An Open Letter to GCUC
Dear GCUC
We need to talk.
I hoped that this year’s conference would be good.
It wasn’t.
It was freaking, over-the-moon fantastic. Whatever you’ve done in the last year, keep doing that.
I left GCUC USA 2016 feeling displaced and disappointed that the coworking movement had been co-opted by a bunch of real estate dudes who didn’t really know what coworking was and weren’t all that interested in finding out. Their biggest concern, as far as I could tell, was how someone could divide up real estate into workstations, then do that over and over and over until they had millions of dollars.
By lunchtime of the first day last year, I was over it.
By lunchtime of the first day this year, my soul was lit, my heart hurt because I was so happy and my brain was working overtime to process everything I was hearing and experiencing.
Last year, strangers asked for my business card because they wanted me to help them get press for their real estate empire.
This year, strangers quickly became friends who shared ideas, resources, challenges and conversations.
Business connections were made, but they were made because those of us talking found ourselves aligned in a vision for storytelling, community and coworking, and felt a resonance of purpose.
Generosity fueled the event as people, from new space owners to longtime industry professionals, shared their thoughts, experiences, advice and insights. Unconference sessions were masterminds of what to do and what not to do. Pros shared tips, ranging from big picture perspectives down to the smallest details, with newbies and people considering opening coworking spaces.
We talked about cities, and spiritual communities, and the importance of in-person connections—even when you’re as big as Google, and transforming underserved areas and underutilized buildings, and negotiating with landlords, and how we need to demand diversity in our spaces, and how a good plan executed today is better than a great plan executed tomorrow.
We took a group photo that I heard someone refer to as a family photo. It rang true.
I keep describing last year’s event as a head-on collision of industries—coworking and real estate—with real estate dominating. After the event, the only thing I could write was a takedown, and warning to community-focused coworking spaces.
Before this year’s event, I was cautiously optimistic. The buzz was that you were going to be different—that this year would be a return to the soul of coworking. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was glad to hear you also had issues with the direction the conference had taken.
From this year’s outstanding presenters and panelists, to the open-hearted participants who shared their hopes, vulnerabilities, vision and and power, I was—and remain—blown away by what I experienced, and I’m not alone. People were saying things like, “I don’t know what it is, but this is the best conference ever.”
I agree. Never have I been so moved and felt so connected at a conference.
The unconference sessions were exercises in community, resource sharing, passion, insight and smarts. The sessions I attended, including Women Who Cowork and the Regional Coworking Alliances conversation, reflected the best of coworking: community, diversity, mutual support, openness, friendship, sustainability.
Last but not least, props to Convene. They have the event thing dialed in. The space and flow were flawless. The sparkling water on tap, nine choices of tea, milk alternatives, delicious and healthy meals, fridges full of drinks, good coffee and random snacks put the conference over-the-top. And New York City captured my heart. I can’t wait to get back and explore more.
So, my dear GCUC, Liz, Stormy and the crew: Thank you for circling back around to what makes this event and movement great. After last year’s conference I described Liz, as “trying to hold on to the community aspect of coworking as though it were a rooted tree in the middle of a hurricane.”
This year, you planted a massive tree of community and global transformation and we all gathered around it to learn, share and connect. You reestablished GCUC as a visionary gathering of changemakers and clarified that coworking is, indeed, a human revolution.
With love, gratitude and deep respect,
Cat
Comments
I have to admit my heart SANK when I started to read this and I finished with happy tears in my eyes. I have over the past year often reflected on that visual of me in the hurricane. I felt it too. I didn’t want to say in advance that we were going back to our roots and taking it up a level but I feel like we did it. It is so hard to put your heart, your soul, your business and your financial security on the line year after year. I feel like I just open my arms and wait for the arrows or hugs. This year it was hugs. I love the tree analogy and will be using it in my response . Thank you Cat for being brave and open and an advocate. You are one of those deep roots.
Liz, Stormy and all of the participants, thank you for this amazing Unconference. It certainly felt like I was welcomed into the Coworking family even thought I do not even have the space (yet). But now I feel that taking the plunge is easier as I have found this wonderful community to be part of. Let’s keep #human revolution going. Ariana
Hi Ariana
I find that when I spend time with the amazing coworking community, I come away encouraged, inspired and empowered. So glad to connect with you and YES to the human revolution.
Cheers,
Cat
Hi Liz
Glad you ended up with happy tears. This is pretty profound:
“It is so hard to put your heart, your soul, your business and your financial security on the line year after year.”
Thanks for putting yourself out there and I’m so glad that this year was all hugs. Can’t wait to see where you/we go from here.
xo,
Cat
Spot. On. Cat.
Thanks, my new friend Daryn. I’m so pleased this resonates with you.
It was wonderful to get to know you in-person. Here’s to many more!
Cheers,
Cat
Cat-
Glad to hear New York City captured your heart; the GCUC community captured mine. When you return, PLEASE let me your tour guide. Until then, I look forward to reading your words of wisdom with gratitude.
Liz, Stormy and other GCUC organizing and informing dynamos,
Thank you for your vision, risk-taking, and human-centric curation. You have my gratitude, applause, and eager anticipation of next year. ROCK ON!!
xo, Joy
Hi Joy!
Thanks for the offer. I’ll happily take you up on it as I want to learn everything about that amazing city!
Thanks so much for reading. It means a lot to know people are tuning in. Let me know if there’s anything in particular you’d like me to cover.
A big +1 to this not to team GCUC: “Thank you for your vision, risk-taking, and human-centric curation. You have my gratitude, applause, and eager anticipation of next year. ROCK ON!!”
Yes!
Until next time,
Cat
*note*