On Monday June 14, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Diane Helbig, host of Accelerate Your Business Growth Radio. Our topic was having more fun while running a business. You can listen to a recording of the show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dhelbig/2010/06/14/having-more-fun-in-your-business
If you don’t have an hour to listen to the whole show, allow me to quickly share 6 key points that can help anyone begin to have more fun AND make more money as they align themselves in a business that reflects who they really are.
1. Know Thyself
Take time to get clear about who you are and what you love, both at work and outside of work. Think about your very best days on the job and why you enjoyed them so much. Take the test at www.superherotraining.com and see what comes up as your top 2 or 3 subject areas. Are these part of your business? Finally, think like a child and see if you can remember what made you happiest at the age of 8. Are those sources of joy still somehow connected to what you do now? The more you know what brings you happiness, the more you can attract it into your present model of fun.
When I took the superhero training test 4 years ago, I discovered “Nature” was my #1 category and it was nowhere in my business. Since that time, I have integrated nature into my work liberally by adding outdoor events, holding retreats at Lake Erie and becoming a facilitator for the TPW Maui Passage. By doing so, I have created so much more joy in my life.
2. Create Your Personal Definition of Fun
Fun is really up to you! Don’t limit yourself to what others say. Uncover your limiting beliefs about fun and test them. Could they change to allow you to enjoy work a bit more. I personally have transitioned from corporate employee to entrepreneur over the past decade. The stuffy nature of my previous jobs bled into my current situation and it really wasn’t me. I have gradually modified my definition of fun and professionalism, including my dress to be more casual and comfortable. This re-definition has served me well and is more authentic to my truth.
3. Narrow Your Focus to the “Fun Part”
Sometimes we struggle because we are working with the wrong partners or serving the wrong clients. Take a moment to become aware of you very best customers and how you are serving them. List the traits you appreciate about them and also the needs they hold in common. What might you do to attract more of this type of client? Simply getting more clear about your perfect client profile will create an energy field that invites them in.
4. Treat Yourself to Time-Off
Time for rest, renewal and personal fun is necessary to have perspective in the bigger business world. We benefit by stepping away from the hectic pace of our business to reconnect with ourselves. Use this time away to write, become inspired, read or do mundane tasks. It is not wasted time, but rather time that allows you to see new opportunities and to build energy so that when you return to work, you will be effective and fully-present.
5. Decide what you can “let go of” or release in order to have more fun and enjoyment.
Often you need to say “NO” to a few things in order to create space for true happiness. Examine those heaviest parts of your life or those things that seem to cause ongoing angst. Could something heal, stop, be released?
Some things you might consider releasing include:
Clutter
Debt
Employee/Partner problems
Customer disputes
Anger
6. Put something fun into every day
As you know yourself, you will benefit on even the busiest day by taking small steps for more fun. You might subscribe to funny videos, spend time in nature, add something enjoyable to your fitness routine or read a chapter of a fiction book purely for pleasure. As I said before, this is up to YOU.
Find something FUN and just do it!
