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On the Schmooze Podcast: Leadership | Strategic Networking | Relationship Building
Publishing a book isn't just about selling copies; it's about opening doors. The moment your book hits the world, it becomes a beacon, drawing opportunities you might never have considered. Many authors find that beyond book sales, their work leads to speaking engagements, networking breakthroughs, consulting roles, and other unexpected ways to grow their influence. Your book can position you as an expert, a thought leader, and a sought-after voice in your industry—all while building meaningful connections with those you can impact most. But you need to be ready to seize these opportunities. It's why I work with authors to develop strategies for maximizing the impact of their books—so every opportunity is met with intention and purpose. Want to talk more about how your book can open doors? Visit www.BookLaunchBrainstorm.com to schedule a free 30-minute book launch brainstorming session. Now, before today's exciting panel discussion, let's hear a quick word from our sponsor. With me today are authors whose books have taken them to unexpected heights. Let's hear their stories. Carole Enneking (anyking) wrote “The Rebalancing Act: Wisdom from Working Women For Success that Matters.” This book explores the challenges working women face in trying to "have it all," offering insights and strategies based on interviews with over seventy women to help restore balance, health, and fulfillment in both personal and professional life. Gary Ware, author of “Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play.” He offers a refreshing approach to work and life by teaching readers how to reignite their playful spirit, boost creativity, and improve productivity through play, while creating deeper connections and joy in everyday situations. John Thompson wrote “Stack Your Deck: How to Be an ACE in Business & Life.” He provides a powerful blueprint for achieving success by cultivating the right mindset, building meaningful connections, embracing empowerment, and overcoming life's challenges to create a purposeful, fulfilling life. Please join me in welcoming Carol, Gary, and John. In this episode, we discuss the following: Explore how launching a book can be a key to unlocking unexpected growth opportunities like speaking engagements and consulting roles, broadening your professional reach beyond mere book sales. Discover how understanding and connecting with your target audience can convert a book reader into a client or collaborator, enhancing your journey as a thought leader. Listen as our guest authors unravel their writing adventures, from crafting messages and frameworks to the challenges of editing and publishing, providing valuable insights for aspiring authors. Learn from strategies to go beyond the writing stage to smartly market your book, using techniques like reviews and cross-promotions to sustain its market impact. Links for Carol Enneking LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. www.carolenneking.com “The Rebalancing Act: Wisdom from Working Women For Success that Matters” Links for Gary Ware LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. www.BreakthroughPlay.com “Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play” Links for John Thompson LinkedIn and YouTube. www.goteamaces.com and www.stackyourdeckbook.com “Stack Your Deck: How to Be an ACE in Business & Life” Robbie's Resources Schedule a complimentary book launch brainstorming session: www.BookLaunchBrainstorm.com. Find all the archived podcast episodes, plus an invitation to free virtual networking events for writers and authors, AND Hub Partners ready to help entrepreneurs become successful authors: www.BizBookPubHub.com Join the waitlist for the next Kindle Cross-Promotion Campaign for business authors: www.BizKindlePromo.com Subscribing (or following) and leaving a rating and review wherever you are listening helps this podcast be discovered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode, we are thrilled to be featuring another one of our upcoming World Conference speakers, Gary Ware, Play