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Yep, it’s official. We need more “Bams” in the world.
I don’t care whether you work at Wal-Mart or on Wall Street, you are viral. More than ever, little things are big deals.
In the fight against Adultitis, you can either be part of the problem or part of the solution.
Which do you choose?
It seems ridiculous at first. What if we dressed our delivery drivers like the Flash? Or the crowd control team at the stadium as Stormtroopers? Or our window washers as…Spiderman?
That’s exactly what John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital did a few months ago. Continue Reading →
According to the Interwebs, the first week of April is Laugh at Work Week. If there’s one thing work could use more of, it’s laughter.
Inspired by our most recent Champion of Childhood award winners who made an epic ugly cake for a co-worker, we are introducing a new Small Rebellion and we’d love to have you join us! It’s called The Ugly Treat Initiative, and the instructions are very simple:
Step 1) Make a delicious dessert that also happens to be really, really UGLY.
Step 2) Bring it to work to share.
Step 3) Enjoy laughter and improved morale with your colleagues. (And possibly be awarded a primo parking spot for a month.)
Step 4) Share your stories and pictures at one of the following locations:
You can tackle the mission when it’s most convenient, any time during the week. You can make cookies, cakes, cupcakes, pies, strudels…anything, really. Just make sure it’s sweet and tasty. And butt ugly.
The only other requirement is the sharing part, even if it’s not an official place of employment. Eating an ugly cake alone does not generate much laughter. And please, share this Small Rebellion with friends, families, and mortal enemies. The more the merrier!
Wes Naman is a professional photographer. Like many professionals, he was a little burned out with the “professional” side of his work and needed a break.
So he grabbed some Scotch tape and got silly.
With the help of some open-minded friends, he used lots and lots of tape to wrench their faces into ridiculous positions. Then he asked them to try and remove the tape using only their facial muscles. It resulted in 33 photographs like the ones pictured above.
Which led to the project becoming a viral sensation, the attention of the Scotch brand itself, and an unlimited supply of rolls of tape for future projects. Perhaps a sweet advertising campaign is next.
Where do the best ideas come from?
Oftentimes, they come from play. I don’t care if you’re in a so-called “creative” field or not, the willingness to let go, be silly, and experiment with no expectation of outcome is like napalm for good ideas.
If you’re on the hunt for the next big thing, the idea that changes everything, or a solution to your most vexing problem, maybe you need to stop pressing so hard. Maybe you need a break.
Maybe you need to be a little less serious. And. Just. Play.
I couldn’t agree more.
Imagine these being installed in airports.
Imagine these being installed in the offices of all law firms and insurance companies.
Imagine these being installed in every single government building, especially the ones in Washington, D.C.
I dare say that these could bring peace to the Middle East.
Get on it, Congress.
I don’t know what it is about mustaches, but they’re quite the trend. The best I can tell, fake ones are still more popular than the real ones (with apologies to Mr. Tom Selleck.)
You may remember a post a few months back in which I suggested the idea of having a mustache cookout. This week I’m sharing another mustache-related project because it’s fun and funny, and a ridiculously easy way to upset Adultitis. Which pretty much covers our M. O. around here. Continue Reading →
Last year, Amazon.com sold more ebooks than printed books. It’s been a fascinating rise, ushered forth by the iPad and Kindle. Even more fascinating is seeing how the industry is reacting to it. In many ways, ebooks are upsetting the apple cart, and people with businesses geared toward the old way of doing things are not happy about it.
So it was with great interest that I read an article in Mental Floss magazine about the advent of paperback books, and their similar assault on the status quo. In 1939, Robert de Graff introduced softcover books to America, offering them for just 25¢, while many hardcover books were selling for over $2. Even though some European publishers had success selling softcovers, New York publishers didn’t think the cheap, flimsy books would translate to the American market.
They were wrong. Continue Reading →
Does the more time you spend with your family lessen the impact you can have through your career?
