"Coworking spaces are becoming popular as effective places to get work done, but I think that's only scratching the surface of what they're good for.
I think that coworking spaces are new incarnations of the "community center" for neighborhoods, cities, and industries." Alex Hillman
May 17, 2012
February 23, 2012
First Co-working space on the Gold Coast opening soon
An award winning residential community on the Gold Coast in Queensland will be the first co-working space on the Gold Coast. Not just a great place to live, Sphere will be the first residential community in the world to offer a dedicated co-working space exclusively for residents.
Due for completion in March 2012 and designed by Coworking Activist Libby Sander, InSphere will incorporate a convenience store kiosk, a suite of concierge services, a café and a business co-working centre. In the heart of the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge precinct and right alongside the 2018 Commonwealth Games Village, InSphere is a bespoke innovation hub for the residents of Sphere.
In line with global shifts in the future of work, the concept for the co-working space borrows the best from a members’ club, the infrastructure of an office, the stimulus of an arts centre and the comforts of home to create a new type of workplace which facilitates increases in agility, productivity and competitiveness for business.
InSphere is designed to inspire, connect and empower people to realize enterprising ideas, a space with all the tools and trimmings needed to grow and develop business, to retreat, relax and to think. We have lots of ideas in the pipeline – great events that offer ideas on better ways to work and live, a café where you can get truly good coffee, a glass of wine or take home a meal from one of the Gold Coast’s up and coming chefs produced just for us.
A space for meaningful encounters, exchange and inspiration, full of diverse people doing amazing things. A place that is locally embedded and globally connected – the future of work and living. Libby is also heading up a project for a second co-working space for the Gold Coast also opening in 2012.
For more information contact Libby Sander at libby@libbysander.com.
January 31, 2011
October 03, 2010
AIM Thought Leaders Breakfast Brisbane
High level, thought provoking sessions designed to challenge and inspire your thinking
Next Session: Tuesday 5 October 2010 , AIM Management House
Have you been to a Thought Leadership Session yet?
Thought Leadership is radically different from top-down leadership; it is about the willingness to explore new ideas and concepts in the pursuit of a better way of doing things in business.
The concept of thought leadership was attributed in 1994 to Joel Kurtzman, editor in chief of Strategy and Business Magazine. He used the term to describe leaders who had contributed new thoughts to business.
Book now to join other managers and contribute to the information, insights and ideas generated and shared at these small and intimate sessions, facilitated by an established Thought Leader.
AIM is proud to announce that October's Thought Leader is Libby Sander FAIM.
The scale and nature of work is shifting rapidly, applications for the iPad are making many businesses redundant and it's more and more challenging to out-imagine the competition. How do you create uniqueness and positioning in the new global landscape?
Thought leadership is about asking different questions, questions that lead to fundamentally different results.
At this session, attendees will explore ideas around uniqueness and positioning across three dimensions:
- The environmental/ecological perspective
- Sustainability of business models
- Sustainability around your personal brand and career
- A compelling opportunity to advance your thinking and impact
About the Speaker
Libby Sander FAIM
Libby Sander FAIM is passionate about creating better business. An organisational ecologist and Thought Leader specialising in the future of work, Libby works globally re-thinking and redesigning business for dramatically different outcomes.
With nearly 20 years experience working in a wide variety of corporate settings, Libby's expertise has seen clients achieve double digit productivity increases and have added seven figure sums to capital.
Described by clients as exceptional, compelling and inspiring, Libby will show you how to turn trends, theories and ideas into pragmatic solutions that actually work.
Event Details
Date: | Tuesday 5 October 2010 |
Time: | 7.00am to 9.00am |
Venue: | AIM Management House |
RSVP: | Monday 4 October 2010 |
Cost: | $44.00 AIM Member $55.00 Non Member |
Bookings: | book online or call 1300 882 895 |
August 27, 2010
Never stop.....
Never stop watching.
Never go to sleep.
Keep looking out the window.
You never know when you are going to see something that will inspire you.
August 22, 2010
What's the big idea? Business Inspiration
If the prospect of work on a Monday leaves you cold, maybe it's time for a new gig. In the first edition of Monocle Mediterraneo, a newspaper produced for the European summer as an anti-tablet idea by the team from Monocle, here are 10 things to think about before you dive in to that new idea.
