Wyoming Entrepreneur Blog

I am a graphic designer who is considering joining a “coworking” space. Why should someone choose this, instead of just working from home? - Cindy in Lander, WY

Coworking spaces attempt to capture the best of different workspaces where freelancers and independent workers get things done— the flexibility of a home office and vibe of a café— and bring them together with an emphasis on collaboration and building community.

The benefits:

Greater motivation. Productivity spikes when you’re working alongside other entrepreneurs. Coworkers join their coworking spaces because they find that the environment, in one form or another, satiates their own psychological craving for a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

For many, it’s about the energy boost of being around other people. Alan Pinstein, who runs his real estate software service Neybor out of Ignition Alley, tells us, “We can all learn from each other and meet new people. It’s great, especially for people coming from a work-at-home situation where they need the social interaction and need to see people around to feel some energy in the room.” Alan compares the experience to the energy of being in a large metropolis. “I used to live in New York City and [coworking] brings that energy you find in the streets of New York to your office environment. To me, being here you get to feel everybody’s energy everyday.”

Graphic designer Judi Oyama’s experience at NextSpace told us that one of the core attractions of coworking for small businesses is that it enables you to get things done by filling in any gaps in skills and needs. When you aren’t stymied and stonewalled by things you can’t do, you feel motivated to launch new projects and try new business ventures.

Quality social encounters. Coworking gives you more social interaction. Join a space and get out of your pajamas and out of the house. Industrial and graphic design expert Anthony Grieder exchanged his home office where he had run Alloy Design, Inc. for over a decade for coworking space Boulder Digital Arts after coming to a realization that he wanted more people around him. “I had been in a home office for the past 12 years, and needed to get back into a more social situation.”

For others, being around people is a necessity for their business, especially for those in the creative field. Graphic designer Johnny Bilotta says that he turned to coworking at Indy Hall to test ideas and get immediate feedback. “One of the things I lost by working at home was the social aspect of going to an office. I couldn’t bounce an idea off of somebody, and being a designer, I need people’s opinions on things. I like to get people’s opinions on colors, for example. Even if it’s just waxing philosophical over a cup of coffee about a different design philosophy or something— I missed that from working at home.”

A professional venue— and outlook. Going to a coworking space disciplines your approach to your independent work or business. Franchise business consultant Kyle de Haas, a member of Cospace, likes how coworking puts him in a professional, ready-to-work frame of mind. “There are too many distractions at home that deter me from being as efficient as I’d like when I work,” he tells us. “I’ve learned over time that I respond well to getting dressed and going someplace to get work done. It promotes a healthy work-life balance.”

Instructional designer Lisa Van Damme marvels at how coworking at Boulder Digital Arts provides the right incentives to do her work in a more professional and balanced way. “There’s something to be said about getting dressed in the morning and leaving the house versus working in pajamas ten steps away from the bed.”

‘Accelerated serendipity’ galore. With coworking, communities can be very diverse, and you never know whom you’ll bump into in an encounter that could change your business forever. Freelance writer Kevin Purdy tells us, “I gained at least ten successful Lifehacker post ideas from working at Coworking Rochester, if not more. Personally, I’ve picked up post ideas and topics galore from Coworking Rochester for my freelance writing projects.” He also says that “problems I’ve had with my personal website, or even my out-loud ‘I wish I could…’ queries, have been tackled with enthusiasm whenever I’ve coworked.”

Action Alliance for Children’s Lisa Shulman Malul, a member of The Hub Bay Area, explains how crucial this exchange of ideas is in keeping their organization relevant, their ideas fresh, and their energy levels charged. “I think in any field you can get used to talking about your issues or the things that you cover within a narrow spectrum. The idea of interacting with [different audiences] on an ongoing basis gave us opportunities to hear more about how other people understand our work.”

Shared resources (from equipment to expertise). If you need to get things done on the cheap, coworking spaces are the place to do it. Instead of shouldering the cost of office space, Wi-Fi, the coffee machine, copier and printer, you split the cost with the other members of your space. You can also leverage better prices for other equipment or subscriptions with group deals.

And then there are the human resources— the people that can be sourced for team projects and group ideas. Members benefit from classes and lectures given by fellow members at many coworking spaces. Alongside being able to seek out your neighbor by dropping by for a chat at his or her desk, you can also seek out formal channels of skills exchange at hosted events where members take turns giving classes.

Companies hiring from the available pool of freelancers is commonplace at Gangplank. “In Silicon Valley, the joke is that you can change your job without changing your parking space. We say at Gangplank that you can change your job without changing your desk,” says co-founder Jade Meskill. “We've had people who wanted to get out of the consulting business and work for a product company, and be hired directly by one of the other companies inside of Gangplank.”

