Having Fun? If Not, You Should Be

I had an interview last week with a sports team in Minneapolis. I realized half-way through the interview how much I was laughing or giggling through the questions and answers. It wasn’t a nervous laughter – this was just a phone screener, but I wanted to have fun on the interview and to see if the HR person would respond. (She sort of did.) After hearing more about the position, all I could think of was how BORING it sounded. It was a newly-created position, so maybe they don’t have all the wrinkles out, but is it too much to ask to want to enjoy your job and Just. Have. Fun?

And then Arik Hanson, a solo PR consultant (like moi), wrote this post on “5 Reasons Why the Solo Consultant Lifestyle Isn’t All Its Cracked Up to Be.” He reiterates in the post how much he loves his job, while pointing out some drawbacks of owning your own business  – but he doesn’t really say he’s having fun.

Can you LOVE your job and NOT be having fun? Hmm….Or do the two go hand-in-hand? I challenge Arik to tell us more about the fun side of his life as a solo PR consultant.

Kayaking the Lake of the Isles in downtown Minneapolis after a client meeting.

Me? I try to have fun everyday. I attend a yoga class here and there. I crank up Pandora on my awesome Sonos system. (If you work from home and don’t have Sonos, you are missing out). Last summer, I took tennis lessons in the morning and I would haul my kayak with me when visiting clients on the west side of town. I believe this left me more energetic and creative on my projects.

Lately, I took on a client in the flower business. Yep, I work in the gun industry and now the wedding industry. I’m having a BALL with this client and wish I could dive deeper in this industry.

You have a choice of how to spend your time. I choose to spend mine by sprinkling in more fun. Notice I didn’t say less work, just more fun.