Healing My Past by Building My Future: How 'Malevolent Creativity' Led to 'Work Beautiful' - The Future of Work Isn't the Office.

It's Beautiful Spaces in Beautiful Places. My big idea was born in the shadows, but it's being built to shine, beyond copy and paste culture and design!

I need to be honest about something.

My journey to finding a new purpose began in the shadows, fueled by a powerful resentment. After decades spent helping to build corporate cultures through the built environment, I was left with a feeling of profound sense of disillusionment. In my efforts to be "all good" and to distance myself from the dark and abusive traits I had witnessed in life and business, I realized I had neglected a powerful resource: the light and dark side of creativity. I explored this in depth in my first novel ‘The Patterns & Chaos of Untreated Minds.’ What was my part?

What if the work started on the hike up to this spot?

And continued back in your creative home? Day long creative retreat planning for Flourish & Flow - Yoga and Insightful Writing in the Southwest of France.

Remote Work Trends and the Pushback Against the Office

I don't believe an office is where creativity and innovation live, and I am not alone. The pushback against return-to-office (RTO) mandates is a global phenomenon. A significant portion of the workforce has redefined its priorities, and remote work trends confirm what many already know: the office is no longer the central hub of work.

• A recent survey found that nearly 60% of people would prefer to work either fully or mostly remotely.

• Only 28% of people working from home are willing to return to the office without issue. A third would comply but immediately begin looking for a new job.

• McKinsey's research indicates that 87% of employees choose flexible work options when given the opportunity.

• The reasons for this are clear: workers report higher productivity and well-being, along with better work-life integration when working remotely.

  
  

The push to get back to the office is often driven by outdated assumptions, and it's simply not working. But is a home office the answer? Is a digital nomad lifestyle or a digital nomad hub the solution? I don't think so. I also don't believe WeWork or Soho House have cracked the code either.

The story of WeWork's founder, Adam Neumann, is a cautionary tale of a powerful idea undermined by a lack of integrity. He had a grand vision of creating a global community, but his personal ambition and reckless management led to the company's spectacular downfall. It serves as a stark reminder that a compelling idea must be built on a foundation of ethical leadership and sustainable practices.

The New Way to Work: Work Beautiful

Which brings me to my big idea: Work Beautiful. It’s not co-living, co-working, or a lily pad for digital nomads. It’s a curated workspace, a home away from home for work. For individuals, groups, and teams.

I have always believed that a change is as good as a rest, and psychology backs this up. Work-life integration isn't about separating work and life; it's about seamlessly blending them. Switching activities, like a nature walk or a wild swim, gives different parts of our brain a rest, leading to renewed focus and deeper creative thought. This is the foundation of Work Beautiful.

As a consultant, I traveled for work and endured countless team-building events in soulless conference centers. The insights gained were forgotten as soon as we returned to the same culture. These expensive company retreats changed nothing. What if, instead, small groups or individuals could find their creative home in other people’s homes? In beautiful, curated spaces where the best parts of the office and our homes were present.

My vision is to build a platform that connects people to these beautiful, unexpected homes. These spaces already exist; they just don’t have a way to connect the user to the space yet. My journey of healing from trauma and harnessing my creative energy has led me to this idea and I am committed to its success.

The Patterns & Chaos of UNTREATED Minds was written in 28 days of long walks and determination to create something beautiful.

I want to totally disrupt the world of work. I want small businesses to succeed. I want creativity and money to flow through guests and hosts. Work Beautiful is about creating creative retreats where people can find their true motivation and productivity and well-being are natural byproducts. It is about finding the beautiful work and working it beautifully. Starting with my own home, here in the Southwest of France.

If this resonates with you, I want to talk.

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