New Book on Coworking Helps Freelancers, Startups, Organizations, Telecommuters Work Better

San Francisco, CA, September 13, 2011 --(PR.com)-- When bootstrapped entrepreneurs or independent workers head to work, it’s usually to an office-- either a cramped corner at home, a rented cubicle, or a table in a coffee shop. But an increasing number of people are considering a different workspace altogether: The coworking space.

Where you work really does matter, and coworking spaces are challenging conventional notions of where innovation and creativity come from. People are increasingly finding that great ideas flourish in the churn and activity of working alongside others.

 Across the country, coworking and collaborative workspaces like Affinity Lab, Indy Hall, Gangplank, NextSpace, and The Hub are prompting the rise of a new generation of entrepreneurs.

'Working in the UnOffice: A Guide to Coworking for Indie Workers, Small Businesses, and Nonprofits' (August 2011, CoworkingGuide.com) is one of the first all-around guidebooks on coworking. This info-packed edition chronicles the rise of the coworking movement and the social and economic trends making it possible, as well as helps readers find and select the perfect space and learn the ropes to adjusting to collaborative environments.

According to authors Genevieve DeGuzman and Andrew Tang, "Sharing and collaboration can lead to instances of creativity and innovation in the workplace. It only makes sense that organizations and small businesses find that they gain more from working together, rather than alone. This type of collaborative working doesn’t mean you surrender your independence and lose your individuality, but instead share resources and space— and in the process find common ground with each other, lend expertise, and share ideas."

The book is aimed at people who are new to coworking and want to understand the value it can add. Readers will learn the secrets to "accelerated serendipity" as members and founders recount their experiences of how coworking became a driving force behind critical business decisions and breakthroughs.

"For the uninitiated, coworking isn’t always an easy sell. We understood this! As a small business ourselves, we started test-driving a few coworking spaces in the San Francisco Bay Area— but couldn’t make up our minds. We thought about the money we could save by continuing to work at home— and all the other typical excuses. So, we did our research."

This book is built from the experiences of small businesses and organizations tackling questions like: "How can I tell whether a space is right for me?," "How do I make the transition from my home or a conventional office space to a shared or collaborative workspace?," or "Once I’m in, how can I leverage the space and the community in making my business or organization better?"

The authors spent several months talking to coworking members across the country, as well as to space founders and reps. Their collective stories and insights have been distilled into this handy volume.

"Part anecdotal narrative, part practical, how-to guidebook, this book has amassed tips and the shared wisdom of coworkers all over the country. With this illuminating and no-nonsense take on coworking, you’ll get inspired to change how you work," says Campbell McKellar, CEO of Loosecubes.com, a portal to coworking and shared spaces around the world.

The book is a raucous chorus of insights and stories from over 30 independents, small businesses, and organizations who are thriving because of coworking. 19 coworking space founders also offer insider advice. "The stories and insights here are sourced from across the coworking spectrum of members working in some of the more famous spaces in the coworking circuit and those working in quirky, less well-known spaces," say the authors.

With over 300 pages of raves, confessions, and straight talk on working better, "Working in the UnOffice: A Guide to Coworking" is targeted to freelancers, startups, telecommuters, and organizations that are tired of the corporate cube, their home office, the corner cafe-- and are ready to change and improve how they work. Its five chapters cover the following:

1: Sharing How We Work & Thinking Outside the Space - Discussion of the trends contributing to the rising popularity of coworking.

2: Coworking Deconstructed - Discussion of the movement’s origins and how it evolved and is defined today. Also offers a summary of the findings from the latest coworking surveys and studies, and a discussion of the core values of coworking (collaboration, community, sustainability, openness, accessibility), with real-life examples illustrating each in action.

3: Making the Leap - Discussion of the pros and cons of your workspace options; tips for finding, selecting, and test-driving a coworking space.

4: Recalibrating Your Business for Coworking - What to do during your first 1-3 months at a coworking space as the new kid on the block, with unique strategies from members.

5: Getting the Most Out of Coworking - Optimizing your coworking experience through interaction with your community and participation in offered programming and events, with tips from members.

'Working in the UnOffice: A Guide to Coworking' is published by Night Owls Press (nightowlspress.com), a small editorial services and publishing company for small businesses and organizations.

Contact: Andrew Tang, admin@nightowlspress.com

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