Since becoming a father, that is a question I have struggled mightily with. Continue Reading →
Many people I talk to have an inkling of some kind of dream business they’d love to start. A cute yarn store. An interior design consultancy. A little coffee shop. It’s often deep in the back of their mind, buried by things like fear and doubt. Something’s holding them back: Lack of funds. Uncertainty about what steps to take. Or the comfort of a job that already pays the bills and provides benefits, even if it’s one they dislike so much that they’d rather punch kittens for a living. Continue Reading →
Imagine the look of surprise you’ll see when someone in your home or office, on a mission to secure a cup of coffee, walks into a room entrenched with dozens — hundreds! — of Peeps, poised for an ambush!
The idea of staging a Peep De Resistance, shared with us by K&J Nation member Brit Neyrinck, was not in our 20 Unconventional Things You Can Make with Peeps post, but it should have been.
And if this is not already part of your Easter tradition, it should be.
This article gives you all the tips you need, including these great gems: Continue Reading →
Email can be overwhelming and a HUGE source of Adultitis. Try this simple tip to infuse some fun into your email. Your recipients will enjoy it as much as you will!
Want the whole list? Email me at kim@kimandjason.com and I’ll send it to you!
Most people wouldn’t put “job searching” and “fun” in the same sentence (although I just did. Huzzah!) Somehow, Jenny Foss, aka “Job Jenny,” has a knack for not only making your job search more fun, but way more effective as well. She can help you not just find A job, but THE job. Continue Reading →
During a recent trip to Disney World, Jason and I noticed something very interesting. Almost every single adult we saw was wearing a fun shirt of some kind. Superhero logos, cartoon characters, witty phrases, sports paraphernalia and of course, Disney shirts (those darn gift shops get ya every time). You name it, fun shirts were everywhere. It was awesome!
It does make sense, come to think of it. Continue Reading →
art by jason
Are you looking for a job? Do you have a hard time sleeping because you can’t stop thinking about living in a van down by the river? Do you feel guilty when you go to the bathroom because it’s taking you away from the almighty job search?
The goal of this post is to give you permission to forget about the whole job search madness for a few minutes.
I know, I know, somehow it feels more productive to coerce the universe into giving you a job by worrying, stressing out and doing a lot of frantic busywork.
And how’s that working for ya? Continue Reading →
A while back, I was interviewed by Karl of Work Happy Now. He asked some pretty neat questions that really made me stop and think. I’d been meaning to link to it for a while now. Better late than never, I suppose. Go here for the full interview, but here’s an excerpt: Continue Reading →
I am convinced that every single adult — no matter their profession or educational background — is a salesperson in some form or another.
If you are a parent, you are constantly selling to you kids, persuading them to try hard in school, stay away from the wrong crowd, be polite. Heck, I am selling Lucy on veggies every night at 6 p.m. Teachers sell good conduct and self-sufficiency. Nurses sell healthy habits and discipline. Managers sell hard work, respect and communication. If you are ever persuading others to do something or act in a certain way, or you find yourself promoting something or someone, then you my friend, are in sales. Sure, you might not get a pink Cadillac in five years, but you are a salesperson in your own corner of the world.
You HAVE to make sales fun — no matter what — or no one will buy what you happen to be selling. Continue Reading →
Do you love going to work every day? Chances are, your answer to that question is either an enthusiastic “yes” or a hearty laugh and a “yeah, right.” I wish there weren’t so many people in the latter camp.
Believe it or not, having a job you love is not a pipe dream. If it is, then please don’t wake me up.
No, dream jobs are not reserved for the lucky, the well-financed, or the ones with Ivy League diplomas. Not by a long shot. Believe it or not, your dream job is within your reach. I’ve outlined some of the most important tips to help you find your way. But be warned: The advice is brutally honest. But I’m sure you’ll find it as helpful as it is frank.
First, don’t be an idiot.
