So, you think you’ve got yourself a pretty sweet job? Feel like you’ve got the world by the tail now that you’re sitting at the big desk, spinning the world around on your fingertip like Michael Jordan spins a basketball? Wouldn’t trade it for all the paper clips in the supply room, you say? Well, let me ask you something there, fellah (or gender-neutral noun of your choice). Are you really happy? Is your job supplying you with the really important things in life (besides free office supplies, that is)? Does it provide an exciting, interesting, and stimulating work environment?
That’s what I thought. What it comes down to is that—even with all the great pay, short hours, fringe benefits, great house, exclusive private schools for your kids, golf carts, and club membership, stock options, designer clothes, and rubbing elbows with Rosie O’Donnell—you just can’t make up for that missing element of full workplace happiness, that piece of the universe your psyche is crying out for to reach contentment in the workplace. Fun!
Everyone knows that business is serious business. After all, you can’t make a million bucks a day if your competitor has a smile on his face. Our educational institutions teach us that successful business people should be grave and somber in personal communications. After all, gazillions of dollars in business deals depend on the investor’s confidence in the executive’s business skills or failing that, one really lucky bet at the racetrack. This is a serious business, this business stuff, and we’d all do well to emulate the likes of J.P. Morgan, whose stern countenance gazes at us from the pages of history, reminding us that there is no place in business for fun.
Puh-fewwy!
J.P. Morgan may have been rich, but he probably never played jacks on his office floor. True, Morgan could buy and sell any man of his time, but I doubt that he ever took time out from corporate wheeling and dealing long enough to initiate a game of hide-and- seek with his employees. Oh sure, he may have played spin the bottle a time or two with his secretary, but that hardly counts (right, Mr. President?). That poor, poor, exceedingly
filthy rich man missed the boat on what business is all about, just as the rest of corporate America is in danger of doing today.
Like Mr. Morgan, you probably think the purpose of business is to make money, don’t you? Guess again, Grasshopper, because you couldn’t be further from the truth. Businesses exist so that grown-ups have a place to meet and play. (Why do you think people freak out when they get laid off or retire? Do I need flash cards, here?) Remember grade school? Every day you studied history and math, but you knew those were just time- fillers until the real purpose of school occurred: Recess! Every kid knows that you only attend school so you can run around with your friends at recess! Studying, learning, and business plans are just things you do to appease your parents, teachers, and majority shareholders. Sure it’s a lot to ask of a kid, but they’re willing to put up with those unpleasantries if it means they get to play. Shouldn’t you demand the same?
As you grew older and moved into junior and senior high school, you switched from playing cars with your buddies to learning to “play” the game of life (and we aren’t talking about the Milton Bradley version either). Nope, unfortunately, this game of Life tells you to put away your toys and focus on more important things like the opposite sex, sports, cars, and Starbucks coffee. And in real life you don’t even start off with $10,000 and a car! Before you know it, you’ve graduated college and are working 9 to 5, spending all of your time trying to earn enough money to pay for last winter’s vacation to Disneyland (where you spent four hours searching for your youngest child while the oldest one upchucked all over Mickey after eating too much cotton candy). Only after it’s too late do you realize that you’ve forgotten the whole point!
It’s Not Really Too Late
Well my friend, I’ve got news for you. It’s not too late. You can recapture those childhood memories by digging into your desk drawers and pulling out all those games and toys you’ve got hidden there. C’mon, don’t be shy to admit it. I know you’ve got a yo-yo stuffed in there somewhere. I’ll bet if you look around in your briefcase, you’ll find a crayon your three-year-old jammed behind your calculator. Get those toys out and start playing now!
Corporate America has been stuffed into the straightjacket of a suit and tie and (on Friday) seemingly casual clothes for too long. It’s time to relax. After all, what’s wrong with a game of marbles played in the middle of the break room floor or a round of Old Maid being played by the Board of Directors while conducting their quarterly status meeting? The world will be a much better place when your 63-year-old CEO is no longer ashamed to play Hot Wheels in the mailroom with the company clerk during the morning break.
Remember, the only reason for being at work in the first place is to play with your friends. Actual business decisions should only occur after morning playtime and a nice long nap. Don’t wait! Be the first in your office to bring in a Hula Hoop and get the fun started! Take out your frustration at being passed over for promotion with a rousing game of Rock’em Sock’em Robots! The day you can attend a meeting and record your notes on an Etch A Sketch will be the day that corporate America can once again can stand proud as a world leader.
Do it for yourself. Do it because it’s right. Do it for America. Start playing around on the job, now. You’ll be glad you did.
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