The price is right. Jason Richelson, a former member of Hive at 55 says that coworking makes it easy to save money, especially for the entrepreneur just starting out his or her business and trying to reach a sustainable operational level. “You just don’t want to commit to a lease in the initial stages of a new company, so going month-to-month is the only way for startups. And with coworking you don’t need to think about furniture, Internet, printer, etc. because it is all there.”

Expansion opportunities and an impressive ROI. The expenses incurred (monthly dues and commuting expenses) are generally outweighed by the gains. In the first Global Coworking Survey held by Deskmag, 42 percent of coworkers said that their incomes increased since joining a coworking space— probably from having access to wider social and professional networks and securing better job opportunities.

The downsides:

Little privacy and too many distractions. Sometimes the nature of your work is not compatible with the openness needed to make coworking work. Lawyers or accountants with secretive clients, for example, may need their own private offices that can be secured at all times. Even coworking advocates are not immune to the distraction that comes with the free flow of people in a coworking space. Software developer and cloud computing expert Adam Lindsay, a member of Coworking Rochester, tells us that prospective members should be warned about potential distractions when considering a space, which can affect productivity or be stressful when you have too much on your plate on a certain day. “If a person is easily distracted, coworking might not always be good. Make sure the coworking environment has quiet spaces you can escape to.”

Not the right crowd. Sometimes the chemistry really doesn’t work out, between you and the rest of the coworkers in the space. You may have different expectations, and the coworking space just didn’t meet them.

::::: Genevieve DeGuzman is the co-author of ‘Working in the UnOffice: A Guide to Coworking for Indie Workers, Small Businesses, and Nonprofits’ (Night Owls Press, August 2011).

Reprinted with permission from an article by Genevieve DeGuzman The entire article originally appeared in Deskmag http://bit.ly/r34StT on 2011-10-21.

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Is your sustainability message a bit stale? Spice it up and make it memorable!

Even though we are heading into warmer months of spring and summer, here’s proof that your sustainability messaging doesn’t have to be boring: In late January, the World Wildlife Fund launched a website (sweaterday.ca) for National Sweater Day (February 9). The premise? Canadians were encouraged to lower their thermostats a few degrees and put on a sweater to stay warm – thereby making grandmothers happier all over the country.

We spend a lot of time in the Shelton creative department discussing creative strategy and the best way to make things “stick” with customers – what makes a campaign memorable and what makes people act sustainably. Some of you might recall former President Jimmy Carter’s famous “sweater speech,” in which he encouraged everyone to minimize their energy consumption and break out the cardigans. Thirty-two years later, the same request was made of Canadians through a completely different approach – and without political agenda. Let’s take a look at what this new sweater campaign did right.

First, “The Granny Call Centre” took a request for sacrificing one’s personal comfort (which we know is a huge motivator for consumers) and put a fun, positive spin on it. Its approach was human and universal  – most of us have a beloved grandmother, and most of us have received an overdone/overblown/oversized sweater from her at least once. It even made the sacrifice seem downright cozy, if not a bit tongue-in-cheek: as one Scottish granny says, “Don’t be ornery – just put on your sweater!” By taking an age-old, grandmotherly adage and marrying it with an accepted societal joke, the campaign became a prescriptive instrument of engagement and awareness.

Secondly, the campaign has the potential to create change by going viral. This fun, buzz-worthy campaign can be passed along to friends and family to create change through subtle peer pressure – people wearing sweaters and lowering the thermostat not because of kind, rosy-cheeked grannies, but because their hipster Canuck friend Dan found a fun, slightly loopy campaign online and decided to play along.

Regardless of how folks get there, the end result is positive. Wonder if any of those grannies are familiar with the term ‘win-win’?

