Several weeks ago I was privileged to attend TEDx Manhattan Beach (special thanks to founding ExecTec member John Marston who spearheaded the program) where Dr. Michael Shore who works at Mattel as Vice President of Worldwide Consumer Insights spoke to us about Fun. Dr Shore who clearly loves his job participating in the creation of toys that will captivate, inspire and drive the imagination of kids young and old told us of 10 classifications that he had observed to be present when kids were having fun.

April has always been a month when my mind focuses on toys/fun and with the release of the ultimate geek toy, I mean tool, I thought it was a great time to chat about what fun is all about.

Below are my notes on Dr. Shores classifications:

1 I'm free
2 I Dream (imagine , possibility)
3 I'm Special (luck, exception)
4 I belong (acceptance) co operative play shows increasing importance.
5 I'm Wacky (delighted)
6 I know (exploration accomplishment)
7 I'm Cozy (relaxing)
8 I'm proud (benevolance)
9 I stand out (self expression , pasion)
10 I dare (bold, defiant)

Dr. Shore concluded by saying that It's about the experince which drive fun.

Ask any 6 year old and they will tell you just how important fun is and my guess is that many of us adults miss the obvious wisdom of childhood fun.

When was the last time you can say that you enjoyed the simple pleasure of fun? What lessons can we as managers and executives learn from Dr. Shores observations on fun?

Leslie Yerkes of Catalyst Consulting wrote Have More Fun at Work for the American Management Association in which she points out that each of us spends more time at work than we do at any other single activity. The issue is that we are raised to believe that fun must be earned, is by definition silly, superficial & unprofessional and is basically taboo in the work place.

No wonder work is the antithesis of fun.

Join us as we have some fun exploring our inner child and how we can infuse our lives, work and products with fun.

As always, there is no better way to meet and connect with other executives then over dinner and conversation. $21 in advance via PayPal or $25 at the event gets you a full dinner, drink and the best networking around.