Whatever happened to our sense of childhood wonder? Why is it that, as soon as we get entrenched in the working world, we lose all sense of play?
A week ago or so, I watched the movie "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium." The movie was enchanting, had some great special effects - and dealt with topics that related to both kids - as well as to the "kid" within us. Topics such as "believe in yourself", "finding your passion", and "uncovering the lost 'sparkle' within us" are handled with such craft, that I found myself asking myself why it was that I felt I lost that "sparkle" and passion for play and imagination.
I grew up in a family that was keen on storytelling. My mother used to read tales from the Brothers Grimm to us. She recited stories from Germany and Czechoslovakia that left us spellbound. My childhood was full of play, and I spent most of my time outside finding useful ways to feed my imagination.
Years passed, and as I studied business and entered the working world, I found that creativity and imagination weren't always held in high regard. In fact, the world of business could be quite ruthless, and its tendency to play by the old rules left little room for someone with creative sense and a strong imagination. I began to feel stifled and frustrated that my creative ideas weren't being met with the respect they deserved. As much as companies said they wanted change, what they wanted was a way to justify their already outdated and ineffective ways of operating and thinking.
It's no secret that the most innovative and successful companies are also entrenched with a strong sense of play. Look at Google and Herman Miller. These are companies with a strong flair for innovation that encourage employees to think and act "differently."
What will it take for companies to rediscover how a sense of play can add to productivity and profits? If employees are having fun at what they do, doesn't this go a long way in reducing turnover and absenteeism in the workplace? Why are so many companies still stuck in the middle ages in their thinking? How can they better hone the "sparkle" that would make most employees shine in their careers?





