs, quotes, favorite tweets and more. Like the adage goes, (as someone once wrote, on a whiteboard), "The creative with the most whiteboards wins!"
- Full of natural light. Since realizing my own need for office space away from home, the best office space lease I have ever been able to find in my budget is usually a 200 square foot closet lit by either a very small alley window or one light bulb that dangels from a wire out of the corner of the styrofoam ceiling tile. I'd dream of feeling the warm sunshine during the 9 to 5 grind and include a lot of natural light as one of the virtues of the dream working environment.
- Walking distance to good eats, shopping, etc. One of the best attributes of working in the Loop in downtown Chicago for a number of years is that everything you needed was accessible by foot during your lunch hour. There's something freeing about walking to the post office, the bank, library, office supply store, deli, eateries, book store and more during lunch or when the need arises. That short walk allows you to pass others on the sidewalk, say hello, open doors for one another and smile. Suburbia has lost this art in the midst of Costcos and stripmalls. My dream office space would be cultivated within a downtown pedistrian space.
- Clean, tidy and organzied space. I like to keep my work junk mail separate from my personal home junk mail. Same things go for my junk and other home and work related items.
- Mobile work space, connected from anywhere. Some of us understand that the world is not flat anymore. We don't live in a linear space and our workspace doesn't have to rely on wires and clunky work stations. I like to be able to work from anywhere, from the airport to my bedside and all spots in between. By having an on-demand workspace that I can go to for that in between allows me to continue to be mobile and technically agile.
- Conference room for meetings. Whether I'm in need of a live meeting room for local professionals or a teleconference or video chat, a large private meeting space is needed from time to time. I'd like to have a large meeting space on-demand and my local coffee shop isn't large enough and the library isn't cool enough to conduct a meeting.
- Modern design. I'm an Apple girl, image and design driven and I have never understood why non-Apple products have historically been beige. I also don't understand why modular office design is navy, black and gray and covered with carpet. I am unable to be innovative and I tend to shut-down creatively speaking when I'm in the midst of that kind of workstation linolium hell. To be creative, I can't be stifled by carpet cubicles and flickering florecent lights.
What are some of YOUR IDEAL working conditions? Maybe a cowork space is right for you.
In a nutshell, I've just described the perfect setting for my dream office space. The way to make this dream come true for me was to open my mind and my doors to the world of coworking. Currently, we are seeking like-minded professionals who are looking for similar attributes for their ideal workspace. If you or someone you know would be interested in learning more about coworking, contact me, Andrea Cook or you may follow our facebook page Cowork Space.
TMCIndiana Chamber Recognizes The Midas Center As Finalist in Employer of the Year
by Andrea Cook 
Indiana INTERNnet, Inc., a statewide internship resource provided by the Indiana Chamber, has named The Midas Center as a finalist for the Employer of the Year in recognition of its 2010 student internship program. The awards program will take place in Indianapolis on February 10, 2011 at the Indiana Chamber Conference Center beginning at 11:30 a.m. People interested in attending the event may register at www.indianaintern.net or call IndianaINTERNnet, Inc. at 317-264-7536. The Indiana Chamber is the largest business advocacy organization in the state.
The Midas Center’s program caught the Chamber’s attention because of the leadership opportunities it offered in local business development and new technology. Owner Andrea Cook comments, “One of the most rewarding parts of my career has been obtaining projects that provide jobs and empower other creative professionals. Working with younger individuals challenges me to keep learning all the evolving technology solutions.”
Intern Camden Robertson, a 2010 graduate of Plymouth High School, was given an opportunity to learn and practice business development skills with the launch of iHEARTplymouth.com. This social media resource was created to improve the quality of life and economic development for local communities and was rolled out during his summer internship program. "The internship has really proved to be beneficial to me in so many aspects,” said Robertson. “My time management has gotten a lot better. My experience at The Midas Center has not only improved my communication skills with some important customers, but the fact that I have experience in sales and marketing via an Internet platform puts me above many of my coworkers that are my age. I’m grateful for my experience there." Robertson is now a student at DePaul University in Chicago.
