This is one of a series of brief posts to get you thinking about enjoying business more. Feel free to comment.
Back in my corporate days at KPMG, I was heading up a particular team and, in our first meeting, I came up with an ice breaker exercise. I asked everyone what their best day had ever been at work. What was interesting was that, without exception, everyone's best day came at the end of what had started off as being the worst.
It was this triumph over adversity that had created a sense of purpose in the activity itself and generated a sense of achievement that couldn't be matched by simply doing a good job on a good day.
As well as the power there is in knowing this when you are in the middle of a bad day, it highlighted to me that true enjoyment is not about everything being wonderful and perfect. External factors are outside of our control and it doesn't matter what is going on in your life, certain events are going to make you angry, upset or sad.
Consequently, enjoyment is not the same as happiness. Being happy or sad is a short term, 'in the moment' reaction that can occur at any time. Enjoyment is longer term and, for me, is represented by the spirit in which considered and purposeful actions are taken.
By way of analogy, being happy is like the weather. Enjoyment is like the climate.
A warmer climate tends to have more sunny days, but it doesn't mean it'll never rain.
Who resonates with that analogy?
Next time, why your attempts to enjoy life may be making you miserable.