OfficeBlogNotes

Blog for The Office, a new coworking facility planned for Media, PA and the social networking movement in general.

We need your help

The Office in Media, Inc is down but not admitting defeat. We committed a major faux pas in not having the resources to sign up people before we actually opened our doors, and opening anyway. Yes, we jumped, but we had faith. We still have faith. We know we have a good enterprise here and our goal is to dramatically increase our customer base 1000x in 3 months. Oh, and we will do it. We have added a new person to our team and new products including virtual office services.

But we need help to keep going for those 3 months. We are seeking investors, advisors and entrepreneurs - and most of all friends - to assist us in the spirit of community and coworking with donations and helping to spread the word. Donaters will have their own entry in our wall of fame, a promotional blurb on our site and our undying thanks for all eternity. No FailWhales! Every little bit helps. If you are willing to help out, please email lisat at itstheoffice.com for paypal or google checkout information.

Trust me.. this is the hardest post that I have had to write. Not many of you know me but I do not ask for help until I have to.

I may be able to do it for you some day and I will..

Thank you for reading and best to all..

Lisa

Wed 23 Jul ∞ Permalink

Great News!

We are now offering Virtual Office Services to those that need them. The Office in Media has acquired the domain name ‘mediapa.us’, and is now offering domain forwarding to the subdomain of your choice - i.s. mybusinessin.mediapa.us. Also, email forwarding from youraddress@mediapa.us is another option. Exciting stuff.

We can also offer OneCalls Mobile Manager service where you have the control to have one number that your customers use - and is routed to you, wherever you may be. The number can be local or toll-free.

In addition, a custom Web Byte consisting of 2 pages about your business, site submission, postal mail reception and hold-for-pickup service are additional services.

This is great news for The Office in Media as it fills a large gap.

Tue 22 Jul ∞ Permalink

The Social Stigmata of Batman

Craig and I went to see Dark Knight yesterday. Although I was interested in Heath Ledger’s performance, it wasn’t the only reason. It was hot. 98 degrees hot and sitting in stadium seating at the Regal Cinema sounded a hell of a lot better then sitting at home aiming fans that only had enough cooling power to keep the sweat from dripping off you. [Spoiler below]

Now, my only problem with this movie happened early on. Batman’s voice. It was a pissed-off/I can’t breath because my suit’s too tight/growling that seemed to be in control only allowing 4 or 5 words to be snarled from open teeth before a labored breath had to be taken. Ok.. Why? God Only Knows.. but lets think about this. I will come back to it.

More so then any other movie in recent memory was the deep exploration of the human condition. The assumptions that we make based on what is seen.

Example. The Joker strands 2 ferrys out of Gotham; filled wall to wall with panicked people. One ferry has normal everyday citizens, the other a large group of prisoners. Below deck on each ship are barrels of fuel and explosives - and a present. A Detonator to blow up the other Ferry. The Joker admonishes them to blow up the other ship because they will get you first.
The citizens hold a vote. They say: those prisoners; they had their chance, they made their choice.. and you know they will kill us first. Out of the 500 packed on this ferry the vote to blow the other ferry up passed by a resounding 2/3rds.

Back on the prisoners ferry; confusion reigns. Everyone is arguing over to kill or should we wait to be killed. Suddenly this huge black prisoner gets up and confronts the Ferry captain. He takes the detonator and says.. “i’m gonna do what you shoulda done” and tosses it out the window into the dark water.

Similar actions play out aboard the other ferry - except this time played out by a middle age protagonist-type business man. What was interesting here is the defeat in his eyes when he put the detonator down. He didn’t have the balls to play God. And just as well. And of course the Joker has a 3rd detonator.. but I digress a bit.

Batman’s voice - what was behind that. Pain from watching his parents die? Asthma that only afflicts him when the suit goes on? or.. as I suspect.. Mr. Director wanted to separate Bruce Wayne and Batman as two separate people. perhaps. Maybe. Hard to tell. But since this movie was very heavy on the social dymanic.. I suspect so…

—

And just a side note.. Heath Ledger’s performance was incredible. He was the Joker and he was very. very. scary.. psycho-scary.

Well done Heath. God Rest Your Soul.

Mon 21 Jul ∞ Permalink

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Fri 11 Apr ∞ Permalink

Good news!

I had a shot in the arm today. A good shot. I was offered cubicles and filing cabinets for free! That is one financial worry off my back and I can allocate more resources for furniture. Things are starting to come together..

Tue 08 Apr ∞ Permalink

Ok, this is worth watching every second of. 2008 TED prize winner David Eggers’ brilliance in reaching out to students by creating a collaborative environment is inspiring and extremely funny. Welcome to Once Upon a School…

Sun 06 Apr ∞ Permalink

Nothing illustrates the new resurgence of community better then what happened yesterday in Philadelphia. Over 12,000 volunteers took to the city streets to act upon the brilliant idea of Mayor Nutter - with the goal in mind to gather up one million pounds of trash.

I was there helping to represent Indyhall, and it was absolutely amazing. Normally silent streetwalkers thanked you every step of the way. Of course none of these thanks were needed. It was a job you could feel good about. Each of us need to make sure that we don’t forget to do our part, even in this time of national uncertainty.

Sun 06 Apr ∞ Permalink

Coworking Challenges

A lot of discussion on the coworking groups are centered lately on business. More specifically the interchange of funds between coworker and co-owner. It’s a fine line we have to draw - but there are a few factors that are in play here.

First of all, we have to consider client needs. Our aim has to provide an environment that serves multiple needs. We have our sales professional. His goal is sales. He needs a local base of operations that serves form and function.

We have our computer professional. He needs the quiet space to focus and preferable people around that compliment and contribute to his projects.

We have a home based worker. She has finally come to the conclusion that working alone has a detrimental affect on her business. Also, she has no ability to leave her job because it is at home. One’s home is their sanctuary; our refuge from the storm of life’s challenges.

There are other markets we must consider and that has to be based on demographics. For instance, my space will be in Media, PA. Media is a very creative pro art, pro fair trade town. One thing they do have due to the proximity of the county courthouse is lawyers. Lots and lots of lawyers. Yet another potential client. Lawyers need conference space, a locking file cabinet, preferable an onsite notary and a legal size copier.