I had some time to kill today so I stopped by one of my favorite coffee stomps…Bongo Java. Hands down the best Iced Mocha in Nashville!
As I sat for a brief moment to write I noticed that out of the 50-60 people in the coffee shop, about half of them were working business deals.
There is paperwork for housing deals, sales plans on the counter next to my computer and even I am working on some sales programs for upcoming travel. In about 3 minutes of watching I have counted 6 business cards being handed out. Just a booth over from the counter I am sitting at is an interview (this always gets me tickled…one guy in a suit freaking out while the other one grills his background).
Has the coffee shop become the new golf course?
I know I often use it to get away from my home office or as a stop in mid day to update accounts and so on.
I do think the one major difference in coffee shop deals vs. golf course deals is that there is a larger group of clients that can be worked with. Anyone who does not have an adversity to entering a coffee shop really.
Just as I am writing this I now see a church staff coming in for a meeting…how cool.
Enough of the writing…time for my question.
Have you ever done a coffee shop deal? Do you find it a productive place to work?
What about me?
This is my page and my chance to share with you all the crap I dream up on a daily basis. Here are the simple facts that make up my existence..live in Nashville...avid Hockey fan (one step from face painting), father of a 6 year old (genius child- she takes after me..I mean my wife), husband (I'm pretty sure my wife would kick me out if she could figure out how), and "normal" Christian. What is normal you ask? You tell me. I think I know what normal is but then again, we all think we are the normal ones.
My Favorite Web Sites
Bored Again Christian
Hockey Buzz
Nashville Predators
June 25, 2009 at 10:58 am
We have ministry ‘meetings’ at a coffee shop all the time! I totally love them!!! I definitely find it productive to work in. For me, I can’t get anything done withoutpbackground noise. I need distraction. I need energy. I thrive off it. The best thing is to just sit down, plug in, get on the internet, and let the work begin…. hehehehe
I sooooooooooo wish there were Starbucks or Caribou Coffees here. I miss that!
June 25, 2009 at 11:14 am
The coffee shop is a great place to do just about anything except possible bring a play date of a bunch two year olds. I enjoy the feeling I get as if life slows down when I walk in the door.
I just saw of your side bar where you are a Bored Again guy. I love Pete and actually got to go to the Dominican Republic and Haiti two or three years ago. Yaaaawn!
Really like your blog!
June 25, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Coffee shops are the best place for me to do face to face work. The office can be too sterile, and there are just so many other things to distract from the conversation.
I find coffee shops to be far less productive for project work, because I inevitably run into someone I know and get into a conversation.
Coffee shops are the places to meet with my blog sensei.
June 25, 2009 at 8:22 pm
You are doing well young grasshopper
June 25, 2009 at 11:52 pm
When I was starting up my business I needed a secretary-cum-assistant. I chose a coffee shop for the first meeting with the potential candidate. It was a friendly space and yet neutral ground. I think we were both more relaxed than we would have been in my home office. I ended up hiring her and she was with me for twelve years. When I sold my business we continued to be best friends, so it obviously worked out.
June 26, 2009 at 12:11 am
Have never done any business in a coffee shop. Have discussed quite a few business ideas with friends at one but never ’sealed a deal’ so to speak.
i suppose as Carol pointed out – it can be a friendly ‘neutral’ place for smaller businesses to have ‘meetings’ if privacy and corporate piracy are not to be an issue.
Not sure about making one a ‘workplace for productivity’ though??
Then again i would not be sure a golf course was either! – The times i guess are a-chainging
<B
June 26, 2009 at 7:55 am
No I haven’t done business at a coffee shop, but if I were the businessey type, I would for sure! It’s just a cool environment!
June 26, 2009 at 10:28 pm
never done a business deal there, tho i’ve seen meetings take place in one of the local coffee shops in my tiny town.
i have, however, stopped into several little cafes to do some work on various things, from writing to school work, to forms and such for the church. it’s overall a great place to work.
except for starbucks. between the grinding and the people chattering loudly to hear each other over the annoyingly loud music, i’d rather just find a shade tree.