How do you spend your marketing dollars? An internet presence, advertising, client lunches, chamber of commerce membership, what about conferences? It was a delight that last year’s ICF conference was on our back door step but I have to confess that I am not so sure that I am going to make the passage to Montreal this year; I will however be Pasadena bound and attending ‘Serious Play’.

Play, is defined by The National Institute for Play as ‘a state of being that is intensely pleasurable. It energizes and enlivens us. It eases our burdens, renews a natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities’… What a joyful definition, it sounds so… well…playful.  Based on this knowledge, consider the following - What could play bring to your client sessions? What would your life look like with more play in it? What does Serious Play mean to you?

In this instance ‘Serious Play’ is the name, and possible call to action, given to this year’s Art Center Design Conference, a three-day international gathering of entrepreneurs, thought leaders, storytellers and innovators. Visionaries, from many fields and disciplines, who impact the world albeit in very different ways, coming together to explore the essential role of play in business, the arts, science, storytelling, technology and more.

Art Center’s conference program embraces the-stuff-of-life, focusing each time through a new inspiring lens. At the last conference, I laughed, I cried and found myself all too often, sat in dumbstruck awe. I left so full that I was radiating and probably levitating for a few days, wanting to share all I saw and learned so badly it ached. We were given the kind of information and stimuli that you feel everyone NEEDS to know, priceless ideas and stories to share with both the board room CEO and the teenager in your coaching practice. With 9 weeks to go, the anticipation is palpable, ‘Serious Play’ is going to be all that, and with the introduction of the new smaller interactive studios, so much more.

A further reason for attending will be to share the experience with the participants that these visionaries and leaders attract. The value of finding yourself in conversation with so many open minded, smart people is a rejuvenating and nourishing opportunity in its own right.

Some ‘Serious Play’ pointers –

- Register early! There is a price reduction through March 11.

- You are investing in yourself and ergo your business by going.

- Car pool, you don’t want to miss a thing.

- Can’t go? Find someone who is and then invite them to dinner the week after, they will be fit to burst and you can soak it all up.

Ready to join other visionaries, teachers and innovators and get down to some Serious Play?

RESOURCE AT: Info on speakers http://www2.artcenter.edu/designconference/speakers.php

More about the Science of Play - http://www.nifplay.org  Too late to join the ‘TED’ conference (another good place for your visionary self to hang out) but we can view some of the answers to questions such as, How can we change the world? How do we create? at www.ted.com next week…

Your not so serious play pal,
Candice

candice@redbarncoaching.com