Workplayce

- - - | written by Jason on 4/26/2020 | - - -

Why I Hope Things Don’t Get Back to Normal

It seems we are all yearning for a return to normal. I know what people mean when they say it – I say it myself, and what we have, right now, is not normal. But in truth, I really don’t want to return to normal.As we inch slowly closer to a resolution of this crisis, it might be worth asking a question that was posed when the shelter-in-place guidelines began: What is essential? We’ve been given a gift. This pause has been an unprecedented (anyone up for making that the official word of 2020?) opportunity to examine our lives and our society with a new perspective.For example, are all of …

- - - | written by Jason on 12/19/2019 | - - -

Awesome Boss, Ugly Cake

Tina Oldham is the Principal of Cowden-Herrick Elementary School in Illinois. After attending a program I did for educators earlier this year, in which I talked about the beauty of ugly cakes, Tina's teachers were inspired to create this Boss's Day cake for her. Nice work huh? (I like the toothbrush, which I imagine came in handy after finishing said cake.) And I especially liked the quote in Tina's email signature: "Show Up, Work Hard, Be Kind." A good strategy for whatever you do in life! …

- - - | written by Jason on 12/2/2019 | - - -

Sticky Concepts that Stifle Stress and Burnout

I believe the mark of an effective presenter is the level of impact that lingers long after the speech is over. Although I love creating a funny, inspiring and insightful experience, I am most delighted to hear the ways people and organizations keep the message alive years after my presentation. One of the ways I do this is by providing sticky concepts and unique terminology that anchor the principles I share in people’s minds. Perhaps the clearest example of this is my introduction of Adultitis, which represents a bully that is eager to facilitate burnout, sow discord, and stifle …

- - - | written by Jason on 11/1/2019 | - - -

Insight Springs Forth From Ugliness

Things got pretty ugly at one of my recent speaking programs. I was invited to help the staff at one of Madison's most treasured landmarks adopt a mindset of creativity and innovation. As part of the workshop, the attendees got an opportunity to decorate cookies together. But the goal wasn’t to make Martha Stewart jealous. The goal was to make them as ugly as possible, as a callback to a story I often tell. Mission accomplished. Underneath this seemingly innocuous activity, a number of powerful elements were at play. Chief among them was, well, play. It’s not every day that …

- - - | written by Jason on 10/27/2019 | - - -

The Easiest Way Leave a Powerful Legacy

Mr. Olsen had written a series of math problems across several chalkboards. The avalanche of white scribbles was overwhelming, but not impossible. “Anyone who gets them all correct,” he told his fifth grade class, “will get a sucker.” Sheryl was one of five students who were up to the task. Unfortunately, the teacher said he only had four suckers, and was forced to ask if anyone would be willing to give up theirs. Sheryl said she would. Mr. Olsen thanked her, and proceeded with the rest of the school day.Before the students were dismissed that afternoon, Mr. Olsen asked Sheryl to stay after …

- - - | written by Jason on 10/1/2019 | - - -

Use art to create an inspiring, empowering, and innovative culture

I’ve had people tell me that they love what they do, but they hate where they work. When you operate in an environment where it’s difficult to find and keep good people, your culture — and an environment that supports it — matters. A lot.The artwork I use in my presentations does more than just serve as a pretty picture to illustrate a story. It creates a mental anchor in the mind of the participant, establishing a visual shorthand for the principle I’ve shared. Since we all think in pictures – not words – this is an extraordinarily effective way to help provide a long term impact that goes …

- - - | written by Jason on 9/29/2019 | - - -

Why You Should Only Make Decisions While Wearing 3D Glasses

“3D Panda” by Jason Kotecki. 40″ x 40″. Oil on canvas.Original is SOLD. Prints available here. Too often, we look at our plans and big dreams with rose-colored glasses. We only see the upside, the pros, the best case scenarios. But if our dream – whatever it is – actually comes true, there will be downsides as well. As author and entrepreneur Mark Manson has pointed out, everything sucks, some of the time. Every dream – no matter how wonderful or glamorous it first appears – comes with some flavor of what he calls a shit sandwich, a lousy side effect that you have to deal …

- - - | written by Jason on 9/8/2019 | - - -

How an Improv Rule Can Improve Your Life

My brother used to be in an improv group, participating in a series of unscripted games for the entertainment of an audience. He was pretty good. The ones who weren’t seem to have the same thing in common. It wasn’t a lack of talent or that they were missing a funny bone. It was their refusal to adhere to the “yes, and…" rule. It’s the difference between success and failure in an improv skit. If a fellow performer suggests that your shoes are made of marshmallows, and you say, “No they aren't. What are you talking about? These are normal shoes,” the skit dies a hard, painful, and unfunny …

- - - | written by Jason on 7/21/2019 | - - -

The Simplest Way to Turn Trash Into Treasure

Eating lobster used to be a punishment reserved for prisoners.I was reminded of this during a recent trip to New England. I had a speaking engagement in Connecticut, and took my oldest daughter with me. I had three different lobster dishes on the trip (in between samplings of clam chowd-ah).The fact that the inclusion of lobster makes any dish more expensive is quite a turn of events from its humble beginnings. A few hundred years ago, lobster was plentiful, washing up on shore by the hundreds. The so-called “cockroach of the sea" was eaten only by the poor and prisoners, who considered it …

- - - | written by Jason on 6/23/2019 | - - -

This Post Makes No Sense

We like to pretend that we are rational creatures. That’s cute.In his book, Predictably Irrational, behavioral economist Dan Ariely digs deep into the reasons why smart people make irrational decisions every day. It’s a fascinating read, and proof that we are not as logical as we think we are.Logic is the default mode of Adulthood. We pride ourselves on being rational and realistic.Children, however, do not shy away from the illogical, irrational, and (seemingly) unrealistic.The reason I think we grown-ups should be more like kids goes beyond making our lives more fun (although that’s a great …