Comments on: On exporting the culture of Silicon Valley http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/ This can all be made better. Ready? Begin. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:01:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sean Savage http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-95787 Sean Savage Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:44:08 +0000 http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/#comment-95787 Another great post. Silicon Valley is no panacea. In fact there are many places that are much more culturally rich and just plain more fun. But the best bits of Silicon Valley are exquisite, they involves attitudes and cultural mores and approaches and frames. Other regions should learn from and import the best bits, and meld them with their own cultural strengths; don't try to blindly copy whole thing. PS- Chris I think you in particular would appreciate Regional Advantage, if you've not already read it. It's a very strong analysis of what makes Silicon Valley work, and it compares Silicon Valley with the tech industry culture around Boston: http://www.amazon.com/Regional-Advantage-Culture-Competition-Silicon/dp/0674753402 Another great post.

Silicon Valley is no panacea. In fact there are many places that are much more culturally rich and just plain more fun. But the best bits of Silicon Valley are exquisite, they involves attitudes and cultural mores and approaches and frames. Other regions should learn from and import the best bits, and meld them with their own cultural strengths; don’t try to blindly copy whole thing.

PS- Chris I think you in particular would appreciate Regional Advantage, if you’ve not already read it. It’s a very strong analysis of what makes Silicon Valley work, and it compares Silicon Valley with the tech industry culture around Boston:
http://www.amazon.com/Regional-Advantage-Culture-Competition-Silicon/dp/0674753402

]]> By: Riccardo http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-94180 Riccardo Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:45:28 +0000 http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/#comment-94180 Hey Chris, a very rallying post, indeed! I think the main point is that at least for me, I've little interest of being like, or living in, or even thinking like the Silicon Valley. What I'm interested in are that bunch of likeminded people who're living the very fact that the group is far more thant the sum of its parts ;) Luckily enough, information highways and cheap fly fares are allowing for viral spread and rapid feedback of this same culture (almost) throughout the globe. Cheers, R Hey Chris,
a very rallying post, indeed!

I think the main point is that at least for me, I’ve little interest of being like, or living in, or even thinking like the Silicon Valley. What I’m interested in are that bunch of likeminded people who’re living the very fact that the group is far more thant the sum of its parts ;)

Luckily enough, information highways and cheap fly fares are allowing for viral spread and rapid feedback of this same culture (almost) throughout the globe.

Cheers,
R

]]> By: Pelle http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-93268 Pelle Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:33:19 +0000 http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/#comment-93268 Thats an excellent point. The couple of times I've stopped by CitizenSpace to work or talk with Ivan I've noticed that there is that kind of free thinking talk back and forth that it's difficult getting when you're the lone person thinking about these kinds of issues. About importing Silicon Valley culture. This is what everyone wants to do. I'm Danish and the Danish Government even set up an office in Palo Alto to import this kind of culture. I wrote about it here http://stakeventures.com/articles/2007/07/01/silicon-vikings-talk-on-danish-entrepreneurship In Denmark as an entrepreneur you really do feel out of it. But there are changes. I think there are even CoWorking spaces opening up now. We've had the Reboot conferences and even the Copenhagen Ruby meetups have done a lot I think to help foster entrepreneurship amongst the Danish technorati. However one conference a year and one meetup a month still does not a Bay Area make. Thats an excellent point. The couple of times I’ve stopped by CitizenSpace to work or talk with Ivan I’ve noticed that there is that kind of free thinking talk back and forth that it’s difficult getting when you’re the lone person thinking about these kinds of issues.

About importing Silicon Valley culture. This is what everyone wants to do. I’m Danish and the Danish Government even set up an office in Palo Alto to import this kind of culture. I wrote about it here

http://stakeventures.com/articles/2007/07/01/silicon-vikings-talk-on-danish-entrepreneurship

In Denmark as an entrepreneur you really do feel out of it. But there are changes. I think there are even CoWorking spaces opening up now. We’ve had the Reboot conferences and even the Copenhagen Ruby meetups have done a lot I think to help foster entrepreneurship amongst the Danish technorati. However one conference a year and one meetup a month still does not a Bay Area make.

]]> By: Don’t think about exporting the culture of Silicon Valley at Liberatr Media Network http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-92796 Don’t think about exporting the culture of Silicon Valley at Liberatr Media Network Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:11:46 +0000 http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/#comment-92796 [...] today that seemed to be writing itself in my head as I was reading it. The short version is this: We don’t want to be like San Francisco. It’s true. My idea is that we want to be a better Orlando, or Tampa, or South Florida. See [...] [...] today that seemed to be writing itself in my head as I was reading it. The short version is this: We don’t want to be like San Francisco. It’s true. My idea is that we want to be a better Orlando, or Tampa, or South Florida. See [...]

]]> By: Don’t think about exporting the culture of Silicon Valley at Florida Creatives http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-92772 Don’t think about exporting the culture of Silicon Valley at Florida Creatives Mon, 10 Sep 2007 05:03:24 +0000 http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/#comment-92772 [...] today that seemed to be writing itself in my head as I was reading it. The short version is this: We don’t want to be like San Francisco. It’s true. My idea is that we want to be a better Orlando, or Tampa, or South Florida. See [...] [...] today that seemed to be writing itself in my head as I was reading it. The short version is this: We don’t want to be like San Francisco. It’s true. My idea is that we want to be a better Orlando, or Tampa, or South Florida. See [...]

