E-Mail Express

Name:

Company:

E-mail:

Phone:

Are we having fun yet or just another day at the office?

“Most of the time I don't have much fun. The rest of the time I don't have any fun at all.”

--Woody Allen

When I saw Richard Branson hanging off the side of a building just last week, I thought about how much fun he always seems to be having. We’ve been closely following our “strategery” path for the last several weeks, but are we having any fun?

Who do you think of when you consider the names of three executives who are having the most fun? Herb Kelleher, the long-time CEO of Southwest Airlines comes to mind, regaling his colleagues in a chicken suit and singing to passengers during boarding.

Google seems like a fun place to work, with all of the gadgetry and gourmet meals at all hours. Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google’s co-founders, recently converted a Boeing 767 into their personal luxury liner and their stock’s done pretty well, but I’m not sure we think of them as fun.

If you could come back as someone fun, who would it be? One of my favorites may be someone you don’t think of as a business executive despite his significant interests in the restaurant and entertainment industries.

We know Jimmy Buffett for his music, but he always seems to be having fun. When you listen to Cheeseburger in Paradise or Margaritaville, you know Jimmy’s having fun.

Richard Branson clearly belongs in the top three. His only official office is a hammock on a sunlit porch at his private Necker Island home. No laptop for him, just several leather notebooks and few colored pens. From his hot air balloons to his attempted rescue of the Concorde, he’s a fearless promoter, dressing up in a bridal gown to promote his Virgin Brides apparel company.

He also got a lot of publicity for his new Virgin Cola by driving a tank into Times Square and aiming it at the Coca-Cola sign, which burst into flames as a result of some pre-arranged pyrotechnics.

Even their book titles are consistent with their public personas. It’s probably no coincidence that one of Branson’s books is titled “Screw It – Let’s Do it: Lessons in Life.” Herb Kelleher wrote “Nuts: Southwest Airline’s Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success. “

How does this translate into a value we can celebrate in building our businesses?

It’s more than an occasional company picnic or an after-hours pub-crawl. It’s not just a ropes course or a team-building cook-off. While those events might be the ruffles and flourishes of a fun-promoting company, its core is a leadership team that’s serious about its mission but doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Ideas are welcomed from every corner of the company. There are no sacred cows. A collaborative culture flourishes. The air is lighter, recrimination is absent.

Most importantly, people are united around a common mission that transcends profit and growth objectives. They’re fired up about the company, they love working there, they know they count – and they’re having fun doing it. There’s a palpable spirit of adventure, of a higher purpose at work.

Are we having fun yet?

•••

Lary Kirchenbauer is the practice leader for the Business Advisory Group of Santa Rosa-based Moss Adams LLP, www.MossAdams.com. He can be reached at 415-602-7870 or Lary.Kirchenbauer@MossAdams.com.