Free-Range Work: A developing manifesto

What decentralized coworking should be in an era of remote work.

For those who also love remote work (location decentralization) but believe co-working is fundamentally broken.

Co-working is broken. I want to fix it. And the best way to do that is working from first principles of decentralized work. 2021 is the year I want to finally decentralize my office.

The first principles of remote work:

1. Remote work is decentralized.
   When work went remote, the workplace decentralized. Synchronous meetings became asynchronous. Timezones became advantages. The job pool became an ocean. The industrialized 9–5 became a relic.
2. Work is an activity, not a place.
   Remote work transfers the power of decision from the centralized authority to the decentralized worker. No offices. No commutes. No cages. Work becomes an activity, not a place. You can no longer “go to work”.
3. Co-workers are international, not local.
   Your co-workers are from 12 companies, 8 countries, 6 time zones, 2 continents. They’re freelancers, founders, employees, investors.

But the co-working model today is built upon 9–5 principles.

1. Co-working offices are centralized.
   Coworking offices (“spaces”) are modern professional zoos. They make decentralized remote working centralized. Same location, different day. Sterile, manufactured, one-size-fits-all.
2. Co-working is a place, not an activity.
   The word is inseparable from “office” and “space”. They are places you go to work. They’re centralized offices in a remote world. Same place, same co-workers, same commute. They are smaller replicas of startup offices.
3. Co-workers are locally assigned, not chosen.
   You do not choose your co-workers. You’re an employee of the office along with every other member. Freedom of choice is an illusion. The business chooses who you work with. The central authority is the space, not the worker.

A better coworking solution must work from first principles. Here’s a first draft:

1. Worker-first workflow
   The worker comes before the workspace. Instead of choosing where to work, you first choose who to work with. Coworker matchmaking. Diverse, international, inspiring, fun. Block the noise.
2. Real-time location swapping
   You and your ideal cohort choose where to work when you’re ready to escape the home office or coffee shop for authentic human interaction. Locations update in real-time based on occupancy, internet speed, and level of focus you need that day.
3. No time lock-in
   When you’re bored of a space, you move to the next one. After 10 minutes, one hour, one day or one week. No memberships, no passes, no lockdown. No front desks. No check-in. No regrets.
4. A space for every taste
   Cozy, contemporary, rugged, outdoor, open, private, fashionable, classic. Standing, sitting, lounging. Tea, coffee, alcohol, water. Your space is as unique as you are. And it can change with your mood.
5. Global
   Every city equipped for remote work is open to you. Fall in love with Barcelona, Lisbon, Austin or Tokyo. Working visas are automated. The world is your home.
6. Intentionally Small
   A global reach with a select few. Your cohort is 8 people (enough to share 2 pizzas). They’re the co-workers you always wanted and never had. They’re smart, successful, driven, and inspiring. And you can change them whenever you want.
7. Privacy first
   Be as public or anonymous as you choose. No IDs. No credit cards. No real names. Avatar or pseudonym. Open source. Anonymized data. Free exchange. You’re never the product.
8. Cryptocurrency
   No fiat. No credit cards. Anonymous payments only. Verified by anonymized ID tokens.