creatives drive the new economy
Creatives are being recognized for driving elements of the economy. Cities such as Denver allocate significant manpower and time to supporting the creative industry. In redeveloping urban areas, incubators like
The Creative Farm Prototype
The Creative Farm Prototype has been under development since we opened our first Creative Farm in the fall of 2008. Since we started, many new shared space offices have opened in the Front Range. They cater to a variety of users, as well as offering very flexible arraingements, including drop-in users. These are great concepts, and serve an important segment of the work community.
Our approach is focused solely on providing collaborative work spaces for creatives. We believe that putting creatives together under one roof, providing the infrastructure they need to work, and also providing a wide economic range of spaces allows them to focus on what they do best-be creative.
We observe how the creatives in our different spaces interact, how they use common space, and how they use private space. We also follow trends in work spaces-from Palo Alto to Boston and beyond, to gain insights into how we can best serve creatives.
Three Questions
In reading A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink, I was taken by how important his book is to the future economy, and more importantly, how creatives will be the critical force in this shift.
In his book, he says we must ask ourselves three questions:
1. Can someone overseas do it cheaper?
2. Can a computer do it faster?
3. Am I offering something that satisfies the nonmaterial, transcendent desires of an abundant age?
He believes your future depends on how you answer these questions. He goes on to say that people and companies must focus their efforts on what foreign workers can't do cheaper, and what computers can't do faster. We must be the thinkers, and acknowledge this huge shift in how we work, and how we fit into the global economy. We must focus on meeting the aesthetic, spiritual, and emotional needs of the times in which we live.
Walking Meetings
At The Creative Farm, we are always looking for ways to integrate our work with our values. Walking meetings (they are not new-Aristotle walked with his students as he taught) are a simple and effective way to integrate exercise and work. Instead of sitting in a conference room or you office, you take a stroll with your client, colleague, or associate. There are a number of benefits that come from this.
By way of background, the Surgeon General recommends taking 10,000 steps a day for general health and wellness. That translates to about a 30 minute walk. I know some of my best thinking comes when I am on a run, walking in the neighborhood, or hiking. This can translate seamlessly to work as well. There are benefits on a number of levels. As creatives, there are even more benefits. Here are a few ideas gleaned from various sources:
Beyond the Dollar
In his book The Creative Class, Richard Florida provides a synopsis for what creatives value. Creatives generally understand they are driven by elements other than financial, although money is certainly important. Here is what Florida describes as the top ten list of values for creatives:
1. Challenge and responsibility-being able to contribute and have impact; knowing that one’s work makes a difference.
2. Flexibility-a flexible schedule and a flexible work environment; the ability to shape one’s work to some degree.
3. A stable work environment and a relatively secure job-notlifetime security with mind-numbing sameness, but not a daily diet of chaos and uncertainty either.
4. Compensation-especially base pay and core benefits: money you can count on.
5. Professional development-the chance to learn and grow, to expand one’s horizon for the future.