Gina sent me this article over the weekend. It really got me thinking: what kind of culture do we want at Full Suite? Mr. Sax’s observations of the principal laws of Laptopistan (aka Atlas in Williamsburg, Brooklyn) gave me the unexpected push to verbalize what I’ve been pondering over the last few months.

1st Principal Law: Silence Is Golden. Mmm, not so much at our lounge. We certainly respect privacy and some people’s need to work in a quiet environment. But at Full Suite, we thrive in companionship and in exchange. I love looking up and asking my thoughts out loud to whomever might be sitting at the table. It’s so wonderful to be surrounded by individuals from different fields and getting feedback from them.

2nd Principal Law: Respect Personal Space. Sure, I’ll respect your space–but that just means I wont look over your shoulder at your screen or at scrutinize your notes on the table. I will happily sit next to you. One of the reasons I fell in love with Le Pain Quotidien was the way the large communal table just disarmed people by encouraging them to share. We’re all at Full Suite because we want to be there with other humans (and sometimes dog).

3rd Principal Law: Mind Your Neighborhood. This, I totally agree with. I’ve had my fair share of needing to hit the bathroom but not being able to move for fear that my laptop wont be there when I get back. We want to build a community of safety and trust. Not only with your things but with your ideas. The next person you meet at Full Suite might just be your next partner. And we want to take care of you all by giving you a great place to work. The writer describes Laptopistan as an “entrepreneurial economy, driven by solitary thinkers” — we want to be  the opposite, fueled by ideas and driven by collaboration.

Wow, so this is my first blog entry. I feel like I just lost some steam  — but writing that took my breath away. I got excited because I know this is the beginning of something great.

Till the next one.