Golden Square - Joy at Work

How to Overcome Big Money and Competition Learning from my 24 year old Coworking Business An entrepreneur's musings on competition, big money, purpose and productivity at work. -Balaji Pasumarthy Creator- Joy at Work®, Golden Square Offices 24 years ago, I never would have imagined that I would be involved in a “Happening” business. A business that was on the forefront of culture and media. However thanks to WeWork, the Serviced Office/ Coworking Industry has gotten a lot of buzz and action. A burst of activity that I have been observing with fascination, amusement and also reflection. Despite Golden Square having served more than 4000 companies, including being the first office for Dell, McAfee, Mars and many others in India, I got into a deep introspection. My team and my friends have been asking me to put these thoughts down on paper, so here I go- It all began in 1995, when as a freshly minted entrepreneur, the concept of Serviced Offices or Business Centres cau...

The conclusion from the research is remarkable. Virtual Workers are twice as engaged as their office-bound colleagues if they feel that they are part of a team … is a conclusion one can draw from a Recent Research Published in Harvard Business Review https://hbr.org/2019/05/engagement-around-the-world-charted To quote,  “Regular communication with colleagues is important, of course. But as anyone who has worked in an open office can attest, the ability to minimize distractions is crucial to engagement. The critical factor is whether virtual workers feel that they’re part of a team. If they do, they’re twice as engaged as their office-bound colleagues.” Although distraction-free work is important, there are times when we need team interactions. Technology can come to the rescue here. Modern video conferencing software, collaboration tools, and task management systems help us get work done. Even if the team members are remote collaboration can happen. But there a...

How fascinating it can be to have your office space decked up like you are actually in a disco, partying. Wait a minute. A disco in an office? Sit back and think about what should be one’s real motivation to come to the office. Have fun or get work done? Today's work culture is taking a toll on our productivity. Work is becoming more agile. Offices are becoming casual, and interactive setups. Be it from a startup or a well-established company, everyone has a coffee shop vibe to their workplace. But can a business be successful when employees are not productive?  This is a complex issue that requires a closer look at the workspace that an employee spends most of his/her time at. Ideal features of a professional workspace include: Well furnished setup Neat work desk Soothing Walls Subtle colors Calm and peaceful infrastructure Office surroundings affect individuals' productivity. Now imagine skilled, high paid professionals suffering in poor office setup...

Work is worship is what we’ve all grown up listening to, and by this very definition it is an exercise that is meditative, absorbing and indulgent. The purpose of work as defined by us has undergone a significant shift through the years. What began as a single-minded practical means to earn a livelihood, then became one of engagement and collaboration with fellow workers. The definition of work today isn’t just about earning for the self, but also ensuring that we are happy doing what we do. Being productive is therefore about getting the maximum done out of the few hours we put into work everyday. Different people work in different spaces and there are varying factors that affect productivity. While some work all by themselves and love their flexible timings, others work with organisations that focus on specific tasks and goals. Co-working falls midway between these two extremes. It allows professionals to go about their own tasks but also provides the opportunity to collaborat...