Open Office Space

Openofficespace.com is Proud To Be A Sponsor of The Rise of The Cubicle Farmer Road Trip

 
Openofficespace.com is proud to be a sponsor of The Rise of The Cubicle Farmer Project - An epic journey to discover the changing landscape of "work".

If you're a start-up, entrepreneur or frustrated cubicle farmer and dream of making work more about what you do than where you sit, you should really follow the LaC team throughout their journey.

The Trip
11,921 Miles
1,080 Hours
55 Stories
45 Days
35 Cities
20 CoWorking Joints
1 Roadtrip

About Rise of the Cubicle Farmer
Rise of the Cubicle Farmer is a 45 day Road Trip documenting the changing landscape of the idea of “work” among entrepreneurs, small business people, and progressive corporate types.

AJ Leon and The LaC Project are traveling across the United States and Canada to meet with entrepreneurs, digital nomads, workshifters, small business people, co-working centers, founders of business web applications, executives in large corporations, authors and academics – to capture stories of people leveraging technology to create innovative businesses and empowering work environments.

We will be meeting with people about how they define their work as something they do instead of some place that they sit.  We want hear stories and understand how coworking, workshifting and modern web applications have changed how people manage their businesses and live their lives.

Who are the Crazies behind this project?
AJ and Melissa Leon are the passionate and digitally nomadic entrepreneurs behind The LaC Project.  AJ blogs about relationship marketing, social media and the experience economy over at www.ajleon.me . AJ also writes a Newsletter dedicated to helping you launch your business and social projects and act on your ideas.  Sign up and receive the Rise of the Cubicle Farmer eBook for Free!

Why are we doing this?
Our primary goal is to tell inspiring stories of small business owners and entrepreneurs using technology, web applications and modern work environments (ie coworking spaces) to run their businesses and projects in interesting ways and on their terms.  We are hoping to educate and empower aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to follow their lead.  To show them that the tools are out there, they just have to start leveraging them.

We also want to highlight larger corporations that are leading the enterprise revolution away from the corporate cubicle farm culture by enacting workshifting and distributed workforces.

Where are we going?
Our 10,000 mile route will take us across 26 states as well as two Canadian provinces.  You can check out the entire Route here.  If you have your own story to tell about your rise from the cubicle farm culture, you can request a stop and we’ll do our best to swing by if its on our way!

Who are our sponsors and why did we approach them?
Our full sponsor list can be seen here.  Every single sponsor that we approached provides products and services that we personally use and love.  We want to make business people aware of these amazing web applications and products that are either free or ridiculously inexpensive to show how you can run a seriously robust business in an ultra lean way.

 

CanvasPop – Turn Photos Into Stunning Wall-Art. Make Your Small Office, YOUR Small Office.

   
As a follow up to one of my recent posts, 9 Ways of Finding Cheap (but not cheap looking) Artwork For Your Office, here is a great resource I came across to help make your small office, YOUR small office.

A site called CanvasPop, offers a pretty awesome service that allows you to create custom corporate art printed on an ultra-high quality canvas. Users can create branded, modern pop-art using a company logo, or even create art from photos shot by staff members.

 

As I mentioned in my previous post, your office is an extension of your brand. CanvasPop really helps you to proudly display that brand by extending it onto your walls, and ultimately creating a more beautiful place to work for you, your staff and your clients.

 

BTW - CanvasPop was recently featured on one of the coolest office interior design blogs in existence The Office Stylist.

 

Here's How The Service Works:

 

10 Reasons To Give CanvasPop A Try

1) Every canvas we print is handmade.

2) Gallery-quality canvas and life-like printing.

3) Choices! Choices! (and more choices) 

4)  Every canvas created from a photo for you is treated with an ultra-protective UV-matte laminate.   

5) 100% satisfaction and lifetime guarantee.

6) Rich, vibrant colors come from state of the art canvas printing technology.

7) Free digital proofs = no surprises.

8) All mounting hardware is included.

9) Being able to work with photos from any source means that you can upload that special picture of someone close to you and have it printed to canvas and sent to them as a gift.

10) A passion for printing powered by proven technology.

 

When we contacted CanvasPop to get more information about their company they were generous enough to set up a promo code for Open Office Space that offers our users free shipping.

