I just saw Steve Keil’s TED talk about play in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is one of the lowest ranking countries in the world, when it comes to business and entrepreneurship. Steve Keil argues that it comes from being too serious. He says people who play are more social, creative and productive.
I can’t help but reflect on my old company TAT, where the head of our company had two responsibilities: Make sure the company is profitable, and make sure the employees have fun. Or else the board would fire her.
TAT was one of the most creative and respected firms in our business. The people at TAT continue to produce awesome results within RIM, the company that bought us late autumn, 2010.
I don’t feel guilt when I laugh out loud at the office. I recognize the similarity between humour and creativity.
At it’s most basic, humour is when two ideas collide in a new way. Like combining underwear and food. If a thong tastes like cherry, it’s kind of sexy and a good idea for a product. If it tastes like fish, its disturbing and funny. Humour and innovation are two sides of the same coin. Encouraging your crew to play and have fun is the same as training them in creativity.
Coming soon to Amazon.comAvailable from Kindle – here They said Cuthbert would never make Act II, but …Last time around, Cuthbert was up against thieves infiltrating the Valley, planning to steal William Shakespeare’s first – and, well, worst – works.This time it is the forces of global exploitation and Big Business who have decided to march into lush pastures and by-waters nobody knew existed, even their inhabitants, and turn them into an out-of-town shopping centre and cinema multiplex.Yes, folks, it is Cuthbert – one-time farmer, theatre impressario, and many-times undertaker – against the World, and somebody or something is going to get buried, under concrete or otherwise.The Valley is under threat. Will the Valley rise again and become a mountain, or will the locals take it all sitting down, eat popcorn, and watch ‘Die Messy 4′?