Where did all the fun go?
📸 by Braydon Anderson on Unsplash
I sat with a busy start-up founder, talking with her about her core values. Her business was going from strength to strength, sales were very strong. She was getting asked to talk at events about her expertise in her sector and her successful journey. Being held up as a model to inspire others at earlier stages in their businesses.
But despite her financial success, booming business and the exciting recent industry recognition she was getting, she was feeling a bit lost. She felt something was missing. She was usually a very positive and upbeat individual, her situation was worrying her.
It felt wrong to feel something was wrong - when on paper it all seemed so good!
We were going back to basics with our values work, planning to use the understanding of what was important to her to help with the worry she had brought to me.
We’d been talking things through and building up a list of words that captured what she really valued; creativity, family and relationships, independence and freedom of choice, growth & learning, craft and attention to detail, authenticity and integrity. Her successful business was giving her what she needed from all these things.
But looking at the list, there was something missing for her here too. We sat pondering the words; this list concerned her in the way her situation concerned her.
We thought about all the answers she’d given to all the questions I'd asked. Then we got it…
It’s fun!
Laughter and fun hadn’t shown up on the list and they hadn’t been showing up in her life and work anywhere near enough recently.
She got excited and was laughing. Suddenly sparkling again. Sharing that ‘fun’ had to run right through everything we’d written down - like a stick of rock. All these other values were dimmed in their brightness without fun. Fun held it all together. Fun made sense of it all.
Fun was what had been missing!
And knowing that, we had a way forward…
She isn’t the only entrepreneur to have lost sight of the need for fun along the way.
It's understandable.
As a socially accountable entrepreneur, you pour your heart and soul into creating positive change. Your passion for your mission is a driving force, but the demands of running a business can lead to burnout. In the midst of growing and staying on top of the operational side of the business, it's easy to neglect an essential element for your overall well-being and success: fun.
Embracing fun isn't just about letting loose and indulging in frivolous activities. According to psychologist Abraham Maslow's influential Hierarchy of Needs theory, fun and enjoyment are crucial components of self-actualization – the highest level of human motivation and fulfilment.
Thinking about it this way, it certainly makes sense that my client felt something was missing.
Maslow’s pyramid
At the base of Maslow's pyramid lie our basic physiological needs like food, water, and sleep. As early stage entrepreneurs racing against the clock, it can be tempting to skimp on these basic requirements, fuelled by passion but risking burnout. However, my client was much more established than this, she had good systems and boundaries in place around ensuring she had these basic needs met.
The next levels of Maslow’s pyramid encompass safety, belongingness, and esteem needs. My client’s business was providing her with a sense of purpose and belonging and the industry recognition was helping boost her self-esteem.
It's at the apex of the pyramid where fun and enjoyment reside, nestled within the realm of self-actualisation. Maslow described this level as the realisation of one's full potential, marked by spontaneity, creativity, and a zest for life.
Without making room for fun, you risk stagnating, losing the spark that initially fuelled your entrepreneurial journey.
This is where my client realised she had room to grow. Sharing how fun and laughter had been there at the start of her entrepreneurial journey, but somehow got lost on the way.
Injecting fun into your routine doesn't have to mean sacrificing productivity or compromising your mission. In fact, it can be the key to unlocking your full creative potential and sustaining your drive. Here are a few ways to embrace fun as a socially accountable entrepreneur:
Schedule in fun and play: Just as you schedule meetings and deadlines, block off time in your calendar for activities that bring you joy. There is often a close relationship between fun and creativity. So the activities may be things that directly enrich your business offer, but they can also be ‘just because’ types of activities with no direct connection to your goods and services.
Seek out playful people: be intentional around spending time with people who make you smile, inviting others to bring fun into the workspace and also outside of work. Their positive energy can be contagious and remind you not to take yourself too seriously.
Gamify Your Work: Introduce elements of friendly competition or game-like challenges into your workflow. This can ignite a sense of playfulness and camaraderie among your team and also for you, boosting morale and motivation.
Celebrate Milestones: When you achieve a significant goal or reach a new benchmark, take the time to celebrate your accomplishments in a fun and memorable way. These moments of joy will fuel you through future challenges.
Remember, prioritising fun isn't a luxury; it's an essential ingredient for your overall well-being and the long-term success of your business. By embracing playfulness and enjoyment, you honour your fundamental human needs and unlock your full potential to create what might be some very serious change.
So, give yourself permission to have fun. Your mission and the world will thank you for it.
Want to talk a bit more about how to bring the fun back in? That’s a conversation I'd love to have!
📆📞💻 Book in for a free consultation call.