The following free shipping code should be entered in the promotion box on the shopping cart page: openofficespace8fs  

Related Posts

10 Inexpensive Ways To Spruce Up a Small/Shared Office Space

Your Office Space Is An Extension Of Your Brand

9 Ways of Finding Cheap (but not cheap looking) Artwork For Your Office

     

The Single Best Piece of Business Advice I Ever Received

   
I was recently invited to attend a Working Lunch with Rob Basso. 

At each Working Lunch event, guests view the premiere of the latest Basso On Business episode, and get involved in a live, interactive business discussion with Rob and leading experts.The goal of Rob's lunch program is to motivate and support small businesses with innovative presentations, business growth strategies and informative speakers.

The focus of the event I attended was Matt Silver of Ultimate Class Limousine. Matt runs a very successful company but seems to have a little trouble managing the long list of tasks that he is faced with on a daily basis. In many cases, even handling tasks that are responsibilities of his employees.

After the 30 or so business owners watched Matt's video a spirited conversation ensued regarding what Matt could/should do to better organize his business. My contribution during the event = a BIG ZERO!

Anyway, a few days after the event it dawned on me that I missed an opportunity to share one of the single best pieces of business advice I ever received...especially as it is so relevant to Matt's organization challenges. 

The following is a letter I sent to Rob detailing this advice (It was re-posted as a guest blog on Rob's site)

Hi Rob,

Not sure if this is too little too late, but before you write me off as a chickensh** for not participating during your event, here is my 2 cents.

My focus for the last 10 years has been growing various internet ventures which in most cases has been a relatively one-man show. Unfortunately, during the event I did not participate simply because I did not go back far enough in my pea brain to recall (aka “blocked out”) a 3 year period in which I was in a very similar situation to Matt.

In 1999-2001 I gave up my 15 client per day/7 day per week personal training business to become the managing partner in a 30,000 sq. ft health club in Long Beach that we took over from an existing company. The health club had well over 75 employees, 6 Indoor Pools, Indoor Track, Sauna, Steam Room, Nursery, Physical Therapy, Aqua Therapy, free weights, cardio, and much more.

Much like Tony’s business, the pace was frenetic and I dealt with one problem after another, making it almost impossible to ever get ahead of the oncoming barrage of problems.

Unlike Matt however, I really had NO experience in the health club business, so it was doubly challenging for me as far as getting organized. (ex. Running  a facility, sales, personnel management, bookkeeping, etc. ).

Here is a small sample of a few of the “small” (yeah right) problems I had to deal with:

-   The Hydraulic line which powered the underwater therapy bikes and treadmills ruptured filling an entire pool filled with jet black oil from top to bottom (think BP disaster in Long Beach)

-   The entire wall of one side of the building fell into the parking lot

-   The heavy glass/steel lid on the pool filter exploded nearly decapitating one of our maintenance workers

Anyway just when I thought I was never going to get my arms around this huge disaster of a business, I received the BEST piece of business advice that I ever received.

It was called the 20-80 rule for employees. If a problem occurred in any area of the health club, an employee should spend 20% of the time focused on determining the root of the problem and 80% of the time should be focused on a solution to the problem. AND most importantly, employees were not allowed to come to ME with a problem without 3 possible solutions.

I basically called for a one on one meeting with every single employee and told them that moving forward if they wanted to keep their jobs they would have to abide by this rule.

The results were amazing!!!

1)   It empowered every single employee to OWN their dept, even if their dept. was simply keeping the bathrooms clean. Almost immediately everyone became an expert  in their position.

2)   It  allowed me to make quick decisions to fix problems without having to delve into possible solutions myself.

3)   It made it much easier to see which departments might require staff changes

Most importantly, it allowed me to oversee the business without having to “do it all myself”. Based on what I heard at the event, this seems to be one of Matt’s biggest issues.

Perhaps this piece of advice that was so helpful to me can also be helpful to Matt.

 

Dave

 

If you or your company has a knowledge that would help entrepreneurs or small businesses to improve the quality of their workplace, openofficespace.com would love to interview you.

 

Topics might include:

- Commercial Real Estate Expertise

- Workplace Wellness

- How To...(any topic related to improving the workplace)

- Creating an Eco-Friendly Office

- Office Products and Office Furniture

- Workplace Interior Design

- Streamlining Office Expenses

- Property Marketing Solutions 

Why Are There No Coworking Spaces In Long Island? Inspired By The Centre For Social Innovation

I just finished reading Emergence - The Story of the Centre for Social Innovation. Emergence is the first of a three part series published by CSI entitled Shared Spaces for Social Innovation. The three part series offers a comprehensive overview of the CSI shared space model...talk about sharing.