The Midas Center is a full-service creative communications agency located in downtown Plymouth that provides professional marketing, advertising, public relations and branding services to businesses and organizations. For information about internships at The Midas Center, please contact Andrea Cook, President, by phone at 574-936-7058 or by e-mail >
Special Tips for Women in the Workplace
by Andrea Cook 
Calling all women in the workplace... want to learn some tips on how to succeed? In preparation for the upcoming networking event sponsored by the Women's Advisory Group, we'd like to share an encouraging TEDtalks video by Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook titled, "Why There Are So Few Women Leaders and What Women Can Do About It."
Basic tips include:
1. Sit at the table.
2. Make your partner a real partner.
3. Don't leave before you leave.
For more, view this video now >
Want more encouragement and tips on professional development tailored to women in the workplace? Join us this Monday for the next WAG networking event at our new office location, 200 N. Michigan Street.
WAG Networking Luncheon
Monday, Jan. 10, 2011
11:45 a.m. Registration and Networking
12:15 p.m. Presentation on Balancing Work with Life, by Angie Stults
12:45 p.m. Discussion
1:00 p.m. Event ends
Please bring your colleagues and business cards. RSVP by calling the office at (574) 936-7058 or email to reserve your seat and catered lunch, $7.50.
Wheel of Progress Congratulates Winners!
by Andrea Cook 
We are pleased to announce the winners of the Wheel of Progress: 2010 drawing for Plymouth Chamber of Commerce gift certificates!
Today, on Monday, December 9th, The Midas Center presented the results of the Wheel of Progress 2010 to the public. During this presentation, The Midas Center shared the process on how the new image and message was developed. Much of the process included an agreement on the need of a cohesive image for Plymouth as stated collectively by five key stakeholders. Stakeholders included the City of Plymouth, Plymouth Community Public Schools, Plymouth's Chamber of Commerce and PIDCO who commissioned The Midas Center to develop a new image and message that will be used to communicate Plymouth online.
The presentation overview may be reviewed on a post shared on iHEARTplymouth.com >
The apex of the presentation was a slide show of the value propositions of Plymouth with the main message, "Join us in the Journey." For a preview of this slideshow, please see below:
And last, but not the least of today's presentation included the announcement of the winners of the five $100 gift certificates from the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce. The winners are:
- Ken Houin
- Gnomes_Garden
- Lois Evan
- S Clarke @ fourway
- Brantley Houlihan
You may stop by the new offices at The Midas Center, 200 N. Michigan Street in downtown Plymouth to pick up your gift certificate. Please stop by during regular business hours and I.D. will be required.
The next phase of the Wheel of Progress: 2010 will be presented to the public in March of 2011.
Thank you all who participated to make this campaign successful! The members of The Midas Center thank you for your investment into this public branding program and we hope to continue to work with the community towards the ongoing progress!
You Are Invited To Attend February's Brown Bag Lunch: Branding Basics: It Is More Than Just For Cows
by Andrea Cook 
The Midas Center is presenting this month's free workshop titled, "Branding: It Is More Than Just For Cows."
This 30-minute session will include information on how businesses and organizations can communicate a competitive advantage and separate themselves from the herd. Learn more about what branding is and how to succeed from a healthy branding platform.
Business leaders are welcome to attend this free seminar scheduled on Wednesday, February 24th at noon at The Midas Center, 100 W. Garro Street, Plymouth, IN.
The Midas Center's main objective is to help local businesses succeed. To help reach this goal, a series of monthly Brown Bag Lunch Workshops are offered to business leaders. Presented by The Midas Center's President, Andrea Cook, "Branding: It Is More Than Just For Cows" is part of an ongoing series of workshops. Other presentations include "Website Basics," "Social Media, The New Frontier of Marketing" and "Networking: Increase Your Net Worth."
Seating is limited. Online registration is available >>
Pre-ordered boxed lunches are available upon request during the registration process.