What if you made your business more fun?
How can you make your business more fun for you?
This is just one of the questions we ask folks on our 20/20 Vision program. Too often we think business and work has to be hard — after all, it’s what many of us have been told since we were small.
Or so we’re told
But what if you made it more fun? What would that look like?
How can you inject moments of fun, joy and calm into each and every day?
Here’s what this looks like for me these days:
🙌 We only work on projects that feel like fun Make it fun has been one of our core values in both businesses I’ve run. We only work with people and on projects that get us excited. If it feels like too much of an effort then it’s not for us. Our programs Alptitude, Ashram, Summercamp and 2020 Vision have only come about by asking ‘what would excite us?’.
⏰ I rarely start work before 9.30 — unless we’re on the brink of a launch. I’ve learnt the hard way that starting work early or working late after 6pm affects my mood and productivity, so I rarely work in the evening or early morning.
🌊 I take my dog for a long walk by the sea for an hour each morning before I start. It’s my (active) meditation time and a chance to get clear on the day ahead. Sitting still in the lotus position doesn’t do it for me.
🧘 I work from the gym a couple of mornings a week (I’ve never lifted weights in my life), geared around Pilates classes as this has been a lifesaver for me, preventing my back pain recurring and creates valuable thinking time.
🎱 I play snooker with my youngest on a Thursday afternoon (I’m now having to try really hard to beat him…)
This didn’t happen overnight though.
Only after years of running a business did I realise I could play on my own terms. Why else would you start a business than to do things your way?
Most likely as it takes a long time to shake off the societal norms and lose the guilt for taking time out when you should be at work.
I get it. It feels indulgent.
But it shouldn’t.
It’s what Jack Hubbard calls Bucketlist Business Planning. Here’s his talk from our annual Summercamp for entrepreneurs back in 2014…
Start with fun
We all have tough days and weeks, but the more you can put fun at the heart of your venture, the more sustainable it, and you, will be.
And I can bet your creativity and energy levels will exponentially increase.
I know it has for me — these days I feel less stressed, more energised and clearer than I have in years. And when I do work I feel more focused and productive as a result of working less. There’s no wasted hours, filling the day.
So stop worrying about what others will think, you know what you need better than anyone.
A better, happier you leads to better, happier businesses.
So go make it fun. It might just rub off on others.