This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #39: Court Jester: Play a practical joke on someone. Isn't it funny how a simple date on the calendar can have the magical ability to bring out a distinct playfulness in individuals. You all know people, normally suffering from moderate to severe cases of Adultitis, who come to life on days like Halloween and April Fool's Day. It's all about having permission. So, why wait for that one or two days out of the year to have a little fun? Start today! We're spending September sharing tips and ideas on how to have more fun at work. …
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Even Rock Stars Can Get Adultitis
You might think that certain professions are immune from outbreaks of Adultitis. Circus performers, perhaps. Candy makers. Rock stars. Au contraire, mon amie. Any job, performed over an extended period of time, can become an effective breeding ground for Adultitis. Even the glamorous lifestyle of a rock star. Lawyers and politicians may be among the first professionals that come to mind when you think of people who have the propensity to take themselves too seriously (a major warning sign of Adultitis). But I've gone to art school and spent a lot of time around creative types, and …
Mighty Mustaches
We held an Adultitis Clinic last weekend, and face painting was involved. It was the first time I have ever attempted face painting, and it was not without its challenges. One little seven-year-old girl had a specific request, but held back because she figured I wouldn't know what it was. Well that was all it took to stoke my competitive fires, so I urged her to tell me. Needless to say, I think I became the first face painter in the history of the world to paint a "shuga gliduh" on a little girl's face. A sugar glider, as I came to find out, is a small nocturnal animal from …
Tip of the Week: Different World
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is: #1 Different World: Spend at least 15 minutes immersing yourself in a field you know nothing about. Something I loved about teaching kindergarten was the genuine openness and enthusiasm the kids had for learning something new. I would joke with Jason after school that I was really more like a salesperson than a teacher (good practice for our business, I guess). Working with kids is all about "selling it." Or, as O'Reilly would cringe at "spinning it." For instance, if I had a math lesson to teach them about greater than and …
Tip of the Week: Says You
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is: #3: Says You: Do something that is typically seen as inappropriate for someone of your age. You've seen the movie, "Big" with Tom Hanks? (If you haven't, you need to do that before attempting this challenge.) Tom definitely sells his role as a 12-year-old stuck in an adult's body/life. The classic scene, of course, is when Tom and Robert Loggia play the big piano at the toy store. Jason got a chance to try out that same type of piano at FAO Schwarz this past week while visiting the big apple. He took off his shoes and placed …
What Willy Wonka’s Wife Wears
Kim and I are in New York City for a conference. You can't beat the energy and excitement level of the Big Apple. You never know who or what you'll see. Escape Plan Challenge #36 implores you to accessorize your wardrobe with a touch of childhood. If you wanted to forgo a "touch" of childhood and go all out for a full on "flood," these Hershey-themed dresses might just be the ticket. Yes, the middle one is made entirely of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup wrappers (and check out the sweet -- literally -- belt made of Rolos): A bona fide product of mirth. We saw these at the Willy …
Tip of the Week: Souvenir From Childhood
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is: #4 Souvenir From Childhood: Add something childlike (not necessarily childish) to your workspace or home. Souvenirs are so childlike, aren't they? The concept of picking out a momento... a keepsake that will help you remember the best parts of your journey. What about the journey of childhood? What were the best parts that you want to remember? So quickly we forget. If you could go to a gift shop filled with items exclusively representing your childhood, what would you find? …
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Tip of the Week: Mad Scientist
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is: #5 Mad Scientist: Become a scientist. Conduct a silly experiment. When I was teaching, it never failed that the kids showed excessive amounts of enthusiasm and interest on the days we were conducting science experiments. There's something about tapping into that natural childlike curiosity that ignites whole new levels of childlike passion. It's so much fun to see the same reactions in grown-ups. The ever so childlike Ellen DeGeneres has found a way to keep her curiosity hopping with her regular guest, Steve Spangler. Steve …
Tip of the Week: Indulge Thyself
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #7: Indulge Thyself: Spend 15 – 30 minutes doing something you love that you don’t often have the chance to do. When I was about nine-years-old I distinctly remember consciously NOT wanting to grown-up anymore. It looked like too much work... too many hassles... too much stress. It was much easier (and TONS more fun) being a kid. My oldest sister was turning sixteen and looking for a job and it hit me that my childhood was ticking away and was eventually going to come to an end. Reality check. One of the things I prematurely …
Tip of the Week: Doodlesmile
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #8: Doodlesmile: Draw a funny picture and hide it in an unexpected place for someone else to find. When I was teaching Kindergarten, on average, I probably received three pictures a day from individual students in my class. Usually, one of the three would be left on my desk at some point throughout the day, nameless. I would find it around 4PM while attempting to find my desktop. It always brought a smile to my face, even after the toughest of days. Kids love to make pictures for others, it's a simple way they show …