Why Being Childish Could Be the Best Thing for Your Business
We get so caught up in the pace of life that we forget traits that make life enjoyable.
The funny thing is that the traits that make life enjoyable could also be the most beneficial to both your happiness and your professional career/business.
The older we grow the more callous we become. The more we take things for granted. If we just reach back to unearth some of the qualities that we used to have, it would be an absolute game-changer for our businesses, our professional endeavors, and for our overall happiness.
Here they are:
1.) Having A Bad Ass Imagination
Remember playing a stick for hours on end? A damn stick. We could create anything in our minds back in the day. Nothing could stop the wheels of our imagination.
We would hop from being super heroes to pirates in the matter of seconds. Anything was possible.
Imagine harnessing that power in our businesses? Or our professional careers?
Imagine the creative marketing campaigns we could run?
Imagine the apps we could think of and construct?
Imagine the problems we could solve by simply combining quantification with a little childish imagination?
It could be an invaluable tool we could use across any avenue of our lives. So look up some creative exercises that work for you.
Some might try freestyle rapping, writing in a journal, molding clay, etc.
Do things you like to do to start flexin’ on the haters with the creativity muscle.
While I don’t think creativity can necessarily be taught (feel free to disagree with me here), I firmly believe that it can be oiled and will inevitably rust if you don’t practice it consistently.
2.) Never Letting Go
Do yourself a favor and never let go of your goals and ambitions. Please don’t. I know, it sounds corny as fuck. But it’s repeatedly stated because it’s true.
Have you ever spoken with an old person that never followed their dreams? That never at least tried it? That defeated, hopeless sigh they let out after they even mention it. Man, that shit kills me. It’s sad!
Don’t be one of those old people. Instead, be one of those old people that have lived. The ones that make you think, “Damn, I hope I get to do all of that stuff before I croak”.
That’s the type of person you should strive to be.
In my last startup job, I was fortunate enough to be able to work with the former Vice Chancellor of UC Berkeley on a daily basis (Don McQuade). And let me tell you, that man has LIVED! He’s the wisest man I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.
Listening to stories of him hanging out with Alan Ginsberg, Jeff Goodby, and Andy Warhol got me so inspired. That’s a man who has lived. Who has put all his chips in on himself. He went from being the son of an Irish immigrant and an Italian immigrant to being the Vice Chancellor of the top public university on the planet.
Do you think he ever let go of his dreams?
…Nah, I don’t think so either…
Kids grow up believing they can be anybody they want.
I’m not saying you need to be blind from reality have some self-confidence in yourself! If you don’t believe in yourself, then who will? Be your own Kanye and things will start to fall into place. I guarantee it.
Don’t let go. I dream of running a successful company while also writing and telling stories. And I will. I believe in that dream and I’ll never give that up. Ever.
3.) Euphoric, Unconditional Happiness
Those childhood holiday mornings. Playing with toys. Running around outside.
Kids are just unconditionally happy. Plain and simple.
As adults, sometimes we expect too much to be happy. Our business has to be going perfectly. Our relationships. Our side projects.
We’re always waiting for that one thing. That missing piece that may or may not ever come. That perfect co-founder. That perfect girlfriend or boyfriend.
The cold hard truth is, if you can’t work towards that missing piece by yourself, then learn to live without it. You’ll end up unhappy otherwise. Or at least feeling unfulfilled.
If you haven’t seen the movie, American Beauty, then I highly recommend watching it. It will get you thinking. It speaks on the beauty, the privilege of being alive. On how just being able to take another breath is amazing.
We need more material like American Beauty. Which is why I’m writing this article. If it only resonates with one other person, it will be worth the hours I spent on it.
4.) Knowing You Don’t Have All the Answers
“The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.” -Thomas Berger
Remember asking question after question to your parents, or your grandparents or siblings or babysitters? Kids seem like they know everything, yet are humble enough to continuously ask questions.
Learn to ask great questions. Take it a step further and search for the answer. You have the world’s largest encyclopedia in your pocket. Take advantage of it. Don’t leave any question unanswered.
Ask your mentors. Ask your coworkers. Ask your employees. Shoot some of the people you follow emails asking engaging questions. They might respond. They might not. But the important thing is to realize you don’t know as much as you think you do, and to gain a little more knowledge day by day.
5.) Seeing the Good in People
Kids will walk up to any stranger and strike up a conversation with them as if they’ve known them for 20+ years.
They’ll pet dogs that have bit them. And sometimes that’s exactly what we need to do as adults.
You’ve got to learn to give people second chances. Third chances.
Be open, be optimistic regarding the good in people. Give people the benefit of the doubt. You need to. If you don’t, you’ll end up being so hateful, so jaded, that you’ll back yourself into a corner of loneliness.
The older we get, the more close-minded it seems we become. Let’s learn to see the good in people again.
Don’t let motherfuckers take advantage of you. That’s different. But know that, deep down, everyone has some positivity in them that’s waiting to come out. Be that trigger for them to unleash it.
Kids are awesome.
They don’t know what lies ahead of them in this complicated, sometimes shitty world we live in. But you know what? That’s completely okay. Almost preferred.
Start being a little more like kids. Take some of their qualities and apply it to your business, to your career, to your relationships. I can guarantee it’ll have a positive effect. And that’s all we need, right?
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Also, give another one of my articles a read:
If you would like to learn more about this topic, social media marketing, video marketing, and more then shoot me an email at info@arctiphi.com.
If you just want to chat or ask any other questions, then hit me up at dakotashanenunley@gmail.com.
I’d enjoy hearing from you. Have a great rest of the day! Thanks again :)
