I spent the first three days of this week with 22 software business founders at a grand venue in the midlands fit for filming The Traitors.
Hinwick House in Bedfordshire
But there were no traitors at this gathering. We all survived and came away from it richer. I've attended many similar events over the years but this one was by far the best.
It challenged my thinking and changed my mind on a bunch of things I was previously quite confident about. I made new friends and got to know old friends better. I can't share all the things I learned but over the next few weeks I'll share what I can with you.
While reflecting on the experience I've also been thinking about what made it work so well.
Two experienced organisers. Both run their own software businesses and had run other kinds of events before. Between them they had previously met every other attendee. (I wasn't one of the organisers this time - so I got to enjoy it without the stress!)
Two nights away from home and work. We could be focused on our businesses and each other - many of us wished it had been three.
Just enough structure. There were only about 3 hours of talks in the 50 hours we were together. But we all ate together and most of us participated in some optional fun activities too. That supported loads of informal conversations in small groups and one on one.
Fewer than 25 people. It was so much easier to be completely open with everyone in the room in a group that small. Everyone got comfortable sharing things about their businesses that they would never publish online or share in a conference talk.
It's not easy working to those constraints. Every attendee had to play their part too. Each trusted the organisers with more money than you'd typically spend going to a conference. Each also mucked in and helped out in some way - from doing some washing up through to presenting warts and all no bullshit talks about their companies.
It got me thinking about the parallels between this and good coworking experiences:
Clear separation between work and home
Separate spaces to get stuff done when you need to and meet people when you want to.
Small enough that you can learn everyone's names.
Of course I think The Skiff is one of those places where you can have a good coworking experience.
So I've decided, with Stripe's support, to add a special Coworking Day, limited to 20 people, on Friday 31st July. It's usually quieter at The Skiff during the summer holidays so there's more room to share with non-members. Stripe will be covering food, drinks and your use of the space.
Once registered you can arrive any time you like after 9am.
Take a tour then. Grab one of 30 big desks with a proper chair and plug your laptop into a big screen monitor. Unlimited Tea/Coffee/WiFi/Power/Air-Con for all.
At 12:30 we'll enjoy lunch together around our big kitchen table. Food provided but you are also welcome to BYO.
In the afternoon the meeting room will be available to host some optional deep dive discussions on anything that comes up over lunch. Alternatively you can get back to a desk or head out to explore Brighton and maybe even go for a swim from the beach.
At 5pm we'll enjoy a few drinks together before heading home.
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