The Secret Value of Mistakes and Failure

We’re all taught to avoid mistakes. Since school, the best students are those that have a perfect exam with zero mistakes. 

When we start working, it’s common to be nervous about our first days as no one wants to make any mistake that might compromise our new job or mistakes that could be felt directly at our bank account. 

But if you look back and think about how you learned things, you’ll find hundreds of failures before success. That’s what it takes to learn the right way of doing things. 

When we learned how to walk, we stumbled and fell a few times. When learning how to ride our first bike, we got ourselves some bruises. Thomas A. Edison failed 999 times before creating the light bulb. 

Yet some companies still penalize mistakes? 

Below we’ll give you a list of some of the best creations that were made by mistake: 

• Penicillin: Sir Alexander Fleming was attempting to create something different when he discovered penicillin. 

• Chocolate chip cookies: Chocolate was supposed to melt and create chocolate cookies; instead it got stuck and made the delicious cookies. 

• The microwave: While doing a radar related research, scientists discovered the other use that has made cooking and heating much faster. 

• Post it notes: While trying to create strong glue, weak glue was created, a colleague used it in papers to mark his workplace and that’s how Post Its were born. 

Consider every mistake part of the learning experience. If your company hires the wrong person, even if it has a cost, think of it as an investment as it helped you identify what you did wrong and the next person will be even better. 

If a business negotiation failed, take it as the cost for future negotiations of bigger deals. Reading a book, going to a conference or studying in a university will not replace that experience lived. 

Success rarely comes naturally; it is only the last steps of continuous attempts, of many corrections of a process. 

That is why mistakes and failure should not be penalized in companies. Creating the fear of exploring new ways of doing things will only limit your own company’s success. 

If you want to avoid mistakes when looking for an office, give us a call at (866) 354-5478 or visit OfficeList. We’ve learned from mistakes we’ve made in the past and have been perfecting the office search process.

Toronto’s Economy is On a Roll!

Toronto 

Investors are always looking for the next big thing, the next investment where they can safely put their savings and see them grow. And for those that decided to invest in Toronto a few years ago, today they are celebrating. 

With employment reaching a record high, oil price is strengthening, stock prices going up and real estate prices on the rise, the city is living one of its best moments. 

According to the latest Economic Dashboard report presented to the City's Economic Development Committee on April 22, 2013, Toronto is showing its highest total employment number since 1990. The report states that 1,331,600 people were employed in full-time and part-time positions in the city in 2012. This had not been seen in the last 22 years. 

Most of the new jobs that were created were around the downtown and nearby areas such as North York, Etobicoke, Civic Centre and Scarborough. Although the employment increase was throughout the city as all 22 districts had positive numbers, these 4 districts mentioned had the biggest growth. 

This of course increased the rental prices of condos and offices in Toronto’s downtown area, as people want to live close to where they work to avoid long commutes. Most of the increase was felt in office jobs , which accounted for 72% of the increase in 2012. No wonder why it was once named “The city that works” 

Not only was employment rate positive, but one of Canada’s most important industries which is oil, has seen a positive behavior as oil prices went up since July last year, reaching a peak in February of this year. 

Being such a diverse city, with many different companies and industries established in the city, oil might have been one of the reasons for some companies in Toronto to hire more people, but it certainly wasn’t the only one. A proof is production and film industry which increased 5.9% over the previous year, representing $1.2 billion for the city. 

It’s no mystery why many North American companies have decided to expand horizons and look North, looking a way to enter this attractive market that offers plenty of opportunities. Don’t wait for someone to tell you how they succeeded in the Canadian Market, schedule a business trip, find opportunities and when you’re ready give us a call and we’ll help you find a space for your company in Toronto’s top locations. 

Visit OfficeList Canada for more information.

Careful! Your Office Is Full of Germs (Infographic)

You are probably thinking this post is for those that don’t keep their desk clean and tidy as you do, but you might be in contact with more germs than what you think, even if your desk is as clean as a whistle.

Did you know the average person touches 300 surfaces every 30 minutes, exposing themselves to 840,000 germs!

According to a research made by bestchoicereviews, the study analyzed 5,000 surfaces from office buildings of companies from different industries. 

Why does this happen? It’s probably because 72% of Americans go to work while they are sick. And few of them wash their hands often. At least 1 out of 3 people say they’ve seen a colleague leave the bathroom without washing their hands. 

But sickness is not the only source of germs. Organic residues create bacteria and mold cells that grow when cleaning is not often. The most common places to find germs are:

• Break room sink faucet handles 
• Microwave door handles 
• Keyboards 
• Refrigerator door handles 
• Water fountain buttons 
• Vending machine buttons 

According to the US Bureau of labor statistics, employees are missing 8 days a year due to minor illnesses such as colds. Employees from the business service industry only miss 6 days a year in average.

What to do?