- Proceed with passion - love and believe in the idea - market research and metrics are no substitute.
- Old is the new 'new' - there are many great heritage businesses out there ripe for revival and re-invention.
- Be prepared to put in the hours - from drawing up a business plan to buying the coffee.
- Branding goes a long way - make sure you know what you stand for and communicate this.
- Aim big - a one-year plan is well and good, but also have a plan for world domination.
- Make the world better - have pride and a belief that you're bringing something important to the market.
- Have fun - if you're not enjoying it, don't expect your staff or customers to.
- You're the small guy - so be footloose and adaptable. Learn lessons, but never trade your core idea.
- Build trust - you're making relationships for life so never under-deliver or disappoint.
- Be focussed - know what it is that you do, and do it well. You can only diversify from a solid base.
August 13, 2010
Rapture
Against the sentiment of uncertainty and fear, UK publication Glass has curated its entire summer edition around one concept - rapture. Rapture is a word rarely associated with the world of business, yet it is a driving force for those in the world of arts, music, performance. Here are some of my favourite quotes from the edition, ones that moved me to think differently about what motivates us in work and life.
What is rapture for you? When was the last time rapture was part of your day?
"Rapture - for a split second there is hope and a notion that all I desire is within my reach..." Singer Lykke Li
"Rapture to me is a flash of pleasure, being delighted in the moment of something that you are experiencing. The greatest source of rapture to me is reading a page of a book that I love, to get completely lost in the text. At the same time I love to hear music in the background such as Manuel de Falla and to have a silent move playing in the background as well." Manolo Blahnik, Shoe Designer
"The sky. It reminds me of infinite possibilities and new beginnings." Italo Zucchelli, Designer, Calvin Klein
"A great piece of music gives one the sense of divine order in the world, as well as the experience of profound beauty that one could easily define as 'a glimpse of God'." Joshua Bell
"Opera. It moves me, makes me cry, makes me more sensitive, makes my life more beautiful, moves me to another reality. That's why, for all these reasons we are enraptured by it." Alexsandra Kurzak
"There is no remedy for love but to love more." Henry David Thoreau
"I'll lift you and you lift me and we'll both ascend together." John Greenleaf Whittier
"Rapture is a when something beautiful possessus us rather than the other way round - a moment of desire when our longing matches its fulfillment in an embrace, taking us beyond desire itself." Stephen Hough
Commitment - Make a Stand
We all want our customers to be so in love with us that they are prepared to line up for hours or days for our new products like they do at Apple. Or to want to work for us so badly that a resume is sent every 25 seconds like they do at Google. The reality is that generating commitment in an organisation over a long period of time is tough to do. We hear how we need to be creating movements and tribes of devoted followers, but some days it feels like an achievement if we can just get people to show up.
What is the magic that makes the difference? Institutions, organisations, tribes or movements that are able to sustain commitment from their people over time are generally successful at doing one of two things – making a stand against something or fighting for a cause. There is a third option of course – fear. And while some organisations and managers might still try to operate out of this paradigm, the reality is that it doesn’t work.
Tribes from the bohemians of the early nineteenth century through to hippies and rock and roll were all founded on the magic of making a stand or fighting for a cause. Or both. It’s a more elegant way of thinking about the idea of creating an enemy, mooted in the old leadership and organisational theory literature.
I once worked for a plaintiff personal injuries law firm. As far as being a lawyer goes, this is a pretty tough gig. The media and the public are not very enamoured of the practice area and the tag of ‘ambulance chaser’ is never far away. It’s hard to attract staff and hard to maintain enthusiasm amongst a constant flow of negativity from media, colleagues, family and friends.
The firm however had an amazing culture, every employee felt part of a fight for the cause of justice and individual rights. They recited speeches by the great US attorney Clarence Darrow. They were phenomenal at building a culture of success around the stories of their work, of celebrating being in David and Goliath battles. They fought some of the most high profile litigation in Australia. They even formed an association with Erin Brokovich.
Is Apple making a stand for great design? Is Google fighting for the cause of instant information access? Think about what your business does. And then re-think it. How are you making a stand or fighting for a cause?
July 19, 2010
Steve Jobs on how to live before you die
At his Stanford University graduation speech, Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple and Pixar, urges us to pursue our dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks -- including death itself. Watch his speech here -
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html