Part 1 - Emergence - The Story of The Centre for Social Innovation

Part 2- Rigour - How To Create World-Changing Spaces

Part 3 (coming soon) - Proof - How Shared Spaces Are Changing The World

I dare any entrepreneur to read this book and not feel at least a little ping of interest in opening/ working out of a coworking space. As a matter of fact, I was so personally inspired by this book, I am seriously considering putting out my feelers to see if there is any real interest from others in starting a coworking space here in Long Island, New York. 

Based on my preliminary research there are a grand total of ZERO coworking spaces on Long Island.

I want to know Why?

Is it because Long Island is just too spread out?

Is it because mass transit is somewhat limited and getting to a space would require a car?

Is it because there are not enough entrepreneurs on Long Island? 

Is it possible that there are coworking spaces in Long Island and I just don't know about them?

I did find a couple of random past threads from others looking to start coworking in Long Island but these folks never seemed to get beyond the planning stages. Why?

With the amount of colleges situated in such a relatively condensed area you would think that some young motivated entrepreneur would have led the coworking charge by now. But to my knowledge, this has not been the case. 

So for the last time, as quickly as coworking spaces are popping up throughout the country, WHY hasn't anyone launched one in Long Island? It seems to me that Long Island can certainly benefit from an infusion of entrepreneurial energy.

To quote from the book Emergence "If you're in, I'm in..." If you have any interest in exploring the concept of coworking in Long Island, please reach out to me as I would definitely be willing to coordinate a meeting. I can be reached at david (at) openofficespace.com

Here are a few of great excerpts from the book:

Animation As Practice. Community animation is what turns "a place to work" to a space of social innovation. We've been building the practice of animation and developing its role as a central feature of successful shared spaces.

Openness & Light. "...light is how you achieve openness...I don't think people should be anywhere where they can't have access to natural light."

Equally essential to creating and sustaining this sense of community are common spaces. Everyone coming into or out of their office in CSI has to pass through the common area, and much like the living room in your house, it contains all the essential for a comfortable break: an arrangement of couches, a rug or two, a coffee table piled with newspapers, a few plants and knick-knacks that have been picked up over time.

There is much wisdom in the old adage that bonds are forged and friendships formed over the breaking of bread. It is wisdom that hold to this day, and it was over shared meals and communal lunches that CSI's members first and most strongly developed connections to one another.

The selection process itself was an exercise in breaking traditional workplace models in which factors beyond a potential member's ability to make rent were taken into account.

Animation as opposed to programming, is all about enabling community rather than directly trying to create it: it's a philosophy of supporting and fostering an environment in which collaboration emerges naturally rather than intervening to try to instigate collaboration by sheer force of will.

Now, on to the next book in the series, Rigour.

Content Source: Centre for Social Innovation

Related Posts

Officebytes TV - WorkBar Boston (Coworking in Boston) An Interview + A Tour Of The Space

Officebytes TV - T3 Advisors Discuss The "3 izes" For Start-Ups Looking To Find Office Space

10 Inexpensive Ways To Spruce Up a Small/Shared Office Space

Small Biz/Entrepreneurs - Estimating The Right Amount of Office Space For Your Company

  

Tips For Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses On How To Furnish The "Optimal" Office Space For Their Company

   
  
In Part 1 of a two part interview on Officebytes TV, Jenny-Lynn Georgiades, Director of Architectural and Design Support Services at Waldners Business Environments, offers entrepreneurs & small businesses some very sound advice on choosing the right office furniture to create the optimal working environment for their company.

 

A few good quotes from the interview:  

"When and entrepreneur or a small business is planning to do a new space, I think its really important to examine closely where your company is now, and where you want to be in the future. It's important to examine your work processes..."

"Something as simple as walking through the space, and looking at some of the work arounds that people do to their environments to make it work for them. Are their pads on the chairs? Maybe they need a new chair. Are their monitors up on a bunch of books because the there not at the right height? Are their storage components empty and filled with just their shoes and their purses. These are the type of things that can help you look at how to design a new space, and to design it in a way that's functional for your employees."

"For instance, the younger generation, Generation-Y, there not going to want to work in the typical cubicle, they want to work in these different office environments, they want to work in the lounge areas in the cafes...so you want design your space accordingly if you want to attract and retain that type of employee."  

