What I’ve Learned From Working an Entire Week with Strangers in My House
After 4 years as a product manager, I decided to quit my job and embark on a new path. The freelance market was intriguing and decided to give it a try, offering my services as a UX guy. A friend hooked me up with my first gig, designing a website.
I started solo, sitting in front of my 22 inch HP screen. The first half of the day went ok. I was typing away on my keyboard, marked some items off of my list, and was feeling great.
Slowly, small distractions started to emerge. I took a break to water the plants, and noticed there is a pasta sauce stain on the kitchen table, so I cleaned it, and naturally moved on to clean all the 4 legged furniture in my house. Then, I cooked for an hour, ate what I cooked while watching Netflix for another 30 minutes, which then turned into a 3 hour binge. And that was it — I needed to leave the house.
I walked to the nearest coffee place, feeling hopeful. People were sitting next to me — so I couldn't just sit there like a weirdo, staring at the ceiling. I opened my laptop, ordered from the waitress an espresso and sparkling water, put my headphones on, hit “play” on my 12 hour playlist and off we go…
About an hour passed until I was visited by the waitress again. She had a half bummed out look on her face, and asked me “is everything alright?”. Should I order more stuff? well, I didn’t want anything else, but I understand this is a business and it needs to generate money to exist, so — just another coffee, orange juice, and a sandwich. I found myself peeking over my shoulder towards the waitress, looking at the clock, trying to figure out if I reached that invisible “I paid enough to stay” price. I payed my bill, and went back home.
Following both experiences, I decided to give co-working spaces a try. I freebie(d) my way in with the help of a friend who had an available seat.
The first impression was super cool, you know this part — graffiti walls, chain lamps and sparkling water off the tap. I sat down on the sofa, got my laptop out and started working. I squeezed in 4 hours of work.
During this time many people passed by, they were all rushing to their transparent wall cubicle. There were so many transparent walls, but I felt no one actually saw me through them. I felt alienated. I couldn’t just tap on someones shoulder, ask him to check out a design and give me some feedback. For the monthly rate they were asking, this had to be something I could do.
Maybe it is what it is. Feeling lonely in a co-working illusion.
I went home and did some thinking. How about inviting over people who feel the same? People who feel the existing places to work in, are simply not working for them. People that need to have a conversation to get more out of themselves, do a better job, and be more productive.
Maybe getting these kind of (imaginary) people to come and work with me, is the missing piece of the puzzle. I decided to take a chance and make it a reality.
Let’s try it and see what happens
I hopped in my car, drove to Jaffa’s flea market and stopped by Ikea. I got 3 desks, 2 chairs and 3 computer screens. I upgraded my WIFI, bought some fruit and black coffee and took a picture.
I invited people to come and work with me by publishing this post on several Facebook groups. After about 600 likes, dozens of messages, and two days, my schedule was booked in advance for the entire week.
Ok, so…this is really happening, a bunch of strangers are going to come and work in my living room 🤯
Before the first day, I panicked. I hosted hundreds of Airbnb guests, but this was different. I’m going to spend the entire day with these guys.
The first thing I thought about was coffee, I have to get some coffee. I set my alarm to 7:00AM, so I could start my day with 2 hours of cleaning, walk the dog, and check in as the first client in Nespresso. I got back home at 9:30AM, placed a bowl full of fruit on the counter and waited.
You know that feeling when a small doubt starts to inflate to an enormous one? what if… people got excited for a moment, put their name on the list, but don’t show up? I would be left alone with a bunch of Nespresso capsules and Ikea tables.
At 10:00AM I heard the first knock, and was relieved. By 12:00PM, I was sitting in my living room with 5 strangers, working together.
By the end of the first day, I just couldn’t wait for the next one.
So, How Was Co-Working in My House For a Week?
First of all, its different. Different than what I imagined. Probably different than what you’re imagining as well.
Every day, I hosted 4–7 different people: math professor, theatre teacher, quantum physics researcher, veterinarian, machine learning expert. Now imagine our work day. Cool right? its also very cool in reality.
Part of our time is invested in conversations, people introduce themselves on the way in and say goodbye on the way out and have small talks in the kitchen. Once in a while, we take a break and have coffee together.
Most of the time everyone is working. Sitting at a desk, sofa or armchair, working on a laptop, notebook or tablet, anything goes. Just being in that environment means you have to … well… work.
It allowed me to have an “immersive working experience” for the first time since I left the office. You know those times when you are super focused and just flowing with your work while losing track of time, and your mind is totally immersed in what you are doing right now? so — yeah, this was it.
Turned out it was the most productive and fun week I had since I started working from home. It only happened thanks to: Andres, Iris, Noga, Yvonne, Erez, Evgeny, Guy, Rachel, Elica, Regina, Michael, Moran, Gidi, Nadav, Amit, Chen, Tachdav and Raz. Thanks guys 🤗
What’s next?
Well, maybe, just maybe — this is an opportunity to change something in the way we work, communicate and relate to others?
It’s now the 4th week of hosting in my home, and I want to test if this idea can actually scale. So, do you know anyone who would like to host? send them my way. Yes, I have like a 3 pager guide for hosts.
👉 Want to follow up on this? join our small co working homes in Tel Aviv group on Facebook.
👉 Wanna join a working day or host? super easy. Just talk to me yonatanbiri@gmail.com or +972547674717
👉 Check out our (Hebrew) new mini site to see who’s hosting this week offlinetelaviv.com
👉 special thanks goes out to the Gampels, Nadav and Jesi for helping me express my thoughts.