Seth Godin’s got a thought provoking piece called Goodbye to the Office
Why do people “go to the office” anyway? For about the same reason most churches have services at 11:00 AM… that used to be the time the farm chores like milking cows and gathering eggs were done, folks had time for breakfast, and could finally rouse themselves to get to church. In the same way people “go to an office” because that used to have significance when the office oversaw a production process. But in a world where production isn’t always nuts and bolts… we go because?
If we were starting this whole office thing today, it’s inconceivable we’d pay the rent/time/commuting cost to get what we get. I think in ten years the TV show ‘the Office’ will be seen as a quaint antique.
When you need to have a meeting, have a meeting. When you need to collaborate, collaborate. The rest of the time, do the work, wherever you like.
The gain in speed, productivity and happiness is massive. What’s missing is #7… someplace to go. Once someone figures that part out, the office is dead.
Many have decided the place to go is “home”!
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