"What we're really finding is the most important workplace issue for employees these days is access. Access to people that they work with, access to technology and access to information, and that's what's really driving the trends."  

About Waldners Waldner’s Business Environments Inc. markets office furniture of brands such as OFS, Metro, Kimball, Steelcase, KI, and Hon. The company also offers furniture storage and refurbishing services. Its clientele include SAP, Ernst & Young, PrimeMedia, Readers’ Digest, MTV, HomeLoanBank, PepsiCo. Random House, GE Capital, Canon, and Sony. The company has strategic alliances with Adden, Buro, Falcon, Golden Oak, ISE, Jofcon, Lucia Group, and Vitra. Waldner’s Business Environments was founded in 1939 and is based in New York City.

Related Posts

10 Inexpensive Ways To Spruce Up a Small/Shared Office Space

Shared Office Space Part 1 | An Entrepreneurs Perspective

Small Biz/Entrepreneurs - Estimating The Right Amount of Office Space For Your Company

 

If you or your company has a knowledge that would help entrepreneurs or small businesses to improve the quality of their workplace, openofficespace.com would love to interview you.

 

Topics might include:

- Commercial Real Estate Expertise

- Workplace Wellness

- How To...(any topic related to improving the workplace)

- Creating an Eco-Friendly Office

- Office Products and Office Furniture

- Workplace Interior Design

- Streamlining Office Expenses

- Property Marketing Solutions  

Officebytes TV - Advice for Entrepreneurs on Sharing Office Space by Rob Basso

Officebytes TV just launched a new interview with successful entrepreneur Rob Basso. Rob is the owner of Advantage Payroll Services, BassoOnBusiness.com and Working Lunch With Rob.

Rob describes his experience with sharing office space and offers some very good advice/insight to entrepreneurs that are just starting out as well as those that are thinking about expanding into a bigger space.

A few good quotes from the interview:

"Just get creative, don't get stuck thinking I have to be in a $50 per square foot building, or I have to be on this street or I have to be on that street. The reality is if you are in an entrepreneurial business people understand the mode that you're in."

"As long as you do what you do really well,it won't make a difference if you're in the lower level of a hotel or renting space from somebody. So don't let that pressure really make a difference in the type of office space that your going to look for."

"If you can help it, don't get locked into a really long term lease, especially if your going to be a growing organization."

"When you rent space from somebody else, or you work in a shared or collaborative work environment, you can do and have access to some people that you may not have access to if you're out on your own and you buy a building or your rent a space where you have no inter-connectivity with other small business owners."

About Advantage Payroll Services

Advantage Payroll Services, based in Freeport, New York, has been providing comprehensive payroll and tax-filing services for clients since 1996. With professional and responsive local customer service associates and backed by the strength of a centralized processing system and technology, the company has become one of the most recognized names in the industry in the New York metropolitan area. The company is proud to call many of the region's most recognized companies and not-for-profit organizations as its clients.

About Basso On Business 

Basso on Business an in-depth business program hosted by successful entrepreneur Rob Basso. Episodes focus on regional companies, organizations and associations and the visionary owners who lead the charge.

Rob explores each operation firsthand, uncovers challenges and helps with practical advice and solutions to make businesses stronger.

About Working Lunch With Rob

Working Lunch with Rob Basso is a unique forum for those who have the craving to feed their entrepreneurial spirit. Each monthly lunch is designed to motivate and support small businesses with innovative presentations, business growth strategies and informative speakers.

At each Working Lunch event, guests view the premiere of the latest Basso On Business episode, and get involved in a live, interactive business discussion with Rob and leading experts. Topics vary, but the advice and commentary is priceless.

Related Posts

Officebytes TV - T3 Advisors Discuss The "3 izes" For Start-Ups Looking To Find Office Space

10 Inexpensive Ways To Spruce Up a Small/Shared Office Space

Shared Office Space Part 1 | An Entrepreneurs Perspective

Shared Office Space Part 2 | A Space Holders Perspective

Small Biz/Entrepreneurs - Estimating The Right Amount of Office Space For Your Company

If you or your company has a knowledge that would help entrepreneurs or small businesses to improve the quality of their workplace, openofficespace.com would love to interview you.

