That's not the story here though. This story is about my friend George. Well, it's more about what George stands for and represents on this particular day for me. He is an incredibly well respected lawyer in our community and is continually recognized as someone who makes a positive difference in people's lives. He is part of the world that I exist in these days: government buildings, planning meetings, contract negotiations, networking events, service club luncheons, etc. He is not part of the world that I had previously enjoyed: late bar nights, road trips, concerts, boozing in some guy's basement or man cave in the wee hours of the morning.
At the festival that day I saw something I'd never thought I see in George. He was walking through the grass towards the stage and our eyes caught each other. He was glowing. I mean he was absolutely radiant. He had that ruddy red look on his face like he had been out in the sun a little too long. He probably had enough to drink that his wife was definitely driving home and his face had this smile that stretched his cheek muscles out so you knew it would hurt tomorrow in his jaw. He comes toward me with an outstretched hand and that gorgeous twinkle and says, "Walter! Why aren't you doing this here every weekend!" You have to understand that this is the first festival our little park had seen in some years and it was a big deal.
He shared with me how much he enjoyed the day and how our department needed to host events like this more often. He made sure I understood that these things were important in our community. As I said goodbye to George and began to look around the crowd I noticed the collision of universes that was happening for me at that very moment. All of the people I work with and for: the business owners, the park users, local families, corporate executives and their associates were all dancing and drinking with a group of ratty hippies in shoe-less outfits with hula hoops that wouldn't be too appreciated at my weekly Rotary lunch. And that is when it struck me: my job had become my passion. My vocation was my avocation as I sometimes say.
I soon realized that it wasn't really that hard to get there. I only had to put together three things: good people, good intentions and a little prep work before hand.
People are first and foremost all the time no matter what the objective. Either at a festival or in a business venture making sure that you are with the right crowd is paramount. Heading off to four days at Coachella or Lollapalooza with a bunch of folks that make you wretch is a horrid idea. So make sure that if you are hiring someone, looking for a job or putting together a task force for that next big project, ensure that the people you are going to the "show" with are the ones you really want to be eating parking lot burritos with later.
Next, make sure that you are going (or hiring that person, or firing that person for that matter) for the right reasons. I once hired someone even though every other member of my team was against it. I knew that this guy had the skills that we needed in our organization. Unfortunately my staff all wanted another "yes" person that they were already friends with that wouldn't teach them or question them. In the end it worked out great and the whole group was glad that I made the decision.
The same was true when I went to a New Year's Eve show for the wrong reasons. I went to go chase a girl and ended up not enjoying the show at all. In fact, we had tickets for the next night and ended up selling them because we realized it wasn't what we really wanted to be doing. In both situations: work or at a festival you will enjoy it more if you are doing it because you enjoy being there.
And of course in either world, musically or professionally a little bit of prep work goes a long way. Is it going to be scorching hot all day? Will there be food and water there? Will it be outrageously expensive? Do you have to pay for parking? Do we have all the right resources for our project? Does the timeline seem reasonable? Are we prepared for the eventual hiccups that always occur? Are our goals reasonable? Have we talked with our customers, clients and other stakeholders about what success looks like or what the deliverable's are? Did we put it all in writing? The time spent on looking at logistics and details will save you energy in the end and will ensure that the pleasure of the event itself is appreciated.
So yes, work and business can and should be fun. So go ahead, grab your blanket, lawn chair, picnic basket or whatever else you take to a music fest in your world and instead bring them to your office. If you have the right people, intentions and a little forethought your entire team will be dancing like no is watching. And if you are really lucky George and his wife will be sitting next to you.
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