To my left is a recovering media producer who now uses her powers as the campaign manager for a not-for-profit called Hope Phones. They recycle our old mobiles and use the proceeds to give cell phones to health workers in developing countries to expand the reach of their health services. A table away, is an intellectual property attorney who can frequently be found counseling bootstrapping entrepreneurs about their innovations.  Sitting across from him is a realtor whose business model includes donating 25% of her commissions to a charity of her client’s choice. To my right, sits a marketing research consultant with diverse experience in multiple sectors, a serial entrepreneur, CEO of a startup focused on electronic medical records, and, just a stones throw away, is a brand futurist and one of the lead enablers of TedxAustin. So where is this talented group tapping away at their MacBooks in Austin….we’re all members of Link Coworking.

Until recently, corporate road warriors, distributed small companies, and freelancers were stuck working out of hotel rooms, coffee shops, or home offices. This was okay occasionally, but not sustainable for the longterm. Plus, people longed for a sense of community, collaboration, and networking. Enter coworking. Now, in cities around the country, coworking spaces are opening their doors and redefining the concept of the workplace. The trend has even been noted in Fast Company and the New York Times. For many, these spaces and communities offer the best attributes of a “workplace” with all of the freedoms and flexibility of being independent. Whether you are a traditional organization or an independent entraprenuer, coworking may be for you. Check it out. Now, back to work.