Nov 3, 2021
I have a serious question for you: How much FUN are you having in your business?
Do you find genuine enjoyment in the work you do, or do you feel like you need to be serious in order to be taken seriously?
If you do, you’re not alone. The grand majority of entrepreneurs I encounter get pretty intense when it comes to their businesses. But would you be surprised to know that there’s a direct correlation between income producing ideas (read: more sales!) and fun?
This post is all about how taking a light-hearted approach to your business can actually lead to more success. And if playfulness isn’t something that comes easy for you - especially at work - not to worry. I’m also going to give you some ideas as to how you can begin to intentionally incorporate more fun into your business, starting today.
Do we really need to be so serious in our work lives?
Back when I used to work for a big company, when I was just starting out, I was the youngest person in my position. I thought that in order to be taken seriously, I needed to be serious any time I was at work or a work event. My team would go out to dinners and everyone would be joking around, but I would maintain a deliberate “business-like” demeanor; I didn't want to be off my game. I didn't want to not be taken seriously.
Thankfully, I came to learn that this was 100% not necessary - and it was actually inhibiting both my growth and enjoyment of my job.
Do you have a background, whether it's your family life or a previous corporate position you held, that ingrained in you the same belief I once held? Do you feel like in your business now, as an entrepreneur, that you have to be incredibly serious when it comes to your work? This might not even be something you’ve been fully conscious of up to this point. I mean, how many people do you know that equate business with fun?
But here’s the thing: the more fun I have purposely let into my business, and the more intentional I've been about creating fun in the workplace, the more my business has grown. And I’ve witnessed the same thing countless times in the coaching and masterminds I both host and participate in. There's actually a direct correlation between income-producing ideas and fun. Those who have more fun in their businesses tend to be the most successful in any group.
Choosing authenticity over perfection
In my business, I want to bring the real me into any interaction I have - with my team, with my coaching clients, with my colleagues, with my podcast listeners, and with you reading this post. I want everyone to get to know the real version of me, not some serious, edited, “perfect” version of me.
Let’s use my podcast, Breakthrough Babe, as an example.
I don't really edit my podcast episodes. We tack a beginning + ending on each show, but that’s pretty much it unless I make some major error or something is confusing (which is rare). Out of the last 70-something episodes, I basically stopped editing probably about 15 or 20 episodes in. So the last 50 out of 70-something episodes of my podcast haven’t really been edited at all. Sure, I could send it to an editor and have them take out all the ums and uhs and long pauses and random thoughts, but that's not how we talk in real life. And I want you to feel like you’re spending time chatting with me in real life when you listen to my show.
I want you to have access to the real me. Why? Because choosing authenticity over perfection creates better connections and - you got it - is way more FUN for all of us. People like to buy from people they can relate to and from people who are enjoyable to interact with. And that’s how fun can create more sales and revenue for your business.
Here are 3 ways to infuse your business with more fun
1) Do something fun everyday
What do you consider fun? In order to have fun, you have to recognize what’s fun for YOU, because it’s different for all of us. Take a minute and make a list of the things that bring you bursts of joy. Is it jumping into a pool? Doing a craft project? Some days, it might even be something as simple as taking a walk and taking some pictures of your neighborhood.
Once you’ve got your list, I want you to do one thing each day just for fun. It doesn't have to be for three hours in the middle of the workday. Could you take a 15, 20, or 30 minute break to inject fun into your life? The answer is YES. Yes, you can. While you might think this has nothing to do with your business, know this: How you do one thing is how you do everything. It’s all connected energetically. When you start injecting fun into your life automatically, you're going to start injecting fun into your business automatically, too.
2) Make your business feel like a game
We adults benefit from play just like kids do. We may not have as much time to devote to play as kids, but we can make our work feel more like playing by gamifying our businesses. Can you make your tasks a game against yourself? I love to do this by giving myself challenges to work towards - I want to “win” my game!
Here’s an example. I strive to be really people-focused and not numbers-focused in my business, so I make a game of how many people I can help. So I ask myself, How many posts do I need to make to connect and help people? How many Reels? How many outreach attempts can I make to establish genuine relationships? How many DMs is that? How many calls? By making little challenges for myself and approaching it with enthusiasm and curiosity, it tricks my brain into feeling like I’m playing a fun game.
Here’s the key to this: don’t forget to set-up rewards for yourself when you “win.” Positive reinforcement is powerful and helps keep the excitement to “win” strong. Create little treats for yourself - it can be as simple as stickers on a goal sheet, or an afternoon coffee break.
3) Share the fun
Fun is contagious. The more fun I’m having, the more other people want in on it. Sharing your fun can be an effective motivator for your team, and it can be irresistible to potential clients you’re looking to attract. Once you start having fun in your business, don’t keep it quiet to yourself, or be afraid to show it thinking it makes you look frivolous. People are drawn to a light-hearted approach and when you can share that together, that is the freaking ultimate win.
Remember: Business CAN be fun, IF you allow it to be. And if you’re not having enough fun, chances are, you’re not making enough sales.
I’d like to challenge you to release some of that entrepreneurial tension we all fall victim to at some point. The next time something in your business goes awry, choose to take a more light-hearted approach and see what happens. Laugh things off, let things go, and go with the flow. When you’re stressed and intense, it takes you down a rabbit hole of negativity. You lose your creativity and ability to impact others. See what arises when you flip the switch and approach obstacles with cheerful energy instead. I promised it will be more fun, and I know from experience it leads to more success.
If you’d like my help in finding
out how you can infuse the kind of joy into your business that will
lead to more creativity and more sales, don’t hesitate to reach
out. Fun (especially the kind that translates into sales!) is my
specialty. And the next time you're doing something just for fun in
your business for you, for your clients, or for your team, be sure
to tag me on Instagram @jengitomer - let’s inspire each other and create a ripple
effect of fun.