Working Out of My Fun House: Susan Roane

Working alone can be a blessing or a curse. The days when the proximity of the refrigerator door is far too tempting can be frustrating. But when the pangs of hunger hit, if there are some good leftovers that can be eaten cold or with only a minute of microwave magic, that nearby fridge is fabulous and fun.

There have been many days over the last two decades when writing books and articles, designing projects, or tweaking a speech for new clients has been no laughing matter. It’s lots of work. Hard work. And editing my books? Those days are the ones where the term "work" is spot on; I can certainly feel the exertion of effort and energy to accomplish a task. Allowing fun in that kind of day relieves the stress.

Those days when clients insist on receiving proposals, books, and tapes via FedEx—only to have them sit on a desk for months before a decision is made—are not fun. And the paperwork? Don’t get me started. I hate paperwork. After all, I wrote How to Work a Room and What Do I Say Next? I didn’t write tomes on sitting at your desk and handling projects and paperwork.

With all that being said, the last twenty-five years have been quite the ride. One thing I do to kickstart the fun quotient is read the paper every morning. I start with the comics. While that is not the highbrow way, it’s usually good for at least one giggle, chuckle, or smile which sets the tone for the day. I read newspapers, magazines, and ezines looking for the irony; a juxtaposition of words, ideas or actions that make me laugh in that who-would- believe-this way. I have a network of neat friends and colleagues who are wonderful storytellers. They laugh and listen. Shared humor with co-workers and colleagues is curative.

Having a good sense of humor carries the day. It isn’t about telling jokes. I am not good at that, but I can tell a story. Seek out people who’d be interested in your stories. Repeat the smart, funny things that other people have said. Be sure to give proper attribution.

Making work fun is not the responsibility of the supervisor, manager, or co-workers. When we bring our sense of humor to the workplace or workspace, we make our own fun. Others have fun at work because we’re having fun, and the workplace is enjoyable because we have shared laughter.