Easy! Wash your hands as often as you can. 

Companies need to provide hand sanitizers, not only in the bathroom but also in break rooms and common areas as the kitchen. 

Ventilation systems should also be checked regularly, to ensure they are working properly and mold is not building up or there are any other environmental issues that may affect your staff. 

Make sure you have a hand sanitizer in your workplace and use it after meetings, after breaks, after touching money and especially after your commute in train, bus or tram. 

And finally, keep your office and your desk organized, it will not only help you stay healthy but it will also make you more productive. 

For more usefull business tips and to keep you updated about office rentals news, don't forget to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. 

Image source: Best Choice Reviews

2013 First Quarter Office Rental Vacancy Rates

Office Space for Rent Sign

After the first quarter of the year, many are wondering how the office rental market has been behaving in their cities.


Back in 2011, the national vacancy rate was almost at 13%, but according to Costar Group the first quarter of 2013 has given us the good news that it continues a decreasing tendency, reaching 11.8%.


Although vacancy is decreasing, some cities assume the change at a different pace, below are the cities with the highest vacancy rate:

City	Vacancy rate	Rental rates
Denver	11.80%	$20.97
San Diego	12.30%	$25.61
Los Angeles	12.60%	$27.72
Washington, D.C.	13.80%	$34.45
Phoenix	19.40%	$19.44
U.S. total	11.80%	$21.36

                                                   Source: Costar Group

 

Due to the importance, the location and the industries that are established in the city, it’s surprising to see Los Angeles with lower rental rates than other cities, yet spaces are not filling up as fast. 


Washington, DC continues a slow recuperation from last year, but its high prices show the importance of the market and analysts expect a downturn in vacancy by the last quarter of the year, for now it’s nothing but speculation.


Phoenix still shows a large amount of empty spaces, and even when low prices are being offered, the market is not being as dynamic as the rest of the country. But this becomes an opportunity for those looking a city to start a company, with plenty of availability and low prices Phoenix can be very attractive to sign a long term lease and save some money.


But there are also cities that standing out and showing a decrease in vacancy rates:

   

City	Vacancy rate	Rental rates
New York City	7.20%	$49.78
Boston	10.10%	$20.20
San Francisco	10.90%	$39.57
U.S. total	11.80%	$21.36

                                                     Source: Costar Group

 

New York confirms why it’s called the “business capital of the world”, with one of the lowest vacancies, in spite of having the highest rates in the country. Attractive tax policies, benefits and an entrepreneurial culture are helping the city to consolidate as the epicenter of business.


Boston is second, with prices that are not as high as other major cities. A good alternative for young entrepreneurs, who are just finishing university and are looking to start a company. If available spaces continue decreasing, prices will go up and an opportunity will be lost.


San Francisco is not so far. High rental rates and relatively average vacancy rate rank the West Coast financial center as the 3rd most positive real estate market.


If you are looking to rent an office in any of these cities, make sure to check the vacancy rates among the different neighborhoods in your city. That may give you a hint of where you will find better prices. Or simply call OfficeList and we’ll give you all the information you need to find your dream office.

Will Co-Working End With Private Offices?

Courtesy of Miamishared

Each day we keep hearing more and more about co-working spaces. You will find those who love it and could give you one hundred reasons why it’s better than a private office, and you will also find those who can’t live without their privacy and will give you their own reasons why co-working doesn’t work for them.

The truth is they’re both right.

During the past years, co-working has increased and continues on the rise; but business Centers and executive suite providers have reacted to this tendency, adapting part of their space to co-working. While 5-6 years ago finding spaces with open layout in executive offices in New York or Chicago was almost impossible; today more centers are adding these spaces to their offer. Even luxury spaces in Manhattan offer exclusive workspaces in open areas, similar to co-working but for professionals with a generous budget.

Those changes are not because executive suites will become co-working, it’s due to proven benefits like networking, interaction with colleagues, more dynamic spaces and noisy environments have proven to have a positive effect for those who develop creative tasks.

While CEO’s still opt for a private and comfortable space that will impress their clients, their team can still be in an executive suite but enjoying the benefits of open layout and sharing with other professionals, but being a few steps from their colleagues.

On the other hand, there are also those professionals that enjoy the relaxed environments of co-working, but can’t focus when there’s some noise or really prefer their privacy. A good example is a writer, who needs some inspiration, some creativity and interaction with other people, but when it comes to writing, a quiet place where they will have no interruptions is the ideal space.

So the answer is co-working will not replace, destroy or end with private offices or executive suites. They can live together.

Both spaces are designed for a different type of user but lately they’ve been merging some concepts and adapting to the benefits each space brings towards productivity.

If you’re undecided about what’s your type of space, give us a call or visit OfficeList. There’s a space out there for everyone, we can help you find it.

