Don’t Chase Fun!
A few years ago, April and I, along with some friends were tubing down the South Platte River just outside of Denver. We had a floating cooler of drinks, a waterproof speaker, and plenty of sunscreen for our two-hour float. As we drifted along, we laughed, told stories, and hopped in the water to cool off. The water level that day was lower than normal and caused many “butts up” calls as we lifted our rear ends to avoid hitting any rocks. We soon realized that the low water level was going to extend our planned day. I remember turning to our buddy Mark Davenport and saying, “Don’t you have to be somewhere at 4?” To which he replied, “Ya, I was supposed to meet up with some other friends, but I have a rule - Don’t chase fun when you’re having fun!”
“Don’t chase fun” has become a motto of mine since that day. Used in a variety of situations, it alludes to the idea that we should take a moment to appreciate our current state instead of comparing it to what could be. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where everything was going great, you were having a good time and someone in the group encouraged everyone to get up and go somewhere else with the promise of an even better event or party? I know for me these situations have rarely resulted in more fun. Instead, the promise of more fun never materialized or worse time was spent getting lost trying to navigate to the next location, or we got there to find out the place we were going was already closed.
Too many times in life we look at what we don’t have, forgetting that not long ago we wished for what we currently have today. There is always a balance between complacency and striving for the next thing. “Chasing fun” however is more about getting distracted going after more of something you already have. Great leaders have a keen awareness of where they are and an appreciation for what they did to get there. They recognize when things are good and pause to celebrate their wins before launching into the next challenge.
I see businesses that are doing well, making money, and then they start a new venture to try and make more money. As all resources go toward the new venture the original business starts to struggle. Growth can be a positive thing, but only when it aligns with the overall mission and purpose of your organization. Or in an individual’s case - their personal core values. That is what keeps you grounded and focused in the right direction. It is precisely what helps you avoid “chasing fun.”
When things are good, take a moment to enjoy it. And when you get the itch to go for more, be aware that what you are looking for might be right in front of you. In other words, you might be about to “chase fun”.
MIBE Awards are open! In addition to Heart Leaders of the Year, Best Employee Recognition Program, and Best Activation of Mission or Core Values - we also have Best Internal Company Event. We want to hear about the awesome events you are putting on for your team, so make sure to gather those photos and submit, you might just be up on stage receiving an award at our annual MIBE Summit in January!