]]> By: Nate Westheimer http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-92548 Nate Westheimer Sat, 08 Sep 2007 23:50:16 +0000 http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/#comment-92548 Chris, first of all it was great to see you while you were in NYC -- one can only start to measure your and Tara's dedication to the coworking community in miles traveled. And that's a lot! But you're right: New York is going to be New York. Trying to be "like SF" or anywhere else is a waste of time and, more importantly, a waste of a wonderful city! New York is awesome. I couldn't imagine living many other places at this point in my life, but I also want my life to be enhanced by the bounties of coworking. That's why this is going on in New York right now: more and more people are realizing what folks realized in SF a few years before, which is that when we work together, we succeed together, and that's what's already happening here. Thanks for making it to NYC. Silicon Alley forever! Chris, first of all it was great to see you while you were in NYC — one can only start to measure your and Tara’s dedication to the coworking community in miles traveled. And that’s a lot!

But you’re right: New York is going to be New York. Trying to be “like SF” or anywhere else is a waste of time and, more importantly, a waste of a wonderful city! New York is awesome. I couldn’t imagine living many other places at this point in my life, but I also want my life to be enhanced by the bounties of coworking. That’s why this is going on in New York right now: more and more people are realizing what folks realized in SF a few years before, which is that when we work together, we succeed together, and that’s what’s already happening here.

Thanks for making it to NYC. Silicon Alley forever!

]]> By: cooperBricolage - coworking in NYC » Blog Archive » Great ending to the week… http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-92521 cooperBricolage - coworking in NYC » Blog Archive » Great ending to the week… Sat, 08 Sep 2007 20:36:35 +0000 http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/#comment-92521 [...] Messina, from Citizen Agency, wrote on his personal blog about the exporting of the culture of Silicon [...] [...] Messina, from Citizen Agency, wrote on his personal blog about the exporting of the culture of Silicon [...]

]]> By: Oskar Lissheim-Boeth http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-92488 Oskar Lissheim-Boeth Sat, 08 Sep 2007 15:40:21 +0000 http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/#comment-92488 Very well said. Is there something that stayed with me after I left the SF and the Valley, it's the sense of community, purpose and culture. And the important thing is that, as this movement spreas like pollen around the globe, it permeates all areas of life, including business, politics and society. It's a world-changing movement. Very well said. Is there something that stayed with me after I left the SF and the Valley, it’s the sense of community, purpose and culture.

And the important thing is that, as this movement spreas like pollen around the globe, it permeates all areas of life, including business, politics and society. It’s a world-changing movement.

]]> By: Luis Villa’s Blog / co-working cafe in Manhattan http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-92475 Luis Villa’s Blog / co-working cafe in Manhattan Sat, 08 Sep 2007 14:01:16 +0000 http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/#comment-92475 [...] way of a long Chris Messina post on co-working.] Post a comment — Trackback URI RSS 2.0 feed for these comments This entry (permalink) was [...] [...] way of a long Chris Messina post on co-working.] Post a comment — Trackback URI RSS 2.0 feed for these comments This entry (permalink) was [...]

]]> By: Alex Hillman http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-92469 Alex Hillman Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:52:35 +0000 http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/09/07/on-exporting-the-culture-of-silicon-valley/#comment-92469 Agreed with Ian, 100% nailed. I've told the story dozens of time about how I *almost* moved to the west coast to work with you and your crew, and when things didn't pan out, I found myself thinking about why I wanted to move in the first place. Sure, being around you and Tara was awesome. Sure, the job was going to be cool. Sure, the money was going to be nice. But I wasn't moving for any of that, I was moving for a culture that embraced free thinking, idea sharing, and mutual encouragement. 'Why not here?' was the next question. As you've personally witnessed, I was answered with a loud and proud, "YEAH, why NOT here?" by the 30+ members of IndyHall and 200+ people who came to the opening last weekend. At the same time, it was clear that we needed to accomplish that goal of encouraging those core values our own way. "This is how Philly does coworking" isn't just a tagline, it's something we've embraced since day one. Open source movements like coworking and barcamp let these ideas start to filter into places that they may not have before. Just like you did for me, these events show people that while it may not be staring you in the face, the culture that the Valley embraces is often here(wherever here may be)...just disjointed, or underground. Showing people that it is OK to speak out of turn and say "this can be better" is so powerful. Them recognizing it on their own is even more powerful. We're proud to be taking an amazing idea, standing on the shoulders of giants and making it not necessarily *better*, but a better fit for us. Agreed with Ian, 100% nailed.

I’ve told the story dozens of time about how I *almost* moved to the west coast to work with you and your crew, and when things didn’t pan out, I found myself thinking about why I wanted to move in the first place. Sure, being around you and Tara was awesome. Sure, the job was going to be cool. Sure, the money was going to be nice. But I wasn’t moving for any of that, I was moving for a culture that embraced free thinking, idea sharing, and mutual encouragement.

‘Why not here?’ was the next question. As you’ve personally witnessed, I was answered with a loud and proud, “YEAH, why NOT here?” by the 30+ members of IndyHall and 200+ people who came to the opening last weekend.

At the same time, it was clear that we needed to accomplish that goal of encouraging those core values our own way. “This is how Philly does coworking” isn’t just a tagline, it’s something we’ve embraced since day one.

Open source movements like coworking and barcamp let these ideas start to filter into places that they may not have before. Just like you did for me, these events show people that while it may not be staring you in the face, the culture that the Valley embraces is often here(wherever here may be)…just disjointed, or underground.

Showing people that it is OK to speak out of turn and say “this can be better” is so powerful. Them recognizing it on their own is even more powerful.

We’re proud to be taking an amazing idea, standing on the shoulders of giants and making it not necessarily *better*, but a better fit for us.

]]>