Guest article by Stephanie Alexander, Senior Copywriter for Shelton Group, LLC

Why Family Businesses are Special Today

Family-owned businesses are stable and optimistic, even in times of economic uncertainty. A recent national study by Kennesaw State University, the American Family Business Survey of family-owned businesses, studied the strengths, challenges and changes since a previous study done in 2002. It found that family business owners:
1 | Are optimistic about future growth - Even during some generally depressed business conditions, family business owners express optimism. Figures confirm that family businesses are better able to weather economic hardship and stabilize the economy than their non-family counterparts.
2 | Lack a sense of urgency about retirement and succession planning - Family businesses face some significant succession challenges. Over forty percent of business owners expect to retire in the next ten years, but many are less certain about retirement. Almost one third have no plans to retire, ever. Nearly another third report that retirement is eleven or more years away. This means that many owners plan to die running their business, which is not beneficial to their family, the business, its employees or its customers. Furthermore, nearly one third have no estate plan beyond a simple will.
3 | Select women as leaders - There has been an almost five-fold increase in the number of women leaders in family businesses in the last decade, far more than the increases seen in non-family businesses. The trend indicates that increased female leadership of family businesses should continue.
4 | Hold themselves and their employees to a higher ethical standard - Since family businesses are family and relationship oriented, they operate more ethically. Family owners have a major influence on their business and their values are emphasized in the business. Family orientation seems to translate into more ethical behavior and the resulting actions contribute significantly to their family’s identity in their communities.
5 | Expand on traditional management - There is a misconception that due to the relational nature of family businesses they are less professional. In one way this may be true, with only a few businesses having a written strategic plan or formal planning process. This is only one higher level of professional behavior. Despite the lack of formal strategic planning, they use other types of planning tools. Buy-sell agreements, business valuations, boards of directors, formal recruiting, performance appraisals, and benefits administration indicate their professionalism.
6 | More unified family values - Family unity and cohesion are critical to family business success and an important goal. Family members that agree on values, attitudes, and beliefs exhibit that unity and cohesion. The practice of these values result in increased levels of employee loyalty, commitment, and organizational citizenship. Similarity of values between family members in business and their customers can also improve relationships and foster economic stability.
7 | Place their trust in family members as key advisors – Overwhelmingly the business owner’s spouse is seen as their most trusted advisor, followed by their accountant, a business peer, parent, lawyer, and financial advisor.

Putting sustainability into practice

Guest blog by Karen Barnes, VP Insight, Shelton Group.

http://www.sheltongrp.com/

I love a good theory as much as the next girl. But you know what I love even more? Seeing a theory come to life in the real world. A great idea put into practice, creating change.

Here are two examples from my recent travels. First, this is a really smart, very sustainable way to reduce the number of barely used bottles that get trashed by hotel cleaning crews every day, compliments of Hampton Inn. This is a great example of a nudge. By only providing these necessities in a self-serve, use-only-what-you-need fashion, Hampton Inn has made the desired behavior the default. If you don’t like this model, well, you can always opt to bring your own toiletries, so personal choice is still available.

No more wasted soap bars. No more tiny little plastic bottles in the landfill.

And other travelers are noticing additional benefits as well. Here’s a comment about the Skokie, ID, Hampton Inn. “I loved the bathroom dispensers for the shampoo and conditioner because we never ran out (I had 5 other girls in my room).” Not only is this solution more sustainable, it’s also more convenient — a huge driver for mainstream consumers!

Last week, I traveled to Washington, DC where I stayed at the Helix, a Kimpton Hotel, one of my very favorite boutique chains. Of course, parking is at a premium everywhere in the nation’s capital, but if you drive a hybrid to the Helix, you get a reward. Your parking is half-price!

If you’re a hybrid driver in the DC-area, you can also zip along in the HOV lanes and avoid the nasty traffic snarls. In other words, you get special rewards – really good ones at that – for doing the sustainable thing. You save money. You save time. Oh, and you can help “save the planet” at the same time.

For marketers, think about how you can reward your customers for doing the right thing. Can you give them ongoing rewards? Can you make something simpler, less expensive, or more convenient for them? Can you partner with other companies to extend or encourage the rewards? Since sustainability is rarely, if ever, the primary reason anyone purchases anything, rewards need to fill those primary needs in order to keep encouraging the desired behavior.

If you’re seeing examples out there or actually practicing some theories that are resulting in behavior change in the real world, we’d love to hear about and see them. Post ‘em here folks!

Note: Thank you, Karen, for allowing Wyoming Entrepreneur to re-post your article in our weekly blog!!

Process mapping?

By Anya Petersen-Frey, Regional Director, MBA, PhD (abd), Certified Global Business Professional

What exactly is process mapping?    Bob,  Torrington

This is a great question, and timely, since I just finished a process mapping project with a local organization.  Here is a very brief overview.

Process mapping is usually considered a quality management tool with an overall goal of improving a process by looking for gaps in service, waste (time or product) or other issues. You may have heard terms such as "Six Sigma", "Lean Six Sigma"  or the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program all which provide tools geared toward maximizing efficiency while maintaining control over a process - be it manufacturing or service related.

Process mapping provides business leaders the opportunity to clarify how processes are actually being performed. It reveals problems such as bottlenecks or variations in how the process is carried out by different groups or individuals.  Put simply, process mapping strives to improve business performance by optimizing the efficiency of connecting activities in the creation of a product or service.

A process map is a tool - a means to an end, not an outcome in its own right.

