Even entrepreneurs need to have fun & laugh
Thursday, May 1st, 2008I spent the day phoning former work associates and colleagues and pursuing other networking activities seeking to “get the word out” about my new situation as an entrepreneur, I took time this evening to go to a nearby park to spend time with my wife and two sons. We ate food and played on the slides and jungle gym and ran…ran….ran! I think that it is important to take time to have fun and laugh for the following reasons:
PERSPECTIVE
We’ve all heard the saying that none of us on our death beds will bemoan the fact that we didn’t spend more time at “the office”. Even as a home-based business entrepreneur, we need to take time to get away and to realize that, more than likely, one of the main reasons we became entrepreneurs was so that we could have the freedom to spend time with our families, loved ones and friends. If we don’t TAKE the time to do this, then we’re missing the point. I intended the emphasis on the “taking” of time because we can’t “make” anymore time (there’s only 24 hours in a day for each of us) and we can’t “find” the time either (there isn’t any more to be found). We have to decide that we will take the time to do what is most important.
RECHARGE
Taking time to laugh and have fun will actually give us more energy to perform the long hours that are required of entrepreneurs. This is similar to the concept of “sharpening the saw” mentioned by Stephen Covey in his book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. If we don’t take the time to sharpen or recharge, we will actually be less effective than we otherwise could be. For example, when in college, I did what I suspect many college students have done: I pulled “all nighters” on occasion. During one of these all night study/ project sessions it occurred to me (as I nodded off for the fourth time) that it would be better to get at least a little sleep so that I would somewhat refreshed for the exam.
Grinding away with no time for rest and recreation does not serve us well as entrepreneurs.
POSITIVE MINDSET
Finally, having fun and laughing keeps entrepreneurs in the right frame of mind. One of the most important characteristics that an entrepreneur can have is optimism. Having a good time and laughing actually helps to keep us in a positive frame of mind. One Harvard University professor, Shawn Achor, mentioned that happy people actually make better decisions (paraphrased).
As I am on this road of becoming an entrepreneur I need to make sure that I schedule the time to relax, have fun and laugh. That reminds me…..I’ve always wanted to skydive….I think I’ll plan it some time next week!
Until next time,
Dino