Following your heart and chasing your dream job can sound pretty fluffy. But following your heart doesn’t mean you should abandon common sense. Take your time. Plan wisely. Calculate your risks and act accordingly. If you currently have a less-than-stellar job that at least pays the bills, it’s ok to stick with it until your “evil plan” is ready to be unleashed. It’s not an all-or-nothing proposition. Reach for your dream, but don’t be an idiot. Continue Reading →
No doubt about it, Adultitis runs rampant in the workplace. Dilbert does an excellent job of displaying that fact on the comic pages, and perhaps the best television show to do it is the NBC hit, The Office.
This eBook examines the Adultitis levels of ten characters from the show. I wrote it a few seasons back (before Jim and Pam’s marriage and baby), but the lessons still apply. It can serves as a handy guide, giving you the opportunity to learn from each character while providing tips on how you can avoid contracting Adultitis at work. Conveniently formatted for both easy screen viewing and printing. Continue Reading →
photo by ohhector
So here’s a fun game to play with friends, family, co-workers, or fellow mental patients. It’s an idea that was shared with me by a woman at a nursing home social workers convention I recently spokeat. What I love about it is that it doesn’t cost a dime, you can play with any number of people, you don’t need any special props, and you can avoid boring small talk. (Score!) It’s perfect for road trips and family get togethers. Here’s how it works:
One person starts the conversation with any random statement. Immediately, the next person has to follow that up with a statement or question that has absolutely NOTHING to do with the previous one. Continue Reading →
How many business cards have you collected over the years? A handful? A hundred? Enough to wallpaper the bathrooms of every house on your block? Even if you’re not involved in “Business,” chances are you’ve received a number of business cards over the years, from the auto mechanic to your neighbor who sells Mary Kay.
Most business cards are, frankly, forgettable. Continue Reading →
On the plane coming home from New York the other day, after the flight attendant told us to turn off our portable electronic devices, I reached for the Delta Sky magazine in the seat back pocket. I was delighted to find an article on the upcoming movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book, Where The Wild Things Are.
[Fun Fact: When the book came out in 1963, parents and teachers tried to get it banned. It was controversial because kids aren't supposed to be sent to bed without dinner. Pretty scandalous, huh?]
The article featured interviews with two of the actors from the film, Forest Whitaker and Catherine O’Hara, who play Ira and Judith, respectively. It was neat to hear that Sendak was very involved in the movie, and fascinating to hear about the unorthodox technique director Spike Jonze used to coax remarkable performances out of the actors. Continue Reading →
Photo credit: bossanostra
So an employer decides that his team needs a little cheering up. It’s Christmastime, nearing the end of what has been a tumultuous year. He remembers his daughter’s recent birthday, and a simple party favor he purchased that was a huge hit with the kids. It was also a huge hit at his own birthday party, some twenty-five years earlier.
A simple red clown nose.
He bought enough for every one of his employees — he had to visit three different stores to collect enough for everyone. Because of the holiday, the clown noses became “Rudolph Noses” and everyone was encouraged to wear one. Continue Reading →
In this episode, brought to you from studio 303 in Greeley, Colorado, we talk about the secret to living to 112, yearbook pictures, Jason’s first trip to Fenway Park, and share 6 tips to make your workplace more fun. Just click “Play” to listen to the show… Continue Reading →
One of the advantages children have over adults is that they are not yet bogged down and limited by “common knowledge.” For children, everything is on the table. They see life in a colorful kaleidoscope of possibility. As they get older, the world is all too eager to impart its “common knowledge,” informing them of what’s really possible, and what’s really not.
Talking heads — folks with fancy degrees, oodles of experience, and impressive titles — squawk their opinions on our TV sets and “Internets” and we are expected to accept their guesses as factual truth. If only their track record would make it feasible. Just a year ago, “common knowledge” told us that Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani would be squaring off in this summer’s general election. Money and time was spent conducting national polls to determine who was more likely to be elected President.
Resources wasted on a prediction that fell flat.
Here are some more bold predictions made over the past 150 years by people with fancy degrees, oodles of experience, and impressive titles:
I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” –Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943 Continue Reading →
