During the COVID era, I fell headfirst into this misconception. I thought remote work was the be-all and end-all. This mirage that we could all exist in our separate spaces, interacting merely through Zoom, felt like a utopia. Don't get me wrong, remote work has been a game changer, enabling instant collaboration from anywhere in the world, particularly with asynchronous communication. But my time in Montenegro changed things for me.
I spent two months living at Zuzalu in Montenegro, and it revolutionized my perspective on the power of in-person co-living and collaboration. When you share a living space with others, and everyone is striving to be a better version of themselves, you can't help but be motivated to do the same.
Think about it this way - if your friends are heading out for a run every morning, you're more likely to join them. If everyone's participating in a daily ritual of cold plunging, it's much easier to make that leap yourself. Healthy eating becomes a communal effort rather than a solitary struggle. When you're surrounded by smart, purposeful people who value their longevity, the ripple effect is unmistakable.
Not only did co-living influence my habits, but it also expanded my knowledge. Our late-night discussions on a myriad of topics piqued my curiosity and opened my mind to new ideas. I learned about emerging trends in various sciences, and I felt a burgeoning sense of optimism about the future.
Another massive advantage was the facilitation of collaborative projects. We were all living together, which made impromptu hackathons a regular occurrence. Startups were conceived and launched within those walls. The proximity enabled us to share ideas effortlessly, whether it was sketching out a plan on a whiteboard or demonstrating a new software on a computer screen.
Working together in the flesh fosters trust, enhancing the efficacy of collaboration. When you spend quality time with someone – dining, dancing, laughing – it's nearly impossible to view them as a mere coworker. You see them as a complete, complex individual, not a dehumanized entity on the other side of a screen.
Being in a co-living environment also exposes you to a wealth of random experiences and knowledge. The idle chatter during breakfast or the conversations around the cold plunge offered insights I'd never sought out, but was undeniably better for having discovered.
In essence, co-living was a revelation for me. The experience was so enriching that I'm eager to continue it into the future. And it looks like my next co-living adventure will be in Atlanta, Georgia. I'm excited to start a new project there, primarily in-person, with individuals I genuinely enjoy being around. Because we, as a group, are just that much better when we're together.