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On achieving work and life balance

Raul — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:10:12 +0000

On Sunday night, I went for a quick dinner and a movie with JT and as we were driving towards the restaurant, he asked me how was my week. I described all the things I did for my field research, client work, consulting, teaching and event planning. I am pretty sure he wasn’t surprised at how busy I was (we’ve hung out for the better part of a decade), but the thing that struck me was that he asked me “are you sure you’re achieving the right work/life balance?”. Admittedly, his question took me by surprise.

I am the kind of person who prides himself in working hard, playing hard. I do a lot of socializing even within the work I do. My life is incredibly filled with fun, interesting research, teaching and consulting projects. But more importantly, while I will admit that I am a bit of a workaholic, I really enjoy the work I do, and I have no problem putting in long hours. Let me give you an example – on Thursday night, after I had already helped with the organization and execution of an event, I stayed late to help a friend and colleague from The Network Hub community with his project.

photo credit: Scott Nolan

We sat around the boardroom table and spent an hour working around the ideas that he had, along with a number of other entrepreneurs. At the end of it, we all took the kind offer of one of our colleagues who drove us all home. As we were making our way to the parking lot, it struck me really hard: when I work hard in what I love doing, I feel incredibly alive. I love consulting, I love teaching, I love research.

I am able to do all of that and maintain a social life. And I’m really enjoying it. All of it. I guess that is why I feel I have a work/life balance.

On having the right equipment and the right office environment

Raul — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:15:28 +0000

For the longest time I have been addicted to office spaces and office supplies. It must be the fact that my parents are lawyers. I was my Dad’s and my Mom’s office manager for the longest time when I was in my early teens. Yes, you read right. In my EARLY TEENS. For some reason, I’ve always loved doing things the earliest, the soonest, etc. I don’t know why.

It occurred to me this past week that one of the reasons why I feel that my productivity is stifled when I am working at home is the lack of appropriate office space. I’ve been blessed with having such a great environment at The Network Hub. As I’ve called it before, it’s my “home away from home“. For me, and for other entrepreneurs, it’s a launching pad from where our work skyrockets. And Minna and John have been fantastic. In particular, I’ve worked now more recently with Minna and with Christy (UrbanBella) and will be doing more projects with them in the very near future.

The setup of my office here at The Network Hub allows me to have a printer (the HP PhotoSmart that I am in the midst of reviewing) to my right and to my left, I have space to place the photos of my family, my to-do tray, and the stuff one needs usually (coffee mug, water bottle, pencil and pen box. I try really hard to keep everything very organized, but I’m not always extremely successful.

One thing I can tell you – having such a positive energy around me, so many entrepreneurs, and the infrastructure (including wireless, dining areas and meeting areas) that make my work day so comfortable is really a blessing.

Just a reflection after spending a lot of time at my office at The Network Hub, and particularly in light of the closure of WorkSpace – I do hope that the members will be able to get a new space soon I know that Dane has been working really hard to help their former members to secure new office spaces.

Respecting people while working at coffee shops

Raul — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:35:28 +0000

In the past couple of days, a lot of chatter has been happening around the Twittersphere in Vancouver on the topic of places (specifically coffee shops) where we can hide from the (record-setting) scorching heat wave that is tormenting Vancouver (and no, I’m not complaining, because I know that our winters suck too, so I’m all about the heat).

Credit: Librarian by Day

Alex Samuel just recently wrote about the characteristics of the best coffee shops to work (and outlined her top 12). Maria Lavis created a great spreadsheet to add to the list. Both Rebecca Bollwitt and I had written about the importance of coffee shops as places to work (although I admit that I am very blessed because I work at my office at The Network Hub most days)

Sometimes we need to work elsewhere for a change. Clearly, this is an important topic for the many of us who make our working lives portable.

Today I made my way to the Waves on Kingsway and Paterson to do some work in an air-conditioned atmosphere (I like working at this particular Waves because it is fairly isolated from anything else. I don’t get any temptations to go and visit friends, even though I know that Derek and Air do live near by).

Credit: readerwalker

The layout of this coffee shop is good, there are a couple of booths (even though the music thoroughly sucks and I’m listening to my Blip.fm playlist) but the air conditioning system is great (very breezy and cool). This Waves even has a couple of booths (like the ones you can see at diners and/or Milestones, Earls, White Spots). Lots of outlets, big round tables. This is a good space to work. The only problem…

… Students. Yeah, those students that come here to study for long hours. And disrespectful ones at that. Several of them are hogging booths (when clearly they can be seated at a table) and others have spread their papers through the long tables that have the power outlets in such a way that they are occupying the area reserved for three people). As I made my way to find a seating area with an outlet, I asked a young woman whether *that* seat was occupied.

… [awkward silence and nodding affirmatively]….