Topics might include:  

- Commercial Real Estate Expertise

- Workplace Wellness

- How To...(any topic related to improving the workplace)

- Creating an Eco-Friendly Office

- Office Products and Office Furniture

- Workplace Interior Design

- Streamlining Office Expenses

- Property Marketing Solutions

Small Biz/Entrepreneurs - Estimating The Right Amount of Office Space For Your Company

Whether your company is looking for its very first office space or your current lease is ending and you are looking for some new digs, it is very important that you first carefully assess your office space requirements both from a short and long term perspective.

While a small and cozy space might cost a little less initially, if there is a strong possibility your company will need to expand its staff within your lease term, choosing this less expensive space can result in some very tight quarters and severly hinder productivity in your workplace. (#7 on our list of the Top 10 Leasing Misaktes)

Conversely, while it might be fun to have a football catch across the office, taking on too much space can result in a big drain on your company’s bottom line and a potential blow to morale.

Estimating how much office space you will need is not an exact science. The nature of your business, corporate culture, workflow and even your individual preferences might vary significantly from other company’s. These variations make it virtually impossible to standardize a specific guideline that will work for every company.  

As you contemplate the amount of space your company actually needs, it is helpful to understand the difference between rentable and usable space.

Landlords charge tenants based on the number of rentable square footage leased. The rentable square footage is calculated by adding the usable square footage (the amount of square footage to be used exclusively by you, the tenant) to a portion of the common area (areas shared by all tenants such as the lobby, restrooms, shared hallways, etc.).

The distinction between the two is especially important as you estimate the amount of usable space that will best suit your company.

As many leases will lock you into your space for at least 2 years, it is vital to carefully consider your company’s future growth before making a final decision on how much space you need.

Terminating your lease early because your company outgrew its space will cost your company money, time and probably serve as a major distraction from your normal course of business.

OK, good advice but how exactly are we supposed to estimate the right amount of space for our company?

Good question.

Open Office space recently launched Office Space For Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses: An Evolving Guide to Leasing. The guide breaks down the entire leasing process and offers several strategies to ensure you accurately estimate the amount of office space that is right for your company. 

The guide includes an indepth look at the Top 10 Leasing Mistakes, a breakdown of The 4 Steps involved with the leasing process and also includes 50+ ways to streamline office expenses.  

In addition to valuable content, the guide also features two powerful (and FREE) tools to help you estimate and plan the right amount of space for your company:

1) The space planner/floor plan tool allows a user to layout their entire office space including furniture...before the moving van arrives. The extremely easy to use interface features an ability to drag and drop furniture directly onto a floor plan. Finished plans can be saved, printed and shared.

2) A space estimation tool  which will give you a head start with regards to estimating the right amount of office space based on your company's needs.

As an entrepreneur or small business it is very likely that a large portion of your time/overhead will be devoted to your office. With stakes so high, it is mission critical that you take the time to plan accordingly.  

If you do find yourself in a situation where you are left with unused office space, consider posting it on our site and we will do our best to promote it for you.  

 

 

 

Open Space Ventures LLC Launches a New Website to Help Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses Find and Plan the Perfect Office Space for Their Company

Woodbury, NY (PRWEB) October 26, 2009 -- Open Space Ventures LLC. launches OpenOfficeSpace.com (http://www.OpenOfficeSpace.com) an innovative new website that allows companies to post their available office space online, while offering small businesses and entrepreneurs an opportunity to find and plan the "perfect office space." It's a win-win situation: companies with unused office space can eliminate the extra carrying cost, simultaneously small businesses can find niche office space at the right price. Best of all, there is no cost associated with either listing or finding a space.

Created by David Gise and his partner Marc Spector, OpenOfficeSpace.com (http://www.OpenOfficeSpace.com) was designed with ease of use as the number one priority. "We set out to create an extremely clean and user friendly experience that is unlike any other typical real estate or classified website" said Gise.

OpenOfficeSpace.com (http://www.OpenOfficeSpace.com) streamlines the process of finding and posting office space, while providing insightful advice and powerful interactive tools to help small businesses throughout the leasing process.

Gise, a former personal trainer turned entrepreneur and social media consultant, conceived the idea for Open Office Space after meeting with several of his clients. He noticed a trend of companies hampered with carrying the cost of their extra office space but unsure or unaware of the options available to ease this burden.

