Playful Defiance is a “bring it on” mentality that leads you to take action when others close the door on opportunity. This mindset helps breed solutions and triggers actions toward what you want. With Playful Defiance, you compete for the love of the adventure.

In business, Playful Defiance calls for you to find strategies to generate greater results, defying the standards of your industry. Tony Hsieh’s Zappos playfully defies conventional wisdom about customer service for online businesses empowering their representatives to build relationships with their customers without a script. Herb Kelleher’s Southwest Airlines playfully defies how airline attendants are supposed to act and behave, bringing a feeling of heart to airline travel.

When someone says, “It can’t be done,” hear your Call to Adventure. Roll up your sleeves, put a big smile on your face and dive in.

Adults can’t be playful, right? That’s for kids. Adults are supposed to be serious. It’s just not proper to act otherwise, or is it? As we enter adolescence, we’re taught to “behave” and “act your age.” Who dictates how your age should act? And is this behavior always conducive to achieving fulfillment in your life and growing your business?

Perhaps it’s time to make a change: Stop acting your age and start having fun. Don’t just be playful on the weekends or once in a while; be playfully defiant in your work, in your relationships and in everything you do.

Anyone can learn to break the rules, but only a true master can laugh and play along the way.

Adopt the mindset of Playful Defiance and live an extraordinary adventure!

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In a fearful state, the brain toggles to the more primitive limbic system (responsible for basic emotions and coordination of movement) for functioning, impairing access to the more evolved cerebral cortex (responsible for memory, problem-solving, communication and creativity). In a state of fear, we operate on “autopilot.”

Founder of humanistic psychology Abraham Maslow observed that creativity arises as a consequence of a positive mental state. When employees are happy and secure, you’re more likely to see an increase in creative contribution. Amy Edmondson, Novartis professor of leadership and management at Harvard Business School, found that the optimal learning environment combines a high degree of psychological safety with accountability for meeting demanding goals. When employees feel safe, they are more likely to collaborate and learn on the job.

Creative business cultures cultivate environments that embrace failure as the precursor to success. Fail, but fail quickly and move on. One of Southwest Airlines’ secrets to more than 30 years of profitability is memorialized by their motto, “Risk More, Fail Faster.”

Failure is often the gateway to a breakthrough idea. Instead of sweeping failure under the rug, realize its value.

The lesson: Create an atmosphere where people are inspired to succeed rather than afraid to fail.

Related posts:

1. Allowing Ideas to Enter Your Mind
2. Is Your Business Killing Creativity?