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The New Office: Starbucks

January 15, 2009 BY Mark Evans

Starbucks
One lesson that I’ve learned from my brief, but exciting, career as a consultant is working from home is a myth.

Sure, there are times when can throw on some sweats and work from the comfort of your home office. But what I’ve discovered so far is that consulting involves a lot of face-to-face meetings. After all, if someone’s going to give you some business, it’s a good idea to get together to discuss what’s involved.

As a result, I’m out of the house on a regular basis, often doing several meetings a day. As a road warrior (actually, a public transportation warrior until it gets warm enough to ride my bike again), I find myself working everywhere and anywhere.

What’s become readily apparent is one of the best places to work is Starbucks. With stores pretty much everywhere and two hours of free Wi-Fi a day – provided you buy a Starbucks card – it has become the place to do some writing and check e-mail between meetings. It’s a comfortable atmosphere where you can work for an hour or so in relative calm.

Of course, my coffee consumption has probably climbed as a result but it’s a small price to pay when you’re on the road and looking for a place to temporarily hang your shingle.

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  • http://colin.smillie.ca Colin Smillie

    I agree, working from home doesn’t work well. I still know all the best coffee shops to work out of as result ;)

  • http://piersonthe.net Piers

    Do they have Pret a Manger in Canada? They’re doing free wifi now. And their food’s better than starbucks IMO

  • http://web3skills.com Chris Schmitt

    Working from home can work very well – for certain jobs. Clearly, as a consultant you need a lot of face-to-face meetings, particularly when you’re just getting started. But as a developer, you can do 99% of your work from home – even having a small staff I’m doing at least 80% of my work from home.

    Telecommuting has really come in handy particularly with this idiotic (let me say again… IDIOTIC) public transportation strike in Ottawa. I’ve kept 3 to 4 hour commutes out of my day.

    I agree working out of a place like Starbucks is great too. There’s nothing like working in a warm, friendly and social atmosphere; even if you are ignoring everyone around you.

  • http://shegeeks.net Corvida

    I wholeheartedly agree. Since there’s no standalone Starbucks near my home, I go to the local Barnes and Nobles instead. That atmosphere is just what I need to stay focus on my work and not get distracted.

    Plus, when my stomach starts rumbling this Starbucks sells sandwiches and stuff so that I never have to leave my table.

  • pep

    I agree with you. specialy when a baby is around at home…
    But i bet you can find a better place than starbucks (just the thought of the sweetish smell in the air makes me sick…). I prefer an outside place in any café (most have with full free wifi). Oh sorry, i think that’s only possible with the 16ºC of sunny Barcelona ;)

    Bests,

  • Phonezilla

    starbucks are decent places to “telework” – but are usually too noisy to take a call or attend a conference call/webcast – I love bookstores – borders/BN/chapters etc – its not a library , but it beat the hell out of having to explain the Britney Spears/frappachino machine racket in the background!!!

    In nice weather – my sanity is returned when I can ride my beemer (the real kind – the ones with only 2 wheels!) to an out of the way coffeeshop and put in a good day of teleworking

  • http://www.thedrumming.org Gillian

    It’s too bad you guys don’t have Bridgehead in Toronto. It’s where all the cool kids are hanging out. :)

    Like Starbucks, sort of, but with better (and healthier) snacks, and fair-trade coffee, chocolate, plus organic milk, cream and sugar. Mmmmm. I run into all my fellow consultants, along with CEOs, VCs and more…

    I’d agree with you that lots and lots of business gets transacted in these sorts of spots.

  • http://www.canada.travel Laura Fairweather

    Hey stranger,
    I’m working from home now too. Kahawa on College is my neighborhood coffee spot of choice… what hood are you in these days?

    Cheers
    Laura
    Director Global PR, Canadian Tourism Commission

  • http://www.markevanstech.com Mark Evans

    Laura,

    Hey, long time no speak! I’m all over town, which is why I like this Starbuck free Wi-Fi offer. If I’m on College, I’ll check out Kahawa.

    By the way, where were you when I was working with PlanetEye? :)

    cheers, Mark

  • http://blog.pxltd.ca Stephen Hayward

    I am a big fan of the Starbucks office as well. Often easy and neutral.

    I figured a while ago that you also need to have other drinks other than coffee to drink. San Pellegrino, Coffee, Tea, Espresso,… that helps with the intake.

    Still lots of bathroom breaks though.
    :)

  • http://twitter.com/starbucksoffice Ed Loessi

    Hey Mark,

    Great post I actually set up this Twitter site to see how many people might actually be working out of a Starbucks let’s call it an experiment for the moment ….

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  • http://chaseideas.com Chase

    Haha, I think this guy took your words of wisdom a little too seriously..

    http://cha2e.com/2009/03/19/starbucks-office-space/