[Afarang]

This year I'm working on turning my online businesses into something bigger and I find that hard working in my apartment alone. There's no motivation, nobody to throw ideas around with and network.

When I get back to Bangkok I was thinking about joining a co-working space and network with others and grow my own skills and mindset.

Just wondering if anyone here works in a co-working space (particularly in Asia). Has it helped you improve your businesses and skillsets.

Any input would be useful.

[Ibagemyoutagem]

I worked in a co-working space called impact hub. It wasn't all that. Most people are busy doing their own thing so if you wanted to talk to others, it is in a sense difficult since everyone working on their own thing. It was good meeting business people and interesting to listen to what their doing but it didn't really help improve myself if that means anything.
Personally everyone was working on business outside of phnom phen with customers being anything except Cambodian and for me I had no interest in it. I believe if you doing an online business its alot more fitting meaning your customer base wont be anywhere near where your working.

[PanzerTape]

(06-21-2016 05:25 AM)Ibagemyoutagem Wrote:  

I worked in a co-working space called impact hub. It wasn't all that. Most people are busy doing their own thing so if you wanted to talk to others, it is in a sense difficult since everyone working on their own thing. It was good meeting business people and interesting to listen to what their doing but it didn't really help improve myself if that means anything.
Personally everyone was working on business outside of phnom phen with customers being anything except Cambodian and for me I had no interest in it. I believe if you doing an online business its alot more fitting meaning your customer base wont be anywhere near where your working.

well, it's difficult making a business work in a Cambodian context only.. The place is just way too poor still so to make a living wage you'd need like viral-level popularity in the country. Same thing as with bars/cafes, it's only expats who can afford to go there from my experience

[skptc]

I worked out of several in BKK. Now I have a private office with some friends. I wouldn't work at a coworking space again unless I had a private office or atleast a dedicated desk in a private area. Too many distractions otherwise.

[defguy]

Co work space never made sense to me. Get university enrollment sign up for 1 b.s. class and then use the high speed internet, facilities and all the resources university has to offer. There are tons of benefits of a tier 1 state university beyond just the physical space including free gym membership, free rentals on supplies, access to advisors and professors, club memberships specific to your business, 24 he campuses & libraries, shit you could even live in the library and shower at the gym if you needed it. When you start to think in this way you realize Universities are the best office a digital entrepreneur could ever want.

[Mojorisin808]

I usually only work in co-working spaces. I find it convenient when traveling to a new country. Although I can't say I was able to develop any meaningful business connections, but its more condusive for me to be around other working professionals than sitting in some airbnb apartment. I've worked in Impact Hub, both in Mexico City, and Oaxaca. It was a good experience. I've also worked in quite a few spaces in Manila, Vietnam and Bangkok. I do a lot of video skype calls and most of the work spaces I have been to had the best internet speeds available for that city.

[texas]

(06-21-2016 11:40 PM)defguy Wrote:  

Co work space never made sense to me. Get university enrollment sign up for 1 b.s. class and then use the high speed internet, facilities and all the resources university has to offer. There are tons of benefits of a tier 1 state university beyond just the physical space including free gym membership, free rentals on supplies, access to advisors and professors, club memberships specific to your business, 24 he campuses & libraries, shit you could even live in the library and shower at the gym if you needed it. When you start to think in this way you realize Universities are the best office a digital entrepreneur could ever want.

defguy, I like your style man. That's a great hack that puts business, gym, and college girls all in one spot.

[birthday cat]

Humans are social animals. Being alone all day for extended time periods isn't going to work well for most people.

There are many factors that affect how much isolation a person can handle such how much social interaction they are getting outside of their job and if they are an introvert or an extrovert.

A coworking space might be the answer or there might be better options. I guess that depends on the person and their situation but my point is that it can be unhealthy to be isolated all day long. It doesn't really matter if you improve your skillsets. You probably need to be in a more social environment to remain healthy and motivated.

[nomadbrah]

Yeah man, co-work spaces are great and Bangkok got a few nice ones since I last visited. It's only as social as you make it, some are more serious than others, if you go to the mainly local ones, there will be people actually working - seriously - and not really doing much talking. Others are more easygoing with more nomads and stuff. I was at Hubba in Bangkok and that has a good community vibe but a mostly serious place, but lots of expats. I also used some place in Thong Lor, which was more of a cafe, I think it was on that road between Thong Lor and Ekamai where all the clubs are.

I don't think it helped me that much business wise, since I am most productive at odd hours, but it was nice to have some semblance of normal work hours and co-workers.

[skptc]

(06-22-2016 07:57 PM)nomadbrah Wrote:  

Yeah man, co-work spaces are great and Bangkok got a few nice ones since I last visited. It's only as social as you make it, some are more serious than others, if you go to the mainly local ones, there will be people actually working - seriously - and not really doing much talking. Others are more easygoing with more nomads and stuff. I was at Hubba in Bangkok and that has a good community vibe but a mostly serious place, but lots of expats. I also used some place in Thong Lor, which was more of a cafe, I think it was on that road between Thong Lor and Ekamai where all the clubs are.

