“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.”

— Dale Carnegie

Start today, give yourself permission, try something new, and connect with someone who inspires you to have fun. Infusing fun into work doesn’t have to take extra time, cost extra money or require additional skill building. I trust that we are just kids in big bodies and the muscle for fun just needs to be exercised to add it to the valuable work competencies we bring to our jobs each day. Make it so. Let it flow.

• With labor markets tight, business leaders understand that fun can tip the scales when all else is equal. “Fun not only lures employees, it also helps them acculturate, which becomes more important as businesses become more virtual. And, of course, fun is associated with creativity.” Inc. Magazine, August 2007
• Dan Para, CEO of CGL, a logistics company in Downers Grove, Illinois, loves games, golf, and gambling. So he created an office game room with a 12 seat card table, complete with CGL logo. Every Friday afternoon dozens of folks show up for Texas Hold ‘Em. And they play for money.
• Play the Holiday Who Is It? game. Have employees hand in an unknown fact about themselves. Have your “Cruise Director” create a list of statements like, “In German, my name means butcher; I have shaken hands with the crown prince of Liechtenstein.” Employees then talk to everyone , filling out who is who. No one is allowed to ask which fact is theirs. They have to ask leading questions to determine the answer. The winner gets a prize.
• Grab a fun idea and take action. One a day will keep your life filled with fun. Share ideas, borrow ideas, or create your own. But, most importantly, start now!
• Momentum and strength will come as a result of doing even the littlest thing every day.

“He deserves Paradise who makes his companions laugh.”

— The Koran

Leslie