Independent workers look to Gangplank for support

Meet-ups offer companionship, motivation

4 commentsby Erin Zlomek - Jul. 31, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Steven Shaffer said starting his own company was a no-brainer when he lost his job in February.

But working alone from his Gilbert home office soon felt more like a pity party than the new challenge he was looking for.

Isolation set in and he struggled to stay focused.

"The good thing about being in an organization is structure. Whether it's bad or good, you know how to get things done through a certain process," he said. "Going out on your own, one of the first problems you encounter is 'Well, what do I do first?' "

Three times a week, Shaffer started going to Gangplank, a walk-in office space in Chandler where about 20 home-based professionals can plug in their laptops and work independently while sitting next to each other. The crowd is part of a growing network of solo workers who meet regularly in coffee shops and drop-in offices for each other's professional guidance and companionship. read more...

http://gangplankhq.com/

The Love of Volleyball

Clay Stanley from Team USA men's indoor volleyball

What is Happening to Phoenix?

There is a new trend starting to happen in Phoenix. And I like it.

Some small, non-franchise businesses are sprouting up around here and it's such a refreshing trend. They each are catering to specific needs around town, and especially making something that we can enjoy as specific destinations in our community. They are all places to gather, with a focus on being a place to enjoy a unique experience around Phoenix. These three mentioned just happen to be the one's near our house in north/central Phoenix:

Bombero's http://www.bomberoswinebar.com — this is a great place to spend an evening, and now they are open for breakfast, so about any time of the day you can enjoy this place.

Scramble http://www.azscramble.com — my favorite stammtisch

Luci's http://www.lucishealthymarketplace.com — Randy introduced us to this place last night, we'll be going back soon.