I don't think it helped me that much business wise, since I am most productive at odd hours, but it was nice to have some semblance of normal work hours and co-workers.

It's called Third Place on Thonglor 10.

Hubba just opened up 2 new spaces (in Siam and Onnut (24/7)).

A new space also just opened up right next to Phra Khanong BTS also.

Co-working is a big trend in BKK right now.

[Dragan]

Anyone work at such a space in the Balkans?

Do you like the social element of coworking? Does the networking opportunities really help?

[monster]

The WeWork spaces are super nice.

[Felix88]

Why don't you just go to a coffee shop?

[Georges89]

I usually go to libraries. In London we have the British Library which has several vast reading rooms, where you have to be completely quiet whilst you work. So although there is no socialising so to speak, it's nice to be around other focused workers and feel you are connected in a way. Definitely nicer then working at home.

I understand OP's frustration with home working, I hate the isolated feeling. Coffee shops don't work for me usually, unless you can find a quiet one.

Better to find a university library or good public library that has a more focused atmosphere. They usually have coffee places attached anyway where you can go to make calls.

[Kentemo]

I don't really like them. Some of them are fun though. If I know I'm going to meet people and they have social events than it makes sense to me.
If not, I rather work from a coffee shops or library.

Also, universities are the best. I like to walk in a university, pretending I'm still a student and use their free wifi (if they still have that). Sometimes you do need a password & username. But I'm sure this could be a good opener to ask some girls if they would mind if you borrow theirs for a while..

[Winston Wolfe]

I work in coworking spaces a lot.

An often overlooked aspect is that you are physically going to a different place to work. For me personally, working at my desk with my bed right there is very risky. Before I know it, I'm lying down on my bed and dicking around on my phone for 2 hours.

When you physically go to a work space, it gets you into the right mindset. You are going there with a purpose: to work. And since you are paying for it, you better actually use it instead of procrastinating.

Some people complain that they're too expensive. In reality, they are not. Imagine your time is worth $50 per hour and that coworking space costs $200/month. Surely, the coworking space is responsible for at least 4 extra productive hours a month, compared to if you worked at home or from a coffee shop? There, you just made your investment back.

If it's not giving you 4 extra productive hours, it's not a good coworking space. Good coworking spaces create a productive environment and they save you time and hassle.

Additionally, they can be great places to network, but that shouldn't be your main purpose. I go there to work, not to socialize. Having said that, I do make use of every opportunity to grab lunch or dinner with people, got some great connections out of that.

[GyopoPlayboy]

If you want to get serious about building a business, I'd stay away. I'm keyed into several "famous" coworking hubs and communities throughout asia and have never met anybody from there who've helped me further my business.

About 10 years ago, everybody you met there was a freelance web designer or ebay/amazon dropshipper. Today, it's more crypto daytraders. Basically, 99% are young-ish kids looking to escape the 9-5 grind but few who are actually prepared to put in the hard work and elbow grease to build an actual business.

I have a strong feeling my advice will fall on deaf ears, but it actually works: go where the big money actually is. high-end sports clubs/fitness centers, golf clubs, charities/gala events, yacht clubs, etc. You end up getting so many referrals this way, as well as invitations to whatever big events go on in their industries, or random inclusions to their yacht parties.

[Ice Man]

Co-working spaces recreate all the downsides of a job- the noise, distraction, and banal conversations wanting to waste your time- but instead you are paying for it and going there willingly. Personally not a fan.

For most, it is simply somewhere to go to feel like they are doing something and have a familiar job-like environment.

(03-31-2018 09:03 PM)Winston Wolfe Wrote:  

An often overlooked aspect is that you are physically going to a different place to work. For me personally, working at my desk with my bed right there is very risky. Before I know it, I'm lying down on my bed and dicking around on my phone for 2 hours.

The thing is that instead of fixing the root problem you are just physically removing yourself. It's not really addressing the issue- your thought patterns and habits. It is like people who have to leave their credit cards at home to not be tempted to spend, or can't be around alcohol if they non-drinkers. The underlying issue hasn't changed.

If you are going to be working independently, I think it's good to learn to self motivate, learn to work when no one is around, and put aside all of the fluff and faff and water cooler and waste of a job-like office environment. The sooner those habits are established the more successful you will be, in my experience.

[Winston Wolfe]

(04-02-2018 03:40 AM)Ice Man Wrote:  

Co-working spaces recreate all the downsides of a job- the noise, distraction, and banal conversations wanting to waste your time- but instead you are paying for it and going there willingly. Personally not a fan.

For most, it is simply somewhere to go to feel like they are doing something and have a familiar job-like environment.

I do still think a coworking space has its benefits, especially in countries where basic facilities like reliable internet are not a given. You're paying to get the best and most hassle-free and reliable environment there is available.