… [more silence, as I approach the seat]…

Suddenly, she turns to me and asks “do you want to sit here?”. My response? I thought to myself “Um. YEAH? Of course I want to sit there! I know that you have got your 4 books and 3 notebooks and your purse and your cell phone and sun glasses all spread around so that instead of using ONE seat you use FOUR, but um, I kind of need to be connected to the power outlet and I have as much right to sit here as you do, so….”

I just smiled politely while she [VERY SLOWLY] pulled her materials towards her.

… [Awkward smiles back and forth]…

I sit down and decide to give the Waves another look around. Yeah, instances of flagrant violations of basic coffee shop manners are a dime a dozen. Yes, the problem is that we don’t seem to have a set of rules for working at coffee shops. Here is Raul’s quick-and-dirty, I’ve-been-working-in-the-heat-thus-I’m-kind-of-cranky set of suggestions.

1. Don’t hog the booth if you’re coming alone. Sorry, I know that this is sometimes the best way to work (heck, I was writing a PhD thesis and I needed lots of table real estate) but this is a crowded coffee shop. Please maximize the number of people who can be seated. Brownie points and karma will be your rewards.

2. Don’t block access to power outlets. And while you’re at it, don’t monopolize them all. Please don’t charge your iPod, your cell phone AND your laptop at the same time if the coffee shop is crowded. Trust me, we ALL need to be called, listen to our iPods and power our laptops. Which means, I, too, need to power my electronics. Please try to stick to using only ONE outlet.

3. If you have to have conversations, please don’t YELL. And please don’t talk SUPER LOUDLY to your BFF loudly while I’m trying to do some work. Admittedly, it’s a public space and you have a right to talk. But… YELL? Please, don’t. Just don’t.

What other basic “co-working at a coffee shop” rules should be included here? Have your say in the comments section.

Reason # 421 why I love The Network Hub!

Raul — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:17:42 +0000

I have always received the strongest of supports from my friends at The Network Hub (especially from Minna and John Van). I am not shy in admitting that I *love* The Network Hub. Ever since I participated in my very first event here (a Third Tuesday for whom they very generously sponsored the space) I have been always welcome at The Hub. In December of 2008, I joined the awesome community of The Network Hub and I have had a fantastic time ever since. I am surrounded by great entrepreneurs and while we are all working, we always find a minute to chat about everything from technology to the latest restaurants we’ve been to.

The folks at The Network Hub have been some of my strongest supporters and I’m always delighted to sing their praises to anyone who can hear me (and well, if you follow me on Twitter or my blog, there’s A LOT of people who listen to what I say, for which I am ABSOLUTELY GRATEFUL). So you may ask yourself – why Reason # 421 you love The Network Hub, Raul? Well, earlier this past month, I found out that they had been interviewed on the most recent issue of Get Connected Magazine (look at pages 21-22). My good friend Minna explained the concept behind The Network Hub as a shared office space, and the reasons why TNH is MUCH more than *just* a bunch of entrepreneurs thrown together. Through the Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup, their constant interaction with each one of the entrepreneurs who have their offices and desks here and a number of other collaborative opportunities, The Network Hub offers a launching pad from where emerging entrepreneurs can initiate activities within an incubator-like environment with like-minded individuals.

Kudos and congratulations to The Network Hub! And, on behalf of the many of my peers whom you’ve generously sponsored for space for their events (including WordCamp, Third Tuesdays, etc.) thank you, thank you, thank you!

An appreciation and a word of thanks to WorkSpace

Raul — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:22:43 +0000

Mental Health Camp would have not been such a success if we had not had the strong support of WorkSpace. Not only did they donate their space for the entire day (thereby foregoing potential revenue from renting the space for the day), they also donated their time, which also costs money (both Dane Brown and Greg Andrews were there, helping at every single step along the way). They even promoted the event on Twitter and on their blog!

I have always believed in the WorkSpace philosophy and concept, and have always enjoyed a great friendship with everyone there, but I am just going to say it again – THANK YOU. You guys rocked and both Isabella and I are very grateful for your sponsorship and all your help. MHC’09 ran smoothly because you guys gave us a platform, a space and all the logistical help we needed. We are very much in your debt.

My new home is at The Network Hub!

Raul — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:39:28 +0000

Remember how a few months ago I raved about The Network Hub and praised their open office concept, their strong support of young entrepreneurs and the awesome series of events that they’ve been host to? And remember how I called it “my home away from home“?

The Network Hub open office concept

Well, as of this week, my home IS at The Network Hub. I now have a working space in the third floor.

As indicated by their mission statements, they care more much about the idea than the entrepreneur’s age or resume.

The Network Hub was established 2006 after observations of first time entrepreneurs struggling to find fundings from angel investors and venture capital companies. The Network Hub is a special kind of venture capital firm and incubator that care more about your idea than your age, resume and your business plan. [The Network Hub]

The Network Hub has been incredibly kind and supportive with the social media/PR/tech community for a long while now. They’ve been our gracious hosts and location sponsors at numerous events: Third Tuesday with Joe Solomon, the RMD Studio/JenTekk Solutions/PeerGlobe Solutions/Tazzu-organized, first ever WordCamp Vancouver, and several other Third Tuesdays, as a matter of fact.