The comprehensive "Evolving Guide to Leasing" (http://openofficespace.com/index.php?mistake=1&mod=top_10_leasing_mistakes_made_by_entrepreneurs_and_small_businesses) alone is worth a visit to the site. The interactive guide explores the "Top 10 Mistakes" made by companies during the leasing process, outlines in layman's terms "The 4 Steps" it takes to be successful every step of the way and even offers more than 50 ways for companies to reduce their office expenses. From finding the right space and negotiating the lease to planning the layout and creating an eco-friendly work place, the site's powerful interactive tools and easy to understand content simplifies the leasing process for everyone involved.

One of the most common mistakes made during the leasing process is estimating how much space a company actually needs. Leasing too much can result in an unnecessary expense while leasing too little can leave a company in some very tight quarters. The site's free space estimation tool (http://openofficespace.com/index.php?guide=4steps&mod=space_estimation_tool) helps entrepreneurs and small businesses calculate the right amount of square footage based on their specific requirements. Whether a business requires a single desk, a cubicle, a shared office, a private office, a coworking space or an executive suite, the space estimation calculator will ensure that a company gauges their space requirements correctly.

Once a company determines their correct space requirements, the space planning/floor plan tool can be used to lay out the entire space by dragging and dropping furniture directly onto the plan. "It's a lot easier to arrange furniture using the space planning tool than to be surprised when the moving van arrives" Gise explains. Determining the placement of phones, computers, printers and copiers before the day of the move can help save entrepreneurs valuable time" adds Gise. Floor plans including furniture layouts can be saved, printed or shared with friends and colleagues or even posted on other property listing sites.

"The site is an excellent resource, not only in this economy but in any economy. It can really help many companies streamline their expenses while helping others create an ideal working environment" said Spector.

Open Office Space is based in New York. Users can design, find or post available office space at no cost anywhere in the US and Canada. Featured cities on the site include Austin, TX; Charleston, SC; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Toronto, Ontario; Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; San Jose, CA; Vancouver, British Columbia; Boston, MA; Dallas, TX; New York, NY and Seattle, WA.

Cool Huh? pick of the week (The Surf Shelf) No more excuses! Surf the internet while you exercise.

As we announced last week, we just launched a new weekly feature on the Open Office Space blog called Cool Huh?  Each week  we will select a new product, tool, application, website or technology that we think will make at least one entrepreneur or small business person (besides us) say "Holy s...! That could really be helpful to me and my business. How did I not hear about this before? "

Our featured subject for Thursday August 20th - The Surf Shelf

Description: The Surf Shelf is a shelf made of 100% polycarbonate and affixes to most cardiovascular machines for the purpose of surfing the internet during exercise.

       

The Features of The Surf Shelf:

- It is completely transparent so you can easily see the exercise machine readout

- Adjustable angle settings fit any exercise machine console

- 100% Polycarbonate- The same material used to make bullet-proof glass

- Easily collapses for storage in a briefcase or gym bag

- Built-in Velcro strap secures any laptop or DVD player

- Air vents keep the laptop or DVD player cool

- Stays out of the way while you exercise

Why we chose surfshelf.com as this weeks subject: As I mentioned in a previous post, for 17 years prior to getting involved in the whole technology thing I was a personal trainer. During this period, I worked with a very diverse group of clients including: professional athletes, CEO's of public companies, stay at home moms & dads, weekend warriors, children, teens as well as basically every personality type you can think of.

A by-product of working with this diverse clientele is that I became an expert on fielding all types of excuses. I became very accustomed to clients using a "lack of time" as the #1 reason they were not able to adhere to a regular exercise program.

Note: This excuse came in especially handy for the entrepreneurs I worked with.

Therefore, the reason we have chosen the Surf Shelf as this weeks pick is to help entrepreneurs kill two birds with one stone. There is overwhelming data which supports the positive impact exercise can have on a persons brain, stress levels, self confidence and overall ability to handle difficult situations.

I hope that the "inactive entrepreneurs" out there aren't going to be too angry with me as The Surf Shelf might just have eliminated their most effective excuse.

After we have had a chance to test this product ourselves we will offer our opinion. 

Content and Image Source: Surf Shelf Website

Related Posts:

Cool Huh? pick of the week (usertesting.com) - Great Resource for Entrepreneurs/Small Businesses

Entrepreneurs - Are your thumbs the most fit part of your body? 

