COWORKING VS COLLABORATION

Coworking is the use of an office or other working environment by people who are self-employed or working for different employers, typically so as to share equipment, ideas, and knowledge.

Collaboration is the action of working with someone to produce or create something.

Coworking is about a common need and shared resources. Collaboration is about a common goal and shared efforts.

Coworking can exist without collaboration. You can cowork and not talk to one another. People cowork in airports everyday. They share wifi, bathrooms, and coffee shops. Rarely in an airport do you see folks collaborating. It would be weird.

We have visited coworking spaces nationwide. Most of these places spend tons of time curating a community because otherwise it is a glorified coffee shop.

We hope to go beyond that.

In Arizona there is a fun community organization called Gangplank. Here is how they describe their space/community.

“Gangplank isn’t a tech place, or kid place - it’s an everyone place. Gangplank is people.

Gangplank facilities are not just here to be used by small business and freelancers. Gangplank is not a work place - it’s a third place - an environment blending both home and workplace. Participants eavesdrop, jump into conversations and become involved in not just each other’s work, but each other’s lives. Gangplank is a place where holidays, birthdays, new arrivals, and new ideas are announced and celebrated as a community.

At Gangplank, it doesn’t matter who you are, how you dress, your race, age, gender, or occupation. You are only judged based on your desire to contribute. Participants are seen only for their ideas, ambitions, and creations.”

While we probably won’t have folks celebrating holidays at The Bakery, we do appreciate their idea that you are judged on your desire to contribute.

Contributing to the whole of the community is a hallmark of collaboration. No this doesn’t mean that competing business won’t still compete. It does mean, however, that in order to fit in at The Bakery our members won’t be defined by their desired to compete but rather their desire to contribute.

Quite honestly we love all of the coworking that already happens at the coffee shops throughout town. Our friends who own those businesses. Please spend money with them.

What is our common goal? To make business in Sioux Falls better by bringing together thinkers, doers, and creators.

But what do you think? Can Sioux Falls collaborate? Will this kill competition and free marketing forces? Leave us your thoughts.