The final output will, hopefully, be an  improvement in the way that the business process works.

 There are two main process models:

• The "current"  model which outlines the current process as it is performed now
• The "future" state model which defines the way the process will look when changes or modifications have been implemented - or the way it is desired to be.

The goals of completing this process are to create value for the customer and to reduce costs for the company

There are many ways to approach creating a process map.  Optimal is to have people at all levels of the organization involved, even in a very small firm. The starting point is to identify and map out a particular process for a "current" state.  If you don't know where the gaps or delays in a process are it can be difficult to identify and correct them. 

For example:  Imagine you own a carpet store that sells carpet as well as offers delivery and installation.  What is the process, from the customer perspective, of purchasing and having carpet installed?  The starting point might be "customer comes into store to look at carpet". Then what?  What questions are asked that direct the next step?  Walk the steps as though you are a customer including communication, time involved, etc. Note where delays occur, or where decisions have to be made.  This can be a messy process as different input creates a map with many divergent paths.  That is ok. 

This may be a simplified example but can give you a hint of how to take a step back and objectively view your business process.  It is important to understand what each person does - so ask them.  The map should have no personal names but rather only list the processes and the differences in how different people handle them.

There are many flow chart and process map examples on the Web as well as software to help you build your final map.  You will notice some standard symbols used to delineate "decisions", or "delays" - these can be helpful but the map can be created in a way that meets the needs of your organization.

It can help to have an objective facilitator guide the original data collection using input from various people in the particular process to get an accurate view of what is actually happening, but again, a business owner can begin the process on his own.

The key goal in using this type of tool is to maintain a competitive edge.  Don't become complacent and fall into the age-old "this is the way it has always been done" trap.  There are times when the an original method is still the best; but many times it is time to re-evaluate and institute more efficient processes.

Verifying "Green" Claims!

According to “The Green Watchdogs” article in the April issue of Smart Money magazine there are over 300 environmental watchdogs worldwide and new organizations are popping up offering certification programs that verify product claims. I found that the Consumer Reports greenerchoices.org website provides a tool you can search products, labels, claims, and certifiers to find out who or what you can trust.  There is even a glossary of terms to help readers understand eco-labels. 

 

On business.gov check out the “Product Stewardship” under the “Industries Partner” list on their “Environmental Management” tab for information on how product stewardship relates to both business and government as well as how manufacturers, retailers, governments, and communities are finding solutions to product waste management. 

 

There is also a step-by-step “Environmental Planning” guide on the business.gov site.  The guide walks you through the process of creating an environmental management plan for your business including writing policy and communicating responsibilities to employees.  There are also environmental management best practices worksheets for retail business and over 30 other businesses or industries. 

 

And finally, the energystar.gov website offers additional resources for retailers.  It provides information on how products earn the ENERGY STAR label, free online training to help you improve the energy performance of your organization, information regarding what products a retailer may want to use to furnish their business, or help a business consider what specific products to sell.

 

What changes have you made or what are you doing in your business to become eco-friendly?

PSP - Personally Subtle, Globally Significant

So what is your PSP?  Well first, what the heck is a PSP?  I attended the “Building a Culture of Sustainability” presentation by Judah Schiller of Saatchi and Saatchi S at the 2009 SHRM conference; great conference BTW.  I learned that PSP is a “grassroots effort” to encourage employees to incorporate sustainability into their personal lives.  This strategy recognizes that change begins at home with ideas that have a personal benefit to individuals, subtle things that make them happy like saving money or personal well-being.

 

Personal Sustainability Practices / Projects or PSP is a vehicle for helping employees become “healthier and happier” by adopting a small action that brings sustainability and benefits into that individual’s life.  For example, swapping out traditional incandescent light bulbs for Energy Star light bulbs (money savings) or riding your bike (I do that!) or walking to work (health benefits) rather than driving a vehicle.  These are little things that can easily be modeled or encouraged and even rewarded by an employer.   It’s not uncommon for these simple personal practices to mushroom into bigger ideas for the employee’s organization – one Wal Mart employee asked if the vending machines had to have the lighted fronts?  This simple question sparked the removal of the bulbs from the machines saving a boat-load of energy and of course, big bucks for Wal Mart!  Imagine what creative ideas your employees might have!

 

Help your employees (or your employer) “connect to a higher purpose; one that involves themselves, your co-workers, your family, your community, and your planet!”  Share your PSPs with us. 

 

Learn more at Strategy for Sustainability and watch a cool 1.5 minute video or get details at What is the Personal Sustainability Project?

Guest Blogger: Carol Stark "Is Your Business Filling Up Your Local Dump?"