As we announced last week, we just launched a new weekly feature on the Open Office Space blog called Cool Huh?  Each week  we will select a new product, tool, application, website or technology that we think will make at least one entrepreneur or small business person (besides us) say "Holy s...! That could really be helpful to me and my business. How did I not hear about this before? "

Our featured subject for Thursday August 20th - The Surf Shelf

Description: The Surf Shelf is a shelf made of 100% polycarbonate and affixes to most cardiovascular machines for the purpose of surfing the internet during exercise.

       

The Features of The Surf Shelf:

- It is completely transparent so you can easily see the exercise machine readout

- Adjustable angle settings fit any exercise machine console

- 100% Polycarbonate- The same material used to make bullet-proof glass

- Easily collapses for storage in a briefcase or gym bag

- Built-in Velcro strap secures any laptop or DVD player

- Air vents keep the laptop or DVD player cool

- Stays out of the way while you exercise

Why we chose surfshelf.com as this weeks subject: As I mentioned in a previous post, for 17 years prior to getting involved in the whole technology thing I was a personal trainer. During this period, I worked with a very diverse group of clients including: professional athletes, CEO's of public companies, stay at home moms & dads, weekend warriors, children, teens as well as basically every personality type you can think of.

A by-product of working with this diverse clientele is that I became an expert on fielding all types of excuses. I became very accustomed to clients using a "lack of time" as the #1 reason they were not able to adhere to a regular exercise program.

Note: This excuse came in especially handy for the entrepreneurs I worked with.

Therefore, the reason we have chosen the Surf Shelf as this weeks pick is to help entrepreneurs kill two birds with one stone. There is overwhelming data which supports the positive impact exercise can have on a persons brain, stress levels, self confidence and overall ability to handle difficult situations.

I hope that the "inactive entrepreneurs" out there aren't going to be too angry with me as The Surf Shelf might just have eliminated their most effective excuse.

After we have had a chance to test this product ourselves we will offer our opinion. 

Content and Image Source: Surf Shelf Website

Related Posts:

Cool Huh? pick of the week (usertesting.com) - Great Resource for Entrepreneurs/Small Businesses

Entrepreneurs - Are your thumbs the most fit part of your body? 

"Talk to me, Goose. Talk to me." Where Do You Turn For Answers as a Small Biz/Entrepreneur?

                                 

A couple of days ago I was channel surfing and caught the beginning of the movie Top Gun...of course that is where I spent my next 2 hours. After the first hour I lost count of how many times I said the word "corny and "cheesy" to describe some of the dialogue.

If you get a chance, take a few hours and re-watch the movie but be prepared for the headache you will get from rolling your eyes.

(Click here for a  funny post titled "Talk to me, Goose. Talk to me" from a 2003 post on Espn.com by Bill Simmons detailing a lot of these corny lines and how it pertained to that years upcoming football season) 

The reason I was watching TV in the first place was because I was working on mock ups for some future upgrades to Open Office Space, hit a BAD mental block and needed to clear my head. 

In the past, instead of watching TV, I would have meandered over to one of the other entrepreneurs in my shared office space and chatted it up until I found the answers I needed to break through the given mental obstacle of the day.

About a month ago I moved into a new office space, and while awesome in many respects, it does not offer the same colloborative environment of the past.

So speaking of "cheesy", here is my segue.

Do you remember the scene in Top Gun where Maverick was rubbing his fallen partners Dog Tags while contemplating whether or not he should re-engage in battle? - "Talk to me, Goose. Talk to me." I am not sure why, but watching this scene made me realize the importance of doing a little soul searching before making a final decision on an office space. The goal being to identify the type of work environment in which we would be the most productive. Ex. collaborative, quiet and isolated, or bustling corporate.

If you are like me and depend on constant feedback, approval, naysaying and often tough love to help guide your business decisions, then a quiet and isolated environment might not be the right fit for your entrepreneurial intiative/small business. Just to be clear, isolated in this case might not mean there are no people around, but rather you cannot lean on anyone for feedback.   

If you spend a few minutes searching the ever growing inventory of unused office space on our site, you will quickly see that the average asking rent has dropped and the amount of affordable spaces have increased. In other words, you can be a little bit more selective in your final decision.

Moral of the story, if you constantly need a "Goose" to lean on for direction or inspiration, make sure that your decision for a new office space is not only a function of the cost of rent but also finding the type of space that meshes most effectively with your individual/corporate personality.

Image Source: Top Gun Day

Related Posts

Looking For Office Space? Price is only one of the options you need to consider.