What does it mean to live the dream…? To actually create lifestyles that match our passions, skills, create income and are affordable.
I’m following my couriosity over the next few weeks to explore what this is like and specifically what it’s like in an international co-working space?
These short blog posts will try to create a picture of my time in Hubud, a co-working space in Ubud Bali. While the driver was to just get the hell out of Melbourne in August when the end of winter just seems too far away, the goal is to scratch the itch of a nomadic digital lifestyle.
Day 1
I checked in with Hubud facilities manager on the weekend and had a quick tour of the facilities. Remember to remove your shoes. The authentic looking design has bamboo and teak floors, walls and long tables. A spacious working space with break out rooms, conference facilities and a café aptly named The Living Food Lab. Notices about upcoming events, mountain bike excursions, local jobs are isolated to the “Got things to post? “ notice board, otherwise it’s a clean uncluttered space.
My initial observations are that people are friendly and just getting stuff done.
They’re heads down in the laptops with earphones and not distracted by the full on rainstorm happening outside.
It’s Monday morning and people do what we all do at the start of the week, catch up on the weekend’s activities. Some groups have formed, people familiar with each other’s projects, congratulating each other and genuinely happy to be part of this new way of working.
While I don’t think this is a social experiment, I do think the new way of operating relies on people who are self-disciplined, goal oriented, and don’t necessarily want to work for others. While there’s nothing wrong with being an employee, I sense the compromise involved is too much for these guys.
I’m not good with ages, but I suspect the people here are mid 20’s to early 40’s… with a few over into the boomers group. Nationality, from the accents, people are from the US, UK, Europe, South America and Indonesia, with more women than men. While the founders may have not been, the people staffing the place are all locals.
My first session is about to start… Tribewanted … a group coach session to keep us on track. The group shares their individual “why”, their advice and their weekly goals. The group leader, Colleen, an experienced facilitator, practices what she preaches sharing her on KPIs for the week. We hear from Ash, a lawyer escaping the UK, Laura from Russia here for 2 years , Christina a designer running a number of businesses from Bali , 2 interns and a newly arrived Turkish fashion photographer. All ordinary people, seeking to do something extraordinary.
So far this is an engaging place, that will help me stay disciplined and with strong consistent wifi, the weather is warm, so I’m happy.