Unoffice Hours
Matt Webb's "Unoffice Hours" offers informal video calls for networking, allowing participants to book 30-minute slots without agendas, emphasizing peer-to-peer interaction and fostering creativity in a remote work environment.
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Matt Webb introduces the concept of "Unoffice Hours," a weekly initiative where he opens his calendar for informal video calls. This idea emerged during the lockdown as a way to replicate the spontaneous conversations that often occur over coffee. Webb allocates a couple of hours each Wednesday for these calls, allowing anyone to book a 30-minute slot without a prior agenda. Since August, he has engaged in 23 diverse conversations, ranging from feedback on startups to reconnecting with old friends. The term "Unoffice Hours" signifies a departure from traditional office hours, emphasizing a peer-to-peer interaction rather than a hierarchical relationship. Webb highlights the importance of serendipitous encounters and informal discussions in fostering creativity and collaboration. He encourages others to adopt this model, suggesting that it can enhance networking and idea generation in a remote work environment. The use of tools like Calendly facilitates the scheduling process, making it easier for participants to connect. Webb's initiative reflects a broader trend of adapting traditional networking practices to fit the current digital landscape.
- Matt Webb's "Unoffice Hours" allows informal video calls for networking and collaboration.
- The initiative started during the lockdown to recreate spontaneous conversations.
- Participants can book 30-minute slots without a prior agenda.
- The concept emphasizes peer-to-peer interaction rather than a hierarchical structure.
- Tools like Calendly streamline the scheduling process for these informal meetings.
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- Participants appreciate the informal nature of the calls, finding value in peer-to-peer interactions.
- Many express frustration over the lack of available slots, indicating high demand for the service.
- Some users share their own experiences with similar initiatives, highlighting the benefits of open communication and collaboration.
- There is a general sentiment that such networking opportunities foster creativity and idea generation.
- Comments also touch on the broader implications of modern connectivity, emphasizing alternatives to traditional social media platforms.
15 commentsSorry you can’t find a slot! It’s already booked up for the next 60 days and I use Calendly to keep a rolling availability window. I've just opened a handful of extra times in October and November.
I highly recommend making this part of your weekly rhythm too — it’s a big part of how I find new ideas, and it helps get me out of my bubble.
I originally had a specific agenda - to get a perspective on a core project with moral considerations. In between booking and having the call the project was written off. I kept the call.
It gave me the option, as someone currently freelancing and consulting, to talk to someone in a different boat, going to a different place, on the same sea.
Impactfully he gave me some simple advice that I struggle with - paraphrased "act in the open / people will find you". I've spent a great deal of time since struggling with it - it is a loss of control when being perceived, and flies in the face of a lifetime of believing in internet anonynimity!
Of course the first time I was worried that no one would show up. So for the first session I had a plan for what I would do if no one showed up or there were no questions. Now some people also submit questions in advance so I have a small agenda to get started with until people ask questions.
So far it's been encouraging. About 10 people join the live sessions and there are enough questions to keep the conversation going and not too many questions so I have to ignore some. But the most surprising is the recorded sessions get many more views afterwards. So it's a good way of generating content that people actually watch.
I'd love to do something like this though - I've always enjoyed teaching so maybe something where I offer free calls to help newer developers with their project for an hour? Interesting idea!
A long time ago (12+ years) was Little Printer, an internet connected/social little thermal printer, with the Berg group. There's a loving open source effort maintaining the systems ? Which I haven't gotten around to installing on my own off the shelf printer). https://nordprojects.co/projects/littleprinters/
Matt's current effort is the Poem/A1 rhyming poetry AI clock. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/genmon/poem-1-the-ai-po...
A submission got popular - Product Innovation is sometimes the Supply - and mentions the excellent very old Machine Supply, a tweeting vending machine selling books and notebooks. https://www.actsnotfacts.com/made/machine-supply https://interconnected.org/home/2024/09/27/distribution https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41709429
Matt's blog is extremely longstanding & excellent. His work always finds playfulness & creativity, embodies that rich interesting Splime sci-fi internet that seemed so full of open potential when I was growing up in the 90's & 00's. Thank you Matt Webb for adding so much to my life! I highly recommend adding Matt to your blogrolls, & checking out his deep & prolific archives.
Instead of complaining about the status quo and going abstinent, this sort of mindset is such a good alternative.
On the one hand, the vibe is very much "show up and let's talk like friendly socialized people" and I bet that's a huge amount of the joy in it.
On the other hand, perhaps the people who _really_ want to talk to Matt should be able to? And while imperfect, paying for is an unshakeable signal that you _really_ want to.
(Note: I started this comment eight hours ago and apparently didn't submit it, so maybe someone has said the same thing in the meantime. I'm too annoyed with myself to check.)
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