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Am I extremely out of the loop by just thinking that it's a hot desk company that rolls up all the expenses of the office adds 10%-25%, throws in some booze and

Am I extremely out of the loop by just thinking that it's a hot desk company that rolls up all the expenses of the office adds 10%-25%, throws in some booze and lunches and says it's changing the world?

alexpetralia 8y ago
Actually yes - this perspective would discount the immense value of brand, design, narrative and belief. And before you think that that stuff is "not real", consider that the reason you do anything is because of some dominant narrative you may or may not have reflected on. Narratives are what get people build rockets and go to the moon, or build them and go to war instead.
- Soundest 8y ago
  Whilst that's true, narratives at some point do have to meet reality. If rental prices drop by 10%, it doesn't matter what you believe, WeWork will be underwater.
  - hcknwscommenter 8y ago
    Wework is underwater. Have you seen their bond offerings? They will default.
- smsm42 8y ago
  These things are definitely real. But while building a brand that elicits cult-like behavior from its followers is undoubtedly a huge marketing success, of which all other marketers should be justifiably envious, is it "changing the world"? The would has seen such efforts - both successful and not - since the first state and the first religion has been founded. > Narratives are what get people build rockets But is WeWork building rockets to go to the moon? Last noticeable thing I remember them doing is banning their workers from eating meat. Beyond that - yep, they rent out offices. So?
- badcede 8y ago
  The moon thing was a cold war narrative.
meddlepal 8y ago
Nope. You're totally in the loop. The employees may be drinking the kool-aid there are definitely some customers drinking it up as well, but I think most people over the age of 23 realize WeWork isn't doing anything groundbreaking.
jdavis703 8y ago
It also forgets the other services it handles for you, for example someone staffs a mailroom, others clean the bathrooms and yet others keep water and coffee ready. They also provide security systems (cameras, keyfobs, etc). All of these are things a new business would have to build out and maintain in their own office.
- dbbk 8y ago
  Those are all things a standard hot desking company provides though, not unique to WeWork.
- spinachcat 8y ago
  Negative. When you rent a suite in an office building, the building management provides janitorial services, security guards, access cards and a mailbox (a small business has no use for a staffed mailroom). You do have to brew your own coffee, though.
  - goeric 8y ago
    Not always. Our startup's rented suite in DTLA did not have janitorial services provided for (only common building areas) and no security guard. Access cards? It was a metal key.
  - jdavis703 8y ago
    It really depends. If you're talking about a WeWork competitor like Regus then you're right. However I've worked at startups that have rented many different kinds of offices (from Regus and WeWork, to industrial lofts, to retail storefronts). Many of these places were not "batteries included."

alexpetralia 8y ago

Actually yes - this perspective would discount the immense value of brand, design, narrative and belief. And before you think that that stuff is "not real", consider that the reason you do anything is because of some dominant narrative you may or may not have reflected on. Narratives are what get people build rockets and go to the moon, or build them and go to war instead.

Soundest 8y ago
Whilst that's true, narratives at some point do have to meet reality. If rental prices drop by 10%, it doesn't matter what you believe, WeWork will be underwater.
- hcknwscommenter 8y ago
  Wework is underwater. Have you seen their bond offerings? They will default.
smsm42 8y ago
These things are definitely real. But while building a brand that elicits cult-like behavior from its followers is undoubtedly a huge marketing success, of which all other marketers should be justifiably envious, is it "changing the world"? The would has seen such efforts - both successful and not - since the first state and the first religion has been founded. > Narratives are what get people build rockets But is WeWork building rockets to go to the moon? Last noticeable thing I remember them doing is banning their workers from eating meat. Beyond that - yep, they rent out offices. So?
badcede 8y ago
The moon thing was a cold war narrative.

meddlepal 8y ago

Nope. You're totally in the loop. The employees may be drinking the kool-aid there are definitely some customers drinking it up as well, but I think most people over the age of 23 realize WeWork isn't doing anything groundbreaking.

jdavis703 8y ago

It also forgets the other services it handles for you, for example someone staffs a mailroom, others clean the bathrooms and yet others keep water and coffee ready. They also provide security systems (cameras, keyfobs, etc). All of these are things a new business would have to build out and maintain in their own office.

dbbk 8y ago
Those are all things a standard hot desking company provides though, not unique to WeWork.
spinachcat 8y ago
Negative. When you rent a suite in an office building, the building management provides janitorial services, security guards, access cards and a mailbox (a small business has no use for a staffed mailroom). You do have to brew your own coffee, though.
- goeric 8y ago
  Not always. Our startup's rented suite in DTLA did not have janitorial services provided for (only common building areas) and no security guard. Access cards? It was a metal key.
- jdavis703 8y ago
  It really depends. If you're talking about a WeWork competitor like Regus then you're right. However I've worked at startups that have rented many different kinds of offices (from Regus and WeWork, to industrial lofts, to retail storefronts). Many of these places were not "batteries included."