Dave Crenshaw - The Power of Having Fun: How Meaningful Breaks Help You Get More Done

This book helped you give yourself permission to have more fun, right?

But what if you have a hard time believing it? What if you forget occasionally that having fun and enjoying Oases are essential to your long-term success?

Enter the License to Have Fun.

Complete this with your name, a picture (or drawing) of yourself in fun mode, and your favorite quotation to remind you of the importance of having fun.

For a downloadable version of this license, visit PowerofHavingFun.com.

What do you like to do for fun? If this question stumps you, youre not alone! Many people have forgotten how to enjoy themselves.

By remembering what you used to enjoy doing, you may be able to rediscover how to find refreshment. Take a moment and brainstorm any ideas that come to mind as you remember what you used to do for fun. If you need additional ideas, refer to the lists of what kids and other adults find fun in .

For a downloadable version of this worksheet, visit PowerofHavingFun.com.

Those around you are your greatest support team and contribute to your success at work. How will you connect with loved ones on a regular basis so that they experience Oases as well?

During a scheduled time, sit down with a family member and ask, What, to you, would be a meaningful activity for us to do together? To aid the brainstorming process, avoid editing or responding as they share ideas.

After brainstorming the initial list, for each item, ask, Why is this activity meaningful to you? and write a brief answer in the second column. For more information, review .

For a downloadable version of this worksheet, visit PowerofHavingFun.com.

Take the lists you created in the brainstorming exercises and transfer each activity that you would enjoy to the worksheet below. Categorize each idea according to the amount of time it would require. Then make a note about the estimated cost next to each activity. For further information, refer to chapters 6 and 11 on discovering fun.

For a downloadable version of this worksheet, visit PowerofHavingFun.com.

Many people had a hand in helping this book come together. Special thanks:

To Faye Banzon, John Arce, and Aimee Borneo for being ever invaluable. Thank you for giving me the freedom and support behind the scenes to allow me to do what I do.

To Michael Scurries for adding color to my words in all the right places.

To Matt Wagner for always hustling, believing, and being patient.

To Neal Maillet for the creative workout that got this book to where it is now.

To Abu Khalid for the brilliant illustrations you see on these pages.

To Jeevan Sivasubramaniam for the inspiration behind the artwork.

To Jason Hewlett for being a true frientor and continual source of positive energy.

To my coaching clients past, present, and future for allowing me the privilege of both serving and learning from you all.

To Stratton, Ella, and Darci for showing me on a daily basis what having fun is truly about.

Finally, to my wife, for putting up with it all. Maybe someday Ill write How to Write a Book without Driving Your Spouse Crazy in the Process. Then again, that would kind of defeat the point, wouldnt it?

Personally, Im a bottom-line kind of guy an entrepreneur at heart. This means that this book wasnt written in an academic style. That was by choice. A book about having fun should, after all, be fun!

Yet, in addition to the case studies from my personal clients, youll notice that a lot of research went into the creation of this book. In many instances, studies and articles that werent referenced directly still had a significant impact in shaping the philosophy of this book.

Some readers may want to dive deeper into the studies and the thoughts of great minds that influenced this book. Thats why my team created a Resources section at PowerofHavingFun.com. There youll find links to dozens of web pages, including the studies mentioned in the book.

Also on that site, you can download PDF files of the work-sheets mentioned in this book.

Dave Crenshaw is a happily married father of three who lives in the shadow of Utahs Rocky Mountains. An admitted geek, he enjoys all things sci-fi and superhero and has an Xbox gamer score of over 75,000. He enjoys watching sports, dabbles in archery, and embarrasses himself at golf.

In addition to having fun, Dave has written several business books and is a keynote speaker at events around the world. He continually develops new courses for LinkedIn Learning, where his videos have received millions of views. His writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Time magazine, USA Today,FastCompany, and the BBC News. As an author, speaker, and online instructor, Dave has helped build tens of thousands of productive leaders worldwide.

Daves collection of online training, including the time-management courses mentioned in this book, are available through LinkedIn Learning.

Visit DaveCrenshaw.com/courses for quick access.

Dave coaches a select handful of leaders. To apply for private coaching with Dave and to get a personalized plan to become more productive, take the free online assessment at DaveCrenshaw.com/quiz.

Dave is available for live keynote speeches, seminars, webinars, and workshops. You can request more information at DaveCrenshaw.com/speak.

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