Let Us Play!
Let Us Play!
Bill Lentz
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You work hard every day. You start early, and (more often than you care to admit) you stay late. You love your family and take pride in providing for them. You’ve built a competent, loyal staff, which is quite remarkable in today’s economy. You’ve earned the respect and admiration of your community, your suppliers, and maybe even your competitors. But let’s face it: When it comes to relaxing, having fun, and attending to your own needs, there are a few of you who could use a little assistance.
When you first took the leap by opening your new business or assuming your new management position, “success” was defined as simple survival. Perhaps you were so understaffed back then that you couldn’t even allow yourself a second cup of coffee or a lunch break. Your overtime pay was a bad joke. At some point, you had to give up the fantasy of ever being “saved” by some outside force, and you were struck by the full realization that it was all up to you. Only you. That awakening dissolved any remaining resistance, focused your energy, and became the solid foundation for all that you now gratefully experience daily.
You were like a rocket ship blasting off for outer space. All time and energy were consumed with the complicated process of breaking free of the Earth’s atmosphere. Those initial rocket engines have long since been jettisoned. You and your intrepid crew are now safely navigating the flight plan you created. Your Captain’s seat is comfortable and familiar. Well, O Captain, my Captain, I believe it’s time to explore the Holodeck. (That’s the virtual reality holographic deck where Star Trek officers can dial up any immersive playtime fantasy they desire.) In other words, “Let’s play!”
Before beginning, let me encourage you to think big. No compromises at this point. Right now, some of you may have formed some (mostly) unconscious limitations on what constitutes “acceptable” play. If you were to expand those limitations, you might find that it opened up a much broader smorgasbord of choices. If not, you could end up settling for a “little bit of fun” that quickly becomes routine instead of going for the gusto!
If you were seeking thrills and excitement, you might find that riding a roller coaster or doing some skydiving would likely do the trick. The safer, more conservative activity is hopping on the rollercoaster. But, because we’re here to really have some fun and smash through boundaries, I’d recommend jumping out of a plane. You’re the boss. I’m just encouraging you to run a marathon instead of walking a 5K. I’ve done both. But the only one I still talk about is the Louisville, KY marathon. (Four hours and one minute, and I wept tears of joy for at least a third of the 26.2 miles.)
Let me encourage you to think big.
Step 1: Focus and Clarity
This is easy. What would fun feel like to you? How about excitement, laughter, challenge, thrill, relaxation, peace, solitude, camaraderie, or mental and physical stimulation? Would you like to go back and pick up some of the activities you loved before you got so busy or try something new? You are unique. Don’t let the responsible adult in you poo-poo any of these desires. We all tend to try to stay well within our comfort zone when learning new skills. Unfortunately, that strategy hardly ever works.
As a sales manager, my new salespeople tended to resist closing sales for fear of being perceived as “too pushy.” I would tell them that I expected each of them to garner at least one customer complaint per year for being too aggressive. My intent was to give them permission to safely explore boundaries and find out for themselves where effectiveness ended and aggressiveness began. Yes, they did learn to expand their comfort zones, and no, I never got any complaints.
Step 2: Take Action
Here’s where you choose two or three playful activities and commit to working them into your busy life. Once again, no rules. You can go it alone or invite a friend or family member. As some sneaker company employee famously said, “Just do it!” Some gave up golf or softball or bowling before their family came along. Some can’t stop remembering the hours of peaceful solitude spent flying a kite or climbing a tree as a child. Others have always wanted to learn to scuba dive or pilot a plane. Whether you want to enroll in a gourmet cooking class or enjoy a daily dip at your local “Y,” just take the first step and see what happens.
Don’t let your old work ethic sabotage your new “play ethic.” A healthy balance between the two will make you that much better at both. Remember how my salespeople had to push their boundaries to learn how to be successful? Well, I can’t tell you to keep hammering on your next sale until your customer complains, but I promise I will let you know if one of your coworkers or family members tells me that you’ve become too selfish or lazy when you start to play more.
“Don’t let your old work ethic sabotage your new play ethic.
My old partner, Tom Pugh, used to love the expression, “Who wants gum?” That antiquated salesman’s query underscored the proposition he was making was a no-brainer. After all, who could say “no” to gum? Yet, some of you have found yourselves postponing play for any number of questionable reasons. Are you really going to say “no” to adding more fun into your mix?
Your work isn’t just a job. It’s a big part of your life. When you start to take care of yourself and strike a healthy balance between work and play, you make yourself a better boss, spouse, parent, and friend. What’s more, you virtually eliminate burnout. Best of all, you will be setting a wonderful example of wisdom, flexibility, and mental health to all around you.
