Comments on: Are You Having Any Fun?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:29:22 +0000

Thank you very much. I enjoy your emails and information. Sincerely, Jeff

By: Genie

Genie — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:12:32 +0000

I wish I were a Genie and could do all I wished with a nod of the head but it seems to take squillions of minutes to get the least of it done and the world is a square computer screen.

Then my German Shepherd tucks his nose under my arm or my cat sits on the keyboard and suddenly the world is large and open and smiles chase the annoyance away. If they don’t then I know I’ve been sitting there too long and have forgotten to have a life.

Fun is many things to different people. My dad likes crosswords and we just found a newsletter (send a blank email to supertriviaguy@hotmail.com) which keeps him busy for an afternoon. Me, I’m a reader and love a good imaginative fantasy.

I swim for exercise. It is this repetitive motion that can allow my brain to flow. My best ideas come when I swim, yet people say I can’t think of anything more boring than doing laps.

Fun is something we forget to schedule in our diaries. Often we’ll complain if we have to go out, because we’re tired. Yet when we start having fun, suddenly we’re less tired. I like to play Canasta with my husband, my brother and his wife, we insult each other and crow when we win like Peter Pan. Our kids often play, it’s the only time they talk to us, because we’re having fun then.

Great reminder about one of the good things in life. Thanks.

By: michael

michael — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 06:39:25 +0000

hey Rich,
greetings from sunny Thailand where fun is a prerequisite for life.

Despite the above comment I can now see that I am at my most inspired and creative when I do my morning ritual of watching the elephants going to work from the roof terrace. ( it’s a crappy job but someone has to do it ).

I have now also started to build in breaks to meet with friends and have coffee around midday. My clarity and productivity has leapt exponentially just from this.

Great post. thanks a lot Rich.

sawasdee khap,

Michael

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 02:11:07 +0000

Thank you for keeping these ideas out there for people to find and remind them to really look at what life is about! After my dad died a few years ago I started to see the world differently. I really started to miss him, but miss other things like hobbies I once had, people I used to hang out with, etc. I am sure there are a lot of people below ground that would love the chance to trade places with any of us above ground for a day, an hour, etc. When I think of that, I wonder why am I wasting so much time needlessly on stupid stuff. I started displaying my art publicly this year and noticed how great it felt to DO instead of TALK. I wish others the same courage to do it. The first step is the hardest, after that it all seems to get it’s own momentum.

By: Pixie

Pixie — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:37:07 +0000

Dear Rich,
Thank you so much. I had almost cancelled a 5 year reunion to my pony club in
the town I was born in. Thank God I went. It was so much fun seeing all the old faces and riding a nice horse and going in a horse drawn cart in the parade. I need a horse again! Meantime I get on my mini trampoline frequently during the day. I try to take a break from study every hour and do some other work. But I can’t do much of what I love in winter. I also love to sew, sketch, and do carpentry jobs. I have nearly finished a glass house for plant drying for next season’s apricots and tomatos etc. I like renovating anything, but this last year has been stuck in front of a computer and I am paying for it, so will definitely restore the balance. Maybe I will even get a better bank balance! Thanks once again for an invaluable pointer Rich.
Pixie.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 23:40:33 +0000

Thank you, Rich.
You always give your readers a real treat.
Good for you!
Jenny

By: mike

mike — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:21:57 +0000

Downtime or away from the computer time has been critical to my success for the past 15 years (my best productive biz ideas come when I’m running or on an aerobic machine). I also take breaks for music, bike riding, sailing, cooking, etc. Nevertheless, I’ll read what others have listed (although it takes me away from your most important tip (for me) which was:

“Make your office a rehab, no information is allowed to come in whatsoever for the next week. The only information you can have is the information you create. Stop studying, stop analyzing and start creating. Develop urgency in everything you do for the next week and youâ€™ll be blown away at your level of output.”

That bit of advice ALONE has done more for my biz than anything else I’ve ever read or heard. (of course I violated that rule by reading your post BUT I will always read your posts–it’s the other pile of inputs that are on indefinite hold!

Peace and love,

Mike Corso
Cool Site of the Day

By: Jan Marie

Jan Marie — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:04:57 +0000

This is a great reminder Rich to keep me focused on why I’m really in business for myself. It’s not just about the money, it’s to experience freedom and fun and connections everyday. I had let go of hobbies that I enjoy and become all about work. You’ve inspired me to make my list of fun activities and schedule in one every day. Thanks for giving me permission to play!