Fun Is Good for Business
Barbara Corcoran
Shark on ABC's Shark Tank, Motivational Speaker, Executive Coach, Podcast Host, Author, Founder of The Corcoran Group
The people most resistant to fun need it the most. All they need is a little encouragement.
My Park Avenue ladies were the first to hike up their skirts and hop on the back of the Harley-Davidsons when a gang of tattooed guys roared up to crash our company picnic. I knew that surprise always creates more fun and so I planned lots of surprises for our salespeople all the time! One summer I had hot-air balloons waiting to take everyone up for a ride, and the next picnic I rented five-thousand-pound elephants and spitting camels to saddle up. At another summer picnic, 20 thoroughbreds in full regalia raced up and down open hay fields. Everyone had fun.
Our February Sweetheart Party was always a hit. February is the most depressing month of the year and companies don’t typically plan parties then. I got all the best venues in town at half price. Knowing that good themes make good parties, I made dressing up for the party theme a requirement for admission. The more ridiculous the theme, the more fun people have. For our “Glamorous 40s” party atop Rockefeller Plaza, I wore a girdle and pink vintage bra with an ice pack on my head. At our “Stars on Broadway” party in a funky 42 Street theater, I dressed as Carol Channing and entered lip-synching “Hello, Dolly!” Our “Pajamas Only” party in the Waldorf’s grand ballroom was absolutely hysterical, and for our “Dress in Drag” party, every woman and man happily cross-dressed!
All of my best ideas came while I was playing outside the office. Our team created everything from our best advertising and publicity ideas to whole new ways of doing business when we were outside playing. Many of the fun things we discovered away from the office we brought back with us – like in-office massages, manicures, shoe shines, Ping-Pong tables and yoga classes.
Fun is the most underutilized tool in business today. Conducting business as usual results in usual business, but if a company plans good times together, it always results in extraordinary business!
Photo: Barbara Corcoran
Marketing Expert focussed on international products and services
5 年You’re really amazing I love you one day I I want to grow up and be like you??
Graduate Student at Western Connecticut State University
9 年Yee-haa!
Marketing Professor | Fractional CMO | Consumer Products & Services | Technology
9 年absolutely!
Webinar Expert | Customer Education Developer for Start-ups | Sr Technical Writer
9 年This is so true. Whenever I'm stumped or really challenged, I throw up my hands and say, "That's it. I'm outta here. I'm going to go have some fun." When I return, the problem is either solved or some new insight has popped into my head.
Retired Consultant, Global Traveler, Art Collector, World History Buff
9 年A big dose of fun is needed to life to the fullest.