Real Reasons Behind Choosing an Office

When we receive a call from someone who is looking to find a new office, we always ask why they are moving. Some of you may be thinking it’s none of our business, but in fact it is.

As advisors, we need to understand the persons or the company’s needs in order to avoid suggesting the same type of spaces they are moving from.

The most typical answers are: because we’ve outgrown the space or business has slowed down and the office is too big for us or I’m paying too much.

Although these reasons are real, the reasoning being choosing a new office is very different than what most of us believe. Here is out top 5 of reasons why they chose certain offices.  

·         “EGO”: Yes, we all have friends who either brag about the huge deal they found, or on the contrary, friends who brag about their upscale, ultramodern office that even talks. Competing is part of human nature, and once you find a cheaper deal, or a fancier office than your friends, you’ll probably go for that one and let them know.

·         It’s the CEO’s wife who choses: At the eyes of the team, CEOs are the ones who decide which is the best place for their company. But reality shows that they only narrow down a list, then discuss it with their wives and finally they are the ones who most influence in the decision.

·         I got a deal!: That old trick of adding the word “sale” or “free” has a great effect in buyers. Even when 2 offers are the same in price, but one of them says they offer something for free, we tend to prefer that one. As long as someone has paid more than us, we don’t feel worried. But was it really a deal? or did we sacrifice quality.

·         A better address: Some companies do select their office strategically, but others just chose based on how nice the address is. We’ve found some companies prefer to sacrifice comfort and size of an office, just to be located in a prestigious address.

·         The manager was nice: When moving, the most important factor should be the space itself, but we’ve found that a nice, welcoming property manager will always attract more tenants.

If you have a property to rent and found any of these useful, see how it can be applied to your property to make the most out of it.

And for those of you that are looking for an office to rent, give us a call or visit OfficeList, our team will not only help you deal with your wife about the decision, but will make sure you find the office that most suits your business.

View From One World Trade Center in New York

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

 

This week a new lease agreement was announced. It was the Legends Hospitality LLC, which signed a 15-year lease agreement of $875 million to operate the observation deck at One World Trade Center.

Its highest-profile and anchor tenant will be magazine publisher Conde Nast who has taken floors 20 – 45.

Visitors will be welcome at the building lobby where they can buy the entrance tickets, after that, a video of the construction of the building will be shown at the basement. Minutes later, the elevator will travel 1,250 ft and take the visitors to the 100^th floor in approximately one minute, where they will be greeted by tour ambassadors who will be able to answer any question about the tour.

This 104 story skyscraper has been the tallest in New York for one year and will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere when it is completed.

It is expected to open in 2015 and entrance tickets will cost approximately $25; a similar price as the Empire State building observation deck at the 86^th floor.  

The deck will be three floors high, with a restaurant, shops and a breathtaking view of Manhattan, New Jersey and Brooklyn.

It is still too early to know which executive suites providers will be offering space at this building, but the good news is we can help you find office rentals at 7 WorldTrade Center, just give us a call and we can help you find your next office downtown Manhattan or visit Officelist.

How Americans Waste Time at Work (Infographic)

Double click to enlarge

Its Fridays, between 3pm and 5pm, take a look around your office and you will find most of your colleagues will probably be doing something different to working.

Most of them will be talking to one of the co-worker; others will be looking at their Facebook, while some others will be reading the news or checking Yahoo. About half of them will take between 30 minutes and an hour before getting ready to start working again.

A survey made by salary.com to 1000 people about their time-wasting habits, gives us better insights about which are the activities, the days, the times and the workers who waste more time.

According to the survey, we can say that those in the medical or health industry are the ones that waste less time, try guessing which industrial sector is the one that most time wastes? If you thought it was the government, you’re right.

If you have an office in New York or the East region, you’re probably wasting 12%, compared to those with a workplace in San Francisco or Texas (south central and pacific regions), who admitted to waste 14% of their time.

Most will be surprised at who are the ones that waste more time, would you think its younger people? Men or women? According to the survey, 73% of men compared to only 66% of women.

• 82% of employees aged 26-32  
• 76% of workers 33-39
• 75% of workers age 18-25

And there’s bad news for those companies that think blocking the sites is the solution. Nowadays everyone has a phone were they can login to their social media profiles, watch videos or read the news.

The positive side is that 60% of the people said after they browsed the Internet or talked for a while with their colleagues their productivity increased. We’re not machines or robots and it’s normal that in an 8 hour shift, people stand up, stretch their legs, talk to the person beside them and try to release some stress and put their minds somewhere else. It’s a positive exercise. And let’s not forget that while we may be losing 30 minutes or more in the office, we’re also thinking of work when we go home or sometimes check our work emails.

Next time you have an important assignment, leave it for Tuesday between 9Am-11Am, it’s the most productive time of the week. And if the assignment involves looking for an office, even if it’s Friday afternoon, you can call OfficeList and we’ll waste no time to find the right office space for you.