The Network Hub provides a variety of support services for entrepreneurs, including office space, meeting rooms, and a variety of packages that suit the various needs of different kinds of entrepreneurs.

Moreover, The Network Hub are the awesome hosts and location sponsors of the Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup every third Thursday of the month, which Pete Quily (ADD Adult Coach) kindly made me realize earlier this month, collides with my proposed date for the Vancouver Bloggers Meetup. I’ll have to deal with that overlap sometime in the next few months! I am pretty sure that I can work something out, since I definitely don’t want to hinder the attendance of entrepreneurs to VBM and viceversa!

If you are an entrepreneur who needs to get your idea off the ground, you should seriously consider coming over and talking to Minna or John. Particularly now that they have expanded! The Network Hub now occupies both the first AND third floors of 422 Richards (between West Hastings and Pender). You can also contact them via email.

I can already tell that my productivity skyrocketed. Just as an example, in less than 2 hours that I was at the office yesterday, I did much more than I had done in the past two weeks! Furthermore, the tenants are great. It’s fantastic to be surrounded by that much brainpower and positive energy! And what can I tell you about Minna and John and the whole team at The Network Hub? They’re simply AMAZING.

So, if you’re in the neighbourhood (downtown Vancouver) maybe we can meet up for coffee or lunch sometime and I can also show you the new digs!

Coffee shop review – Luna Cafe (Gastown)

Raul — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 03:30:58 +0000

This is, by and large, the weirdest coffee shop I have been to in years. The owner/cashier was funny yet I was slightly scared by her. So, it turns out, they DO have wi-fi (which is important if you’re waiting in between meetings in Gastown, and since many of the tech companies are actually located in this district, it kinda helps to hang out around here).

I know, Jordan did kind of scold me for not having come to the Strutta offices earlier (right before our BarCamp Vancouver 2008 meeting) which I could have done directly after lunch with Tanya (thus enjoying free wifi without having to buy a tea at Luna Cafe), but honestly I didn’t remember their office address (ooops) – which is the reason why I needed to find wifi before the meeting, to find out where it was going to be held.

So, back to the coffee shop review. Luna Cafe is spacious, well kept, clean. It’s great for coffee and geeking out, but I find that it’s kind of complicated to be there if your laptop battery is not so good (as is my case – although I can’t complain – for all the problems and issues I’ve had with my poor, broken eMachines, the battery was still able to tide me over from 1.40 to 3 pm, when I went to meet Jordan, Megan, Boris, David and James and talk geek shop about BarCamp organizational issues.

Would I recommend Luna Cafe to other geeks? Sure, why not. It’s a good coffee shop, spacious and they have decent tea, although I find it slightly pricier than coffee shops in the Main Street area. But if you’re just looking for a coffee shop where you can hang out and tide you over to the next meeting, sure, why not. This is the place.

A home away from home… The Network Hub

Raul — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:41:27 +0000

The first time I came to The Network Hub was at my first Third Tuesday event. I was positively impressed. The place is simply outstanding. Ever since I’ve wanted to become a consultant I’ve wanted to have a workspace that provides me with freedom and also positive entrepreneurial energy around me. The Network Hub answers those needs.

A view of The Network Hub’s open space office concept. Photo credit: Raul on Flickr.

So, what is exactly The Network Hub and why does it play an important role in Vancouver’s burgeoning entrepreneurial sphere?

The Network Hub was established 2006 after observations of first time entrepreneurs struggling to find fundings from angel investors and venture capital companies. The Network Hub is a special kind of venture capital firm and incubator that care more about your idea than your age, resume and your business plan.[The Network Hub website]

Another view of The Network Hub. Photo credit: Raul on Flickr

So how *exactly* does The Network Hub help entrepreneurs?

Ideas are important but we also look for motivation, passion and brains. The ideal companies we are looking for usually has two or more founders. We provide micro-loans and resources to help you get started on your ideas in exchange for 5%-10% equity.

We provide to all our startups:
* “Micro” capital
* Infrastructure (office space, legal, accounting, human resources, etc.)
* Product development, management, sales and marketing resources
* Connecting you to potential investors
* Expertise through business partners [The Network Hub benefits page]

When the time comes for me to start up my business, I will seriously consider coming down to The Network Hub. The concept is somewhat similar to that of WorkSpace, and I think that there should be more of these “shared office space” concepts. I also plan to write a featurette of WorkSpace soon. Stay tuned!

In the mean time, I’d like to thank The Network Hub and their team (especially Minna and Robert) for all their support with the Third Tuesdays, Net Tuesdays AND with last night’s WordCamp.