There are hundreds of perfectly smart reasons to be Joyfully Jobless, not the least of which is that people who are doing work that they love tend to be, well, more loving and joyful.<\/p>\n
One time after I\u2019d visited my aunt Marge, she sent me a letter that said, \u201cThe Bible says a merry heart doeth good like a medicine. That\u2019s how I feel when you come to see me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Besides that fact that it was one of the nicest letters I ever got, it\u2019s remained a powerful reminder of why it\u2019s important to stay merry. Here are some of my favorite ways to bring more fun and joy into a business.<\/p>\n
\u00b0 Specialize in Firsts.<\/strong> Challenge yourself to do things you\u2019ve never done before. It can be as simple as trying a new food or taking a yoga class.<\/p>\n This is harder to do than you may think since we humans tend to build habits and then operate in familiar territory. Having Firsts requires conscious, creative effort.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Exercise your entrepreneurial thinking to keep it in shape.<\/strong> You build entrepreneurial muscle by studying other enterprises, by acquiring new skills, by taking risks.<\/p>\n Just like physical exercise, it needs to be a daily activity if you want maximum results.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Don\u2019t be afraid to be whimsical. <\/strong>Small businesses should not look like miniature corporations.<\/p>\n Lighten up. Create a costume and wear it when you work or exhibit at a trade show. Have toys or a guitar in your office for play breaks.<\/p>\n And if whimsy\u2019s not your style, from time to time purposely do something out of character. You’re bound to startle your friends and you might delight yourself.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Celebrate all victories<\/strong>. Jim Rohn told a story about his early days in business and how he\u2019d take his family out for dinner and say, \u201cTonight we\u2019re ordering from the left side of the the menu. Pay no attention to prices.\u201d He said it helped him stay on track.<\/p>\n Find your own way to celebrate milestones and progress. Send yourself flowers or invite a friend on an outing. Don\u2019t let victories\u2014large or small\u2014go unnoticed.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Plan Joyfully Jobless get togethers.<\/strong> Find 5 other self-bossers that like each other and let each one plan a monthly gathering, just to have fun.<\/p>\n You could find yourself salsa dancing one month and picnicking in a park the next. Hanging out with other entrepreneurs can be a lovely tonic, but don\u2019t wait for somebody else to get things rolling.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Turn ordinary chores into satisfying rituals.<\/strong> Got bills to pay? Instead of gritting your teeth, light a candle, put on some lovely music, pour a cup of tea and make it an event.\u00a0Slow down and express gratitude for your current abundance.<\/p>\n Invent rituals to turn ordinary tasks into something special.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00b0 Stay focused on rewards<\/strong>. On snowy days in Minnesota, my Joyfully Jobless friends and I would call each other to rejoice that we didn\u2019t have to drive on bad roads.<\/p>\n Keep a running list of all the rewards that you enjoy because you\u2019re self-employed. Post it in your workspace and remind yourself often of the benefits and pleasures of this lifestyle.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Support that which supports you. <\/strong>This has been my personal and business policy for a long time and it hasn\u2019t failed me yet.<\/p>\n