Today's guest blogger is Carol Stark, CHMM, Environmental Scientist II, Solid and Hazardous Waste Division, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.

http://deq.state.wy.us/shwd/

Is Your Business Filling Up Your Local Dump?

Do you know that there are 51 landfills in Wyoming, and about 42 of those serve populations less than 10,000? Do you also know the monetary and environmental cost of running landfills is causing some of them to close (due to an increased awareness of operating costs)?

As a small business, you can make a difference in the longevity of your landfill. Cardboard, paper, metals, fluorescent light bulbs and nickel cadmium batteries can be recycled. Ink cartridges can be refilled; recycling ink cartridges is a sustainable business practice because it saves you money and also eliminates the packaging that would normally be thrown in the trash. Electronic waste (office equipment, such as computers, electronics, copiers, etc.) can be diverted from the landfill by donating to schools or computers for kids programs. Ask your computer repair shop for the nearest business that donates to Computers for Kids. Cell phones can be donated to other non-profit organizations. For leftover paint, call the nearest Habitat for Humanity; some will take unused paints. Donating to a cause is good business practice and can be great publicity.

For a list of recyclers in Wyoming, go to the Wyoming DEQ website at http://deq.state.wy.us/shwd/recycling. A fast search engine for listing the nearest recyclers, by type of material to be recycled, is at http://www.earth911.com/. If you can’t reuse or recycle a certain material, remember to ask your local landfill what they can or cannot accept.

Guest Blogger: Tim Bursch and "4 Tips to Profit and Impact"

Guest blogger Tim Bursch is a passionate about integrating business and social change. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife Heather and two great kids. You can see some of his ventures at http://timbursch.com/about-tim-bursch/

GUEST POST:

So you've heard the buzz about Social Entrepreneurs and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It seems like a movement that is here to stay.

More people want to integrate their social interest and business. But how do you make a profit and social impact? It doesn’t matter if you're running a bakery or a bank. You can make a difference.

Consider these 4 steps and integrate a social mission into your business:

1. LISTEN AND THINK

• Research the needs in your community. Start talking to non-profits, educators and city officials. Ask them what they see, what are the needs and what are their challenges.
• Ask yourself some questions. What gets you excited?
• Brainstorm ways your business could make a practical difference? A bakery could offer discounts. A dry cleaner could offer an job interview special.

2. PLAN AND SHARE

• Choose your challenge and set a goal with your team or business.
• Get input from those already working with the issues in the community. Continue to build relationship with the non-profits, educators and/or city officials.
• Consider collaboration. You might find another business or leader that has the same vision.

3. JUST DO IT.

• Start.
• Measure and record. Just like you have sales goals and profit margins, make it fun to make a difference. Keep track of giving, recycling, planting, and volunteer hours.
• Revisit and adjust. Every 6 months or so, revisit your measurements, your plan and get feedback from your community relationships. Don’t be afraid to adjust.

4. MAKE IT PART OF YOUR BUSINESS.

• Be honest. Social mission is not a ploy to gain more customers, but more customers are looking for businesses engaged in social issues.
• Tell your story. Talk about what you are trying and what you are learning.
• Keep it simple. Make it easy for people to talk about. If you decide to invest 5% of profits in a local school, make that clear on your receipt.
• Invite. Ask customers to join you. Maybe they can volunteer to paint a house alongside you. It might be a donation jar on the counter.

How are you integrating a social mission into your business? Share your story.

"Sustainability" Wears Many Faces - Untours Combines Unique Vacation Alternatives with Low Interest Loans to Promote Economic Development

“Sustainable” is defined as, “Capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment.” Untours is a unique organization with a unique mission. Untours is a travel company, specializing in vacation rental packages to Europe. They provide travelers with lodging in a private apartment, cottage or farmhouse (even a castle); ground transportation; optional air transportation; transfer assistance; an optional group event; and professional support services before, during and after the trip. The owner, octogenarian Hal Taussig, believes that, “The purpose of any business is to serve human needs.” Thus, any Untour is an investment – not only in cultural understanding and experience, but also in making the world a better place via the Untours Foundation. Funded with profits from Untours and donations from individual Untourists, the foundation provides low-interest loans to innovative projects that address poverty by creating and supporting work, housing and Fair Trade. The interest rate on an Untours Foundation loan is one of the lowest in the world. The Untours Foundation has loaned over $5 million since 1999. The loans (not grants) are intended to be a “hand-up” not a “hand out,” and encourage economic sustainability for funded projects. Loans range in size from $6,000 to $250,000. Once loans are repaid, funds are reinvested in new projects. Explore your vacation possibilities with Untours at http://www.untours.com.