If you don't want banal conversations and all that, get a private desk. Problem solved. From my viewpoint, you're paying to save time, not to waste it.

Quote:

The thing is that instead of fixing the root problem you are just physically removing yourself. It's not really addressing the issue- your thought patterns and habits. It is like people who have to leave their credit cards at home to not be tempted to spend, or can't be around alcohol if they non-drinkers. The underlying issue hasn't changed.

If you are going to be working independently, I think it's good to learn to self motivate, learn to work when no one is around, and put aside all of the fluff and faff and water cooler and waste of a job-like office environment. The sooner those habits are established the more successful you will be, in my experience.

Fair point. I haven't looked at it this way before, but I think you're on to something. Following my line of thought above, a coworking space should increase my productivity, but that productivity should already be there regardless. I shouldn't have to rely on going to a coworking space to become productive.

Do you have any recommendations on how to establish the right mindset or how to go about this in general?

[lookslikeit]

(06-21-2016 11:40 PM)defguy Wrote:  

Co work space never made sense to me. Get university enrollment sign up for 1 b.s. class and then use the high speed internet, facilities and all the resources university has to offer. There are tons of benefits of a tier 1 state university beyond just the physical space including free gym membership, free rentals on supplies, access to advisors and professors, club memberships specific to your business, 24 he campuses & libraries, shit you could even live in the library and shower at the gym if you needed it. When you start to think in this way you realize Universities are the best office a digital entrepreneur could ever want.

How much does it cost though? The premise of the co-working space is that it is cheap because you are splitting costs with your co-workers.

[lookslikeit]

(06-21-2016 03:33 AM)Afarang Wrote:  

This year I'm working on turning my online businesses into something bigger and I find that hard working in my apartment alone. There's no motivation, nobody to throw ideas around with and network.

When I get back to Bangkok I was thinking about joining a co-working space and network with others and grow my own skills and mindset.

Just wondering if anyone here works in a co-working space (particularly in Asia). Has it helped you improve your businesses and skillsets.

Any input would be useful.

Might be helpful to tell us what your business is? If you were a developer, I'd hardly see why you want to talk to people while you work.

I expect most of these who come of co-working to be busy working and won't be friendly to small talk. also their areas will be all over the place:design, dev, writing, etc...

I think what you need is to find relevant networking events for your business and go there to meet relevant people.

[Dragan]

(04-02-2018 01:50 PM)lookslikeit Wrote:  

(06-21-2016 11:40 PM)defguy Wrote:  

Co work space never made sense to me. Get university enrollment sign up for 1 b.s. class and then use the high speed internet, facilities and all the resources university has to offer. There are tons of benefits of a tier 1 state university beyond just the physical space including free gym membership, free rentals on supplies, access to advisors and professors, club memberships specific to your business, 24 he campuses & libraries, shit you could even live in the library and shower at the gym if you needed it. When you start to think in this way you realize Universities are the best office a digital entrepreneur could ever want.

How much does it cost though? The premise of the co-working space is that it is cheap because you are splitting costs with your co-workers.

Hm.. well the cost is per day, or per month. in serbia, appears to be 150usd to 200+ per month. Day passes can be free the first time, or like 10 bucks or so.

[lookslikeit]

(04-02-2018 02:20 PM)Dragan Wrote:  

(04-02-2018 01:50 PM)lookslikeit Wrote:  

(06-21-2016 11:40 PM)defguy Wrote:  

Co work space never made sense to me. Get university enrollment sign up for 1 b.s. class and then use the high speed internet, facilities and all the resources university has to offer. There are tons of benefits of a tier 1 state university beyond just the physical space including free gym membership, free rentals on supplies, access to advisors and professors, club memberships specific to your business, 24 he campuses & libraries, shit you could even live in the library and shower at the gym if you needed it. When you start to think in this way you realize Universities are the best office a digital entrepreneur could ever want.

How much does it cost though? The premise of the co-working space is that it is cheap because you are splitting costs with your co-workers.

Hm.. well the cost is per day, or per month. in serbia, appears to be 150usd to 200+ per month. Day passes can be free the first time, or like 10 bucks or so.

Maybe that's limited to serbia? I never heard of daily passes to university or monthly subscriptions. My knowledge is that you need to pay the tuition fee which can go from a few thousands dollars to a few dozen thousands dollars depending on university.

also the cheap fee universities that are good have rather strict enrollment procedure. you don't just show up and get in.

unless we're not talking about the same thing? (ie: accessing the uni without enrolling) as that would be the best of worlds for me (access to good working space PLUS pussy networking)

[Dragan]

We're talking about different things man. I was talking about coworking spaces, not unis. Coworking spaces, have fees per day, week or month.

[fktax]

I don't really understand the appeal of coworking spaces. I've been to a few and there's a lot of people there killing time/socializing, or everyone's working and not talking.

Either scenario felt uncomfortable to me so I'm back working at home most of the time.