Have you ever watched the sheer joy of children playing as if it’s serious work? Please, allow me to share the wisdom of Fernando. He’s my favorite three-year old.
While visiting he and his family this past weekend, we played. And we took our play quite seriously.
Fernando announced with such fervor, “I’m a pirate!” He pulled out a pretend sword. At that moment, I pulled out my sword, squinted my ears, grit my teeth, and let out my best “ARRRRR.”
We fought for a good while. After sharpening our fighting skills, shouting out powerful declarations, and strengthening our relationship via knuckle bumps, laughter and other sparing activity, I had a realization.
I want to share the play of work realization with you.
Playing isn’t just for kids. The best work environments include sharpening our skills– be it writing, speaking, selling, creating, delivering. It’s all part of the show.
How we go about making it enjoyable will keep us in the game longer, stronger and refreshed.
The “I am” Declaration
Play at work can be profound. Simply declaring, “I am a pirate!” is layered with greatness. Fernando wasn’t fooling around. He was meant business! His declaring wasn’t “I’m going to pretend to be a pirate.” That little guy was serious. as he powerfully declared to me who he was. The same is applicable to us, when we declare I am (you fill in the blank) it’s like a confident call out to our customers/clients, our audience.
Fernando’s firm declaration calls for, what marketers describe as “buy in”. Yep, I bought into him being a pirate. I did not shrink back as a damsel to be captured or stolen from, I decided to show up as a fellow pirate too!
Think about it. Children are incredible teachers when it comes to declaration. They aren’t holding back.
I am a fireman! (chest pounding and muscle flexing serving as non-verbal cues)
I am a ballerina! (complete with twirling, smiles and pirouette)
If you’re wondering why I’m discussing this– it’s all about the importance of “owning” what feels right. Let me explain, today I was on a business call when an interesting discussion arose.
As I listened, I detected that the person with whom I was speaking was conflicted around what to do next. She explained there was so much that she could do to rake in money, however, what she wanted to do was something different.
The more experience we gain, the more we may take on different hats or abilities. However, specific actions don’t make up who we are.
We dug further.
Specific themes throughout her life left behind bread crumbs leading up to her “I am” declaration. In every scenario she was helping people. designing programs, or collaborating with others to gain more traction. Ultimately, her passion was helping create results.Yet as she spoke there was some lackluster until she owned it.
“I’m a coach” she said with child-like animation. An excitement and deep-seated joy surfaced. I’m convinced that had we not been miles apart, I’m sure she would have picked up a sword and we’d start swinging.
In a world brimming with flakes and fakes, standing up and declaring “I’m a coach” can be intimidating when it’s no secret that “coaching” can be a catch-all title for talkers, or something perceived as artificial. I know because I too, battled with this very title.
Sure I can declare, “I am an educator.” It’s true, I am. I can declare I am an entrepreneur. This is 100% true.
Yet at my very core, I am a coach. I’m good at guiding others and myself to that next level of breakthrough. I want those who cross my path to experience financial freedom through business. I want my customers to feel healthy and happy in their body. So yes, I can declare a lot of things, but at the end of the day I am a coach. I listen, encourage, and create “plans of attack” for successful business or improved health. I even throw out challenges and question the status quo. In short, I’m out to collaborate for the win.
So it was no coincidence that the “coach” topic surfaced and our paths had crossed. Furthermore, it’s no surprise I am a sword-fighting pirate too. 😉
You’ve heard, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” It screams out permission to play! Don’t you just love it? Oh sweet permission!
Hear me please. If Jack doesn’t take time off to refuel and restore, Jack becomes bored and boring. Now let’s take it a step further, let’s not be Jack! Instead, let’s ask, how can play be incorporated into our own life regarding work? Write it down. Shout it from the roof tops! Share it with this lovable online community.
Do you play?
The more we give our self permission to enjoy life; we set an admirable example for others. Let’s play inside of our work– to avoid burnout and to promote attractiveness. Yes, let’s make what we do “sexy”. Wink, wink.
When we enjoy what we do others take notice and usually join in. I’m a firm believer that we can be professional pirates tossing out a knuckle bump and while enjoying swashbuckling working relationships while simply building more positive memories.
Talk to me. In the comments below, share with me an “I am” statement or something playful you do or plan to do inside of your work? This inquiring mind wants and needs to know. 🙂
So, after years of raising kids and parenting parents, how does a person really find their “play”? Or even just find their desire to play? I’m ok with pushing the swing, but time spent sitting on it and swinging myself would be nothing short of painful. It just seems like so much work. Any tips for those of us who have lost our inner child and don’t remember how to just have fun anymore?
Love this question! Thanks for asking. Here’s some tips for you. Return to that inner child by asking, “what did play did I enjoy as a kid?” It doesn’t have to include volleyball if the thought of it repulses you. Think about what you liked about it? Was it being outside? Working on a common goal with others? Laughing at nonsense? The secret to play is uncovering what we liked about playing in the first place. I’m asking that you to dig a little to identify what really fills you up. For years I took art lessons. I can hardly paint-by-number, but I enjoy creating. I still doodle and bring stickers or smileys into play while working. And if one says, well that’s just not very professional, I’d ask why isn’t it? I know I’m a professional and when it must be avoided altogether. It’s simply more freeing to be playful than not. Just think about confident 4 year-olds feeling awesome while rocking out a costume while everyone else is in normal street wear. It’s about giving yourself permission to explore what brings you joy and giving others freedom to do the same. I love to play with words so when I write, I do just that. I believe the desire to play never leaves, it just gets suppressed with self-imposed responsibilities. And yes, while we have very real responsibilities when we allow our self to whistle while we work, we’d feel lighter and in turn the heavier parts of our lives become lighter too. xo