I’m Erz Imam, Director Of Nesk, And This Is How I Work

Erz Imam is the director of Nesk, an innovative co-working space application from depo8 that allows startups to hire desks by the hour for better flexibility and increased revenue. Here are his productivity regime, favourite tools and work habits.

Erz Imam is an entrepreneur and developer with a passion for emerging technologies. Alongside his wife, he is the co-founder of depo8; a co-working space in the center of Melbourne’s busy startup scene.

Last year, Imam launched the on-demand desk rental app Nesk which allows shared workspace members to check in and out of desks automatically through their tablets or smartphones. The self-serve rental service costs $5 per desk with day use for each desk capped at $30. We spoke to Imam about how he gets things done.


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Location: depo8 in Prahran
Current Gig: Building a shiny new app called Nesk.io
One word that best describes how you work: Random
Current mobile device: iPhone 6
Current computer: MacBook Pro

What apps, software or tools can’t you live without?

Google Apps, Uber, Evernote, Spotify, Nesk, Trello, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro and Shazam.

What’s your workspace setup like?

Messy and chaotic with things all over the place. But in a good way where only I can find that piece of paper or doovalacky at the bottom of a pile.

What’s your best time-saving shortcut or life hack? Do you automate something that used to be a time sink? Do you relegate email to an hour a day?

I try and run everything out of Google Calendar to avoid relying on memory to get things done. (oops – sorry the hack didn’t work for your email while I was sipping negronis on a beach in Bali!).

Also, breaking away from my desk to go and work for a solid 2 hours in a totally different location. Sometimes I find working from the corner table at the pub mid afternoon allows me to plough through a block of work more efficiently. A beer and no interruptions will do that.

What’s your favourite to-do list manager?

My calendar plus Evernote for collecting random ideas.

Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without and why?

Panasonic LX100 – life without beautiful photos is no life at all.

What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?

The art of chit chat. When you work out of a coworking space and are surrounded by awesome business people, it’s hard not chat about the next big idea.

What do you listen to while you work? Got a favourite playlist? Maybe talk radio? Or do you prefer silence?

Spotify and my own playlist of Shazammed songs.

What are you currently reading? A novel, comic book, website, magazine?

Fast Company, Co.create and Level C ‘readers’ with my 6 year old son.

How do you recharge?

On the couch with Netflix

What’s your sleep routine like? Are you a night owl or early-riser?

Night owl. My mind starts to race at about 8pm to midnight.

Fill in the blank: I’d love to see _________ answer these same questions.

William Shatner!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Doesn’t have to be work or productivity-related.

Being an entrepreneur, a small business owner can be a wild emotional rollercoaster ride and I keep coming back to a great doco I saw on Massimo Vignelli; Design is One. He talks to a bunch of design students and suggests resisting work or jobs with customers who are so difficult they take you down a path that creatively and emotionally handicaps you.


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