We assumed an office was a given when we started Lumeno. It did not take long before we began asking why—and what we really wanted from our working lives.
When we started Lumeno in August 2023, we had many ideas about how a company “should” be run. One of the most obvious was that, of course, we needed an office: somewhere to meet in person, a fixed place to travel to and something that signalled seriousness internally and externally. That was simply how it was done.
An important place in the beginning
The office absolutely served a purpose at first. It became a gathering place for important conversations, strategic discussions and the feeling that we had built something of our own. We bought furniture, arranged it the way we wanted and created a physical setting for our working day.
At that stage, sitting together, exchanging ideas and shaping the direction in the same room felt right.
When everyday work takes over
As routines settled, we noticed something else. Sharing an office did not necessarily increase productivity. During busy periods, the opposite was often true. Commuting, interruptions and less room for focused work began to outweigh the benefits.
At the same time, the advantages of working from home became clearer: deeper concentration, better flow and greater day-to-day flexibility. Being able to organize our own days made it easier to balance work, family, leisure and personal interests.
Gradually, office days became less frequent. Eventually we were there only a couple of times a month, making the question unavoidable: do we actually need this right now?
A conscious choice, not a principle
For us, at that point, the answer was no. Not because offices are wrong, but because ours no longer added value to the way we actually worked. Everything we do is digital. With a computer and a stable internet connection, we can work from almost anywhere.
Today, we generally work within the same core hours and are available for quick clarifications, calls and messages throughout the day. We also have the freedom to decide when we are in the zone and when we respond. It works well for us. That does not mean it will always be this way, or that we oppose offices on principle. If we grow and want to build a different kind of culture, we are open to reconsidering.
Trust, discipline and clarity
This way of working requires trust, self-discipline, sound project management and clear communication. It is not right for everyone, and that is fine. For us, being deliberate about structure and expectations is essential precisely because we are not in the same room every day.
To maintain the human connection, we meet in person regularly with a clear purpose: strategy, planning and conversations that benefit from happening face to face. We also prioritize doing things together outside work—concerts, festivals and trips. The money we once spent on an office covers these activities and more.
Different people, different needs
We do not believe this is a universal answer. Perhaps it is easier when the team is small; perhaps it works less well in larger organizations. The point is not that one approach is right, but that people have different needs and preferences. What energizes one person may drain another.
It is also worth considering what small adjustments mean in practice. Saving an hour of commuting each day can create time for exercise, family, hobbies or simply switching off. Sometimes it is enough for one more episode of a favourite series. This is not efficiency for its own sake, but quality of life.
Making room for a whole life
For us, Lumeno is as much about how we want to work as what we deliver. We want to build a company that makes room for a whole life, not only working hours. This is what that looks like today, and we remain open to change in the future.
What matters most is making conscious choices instead of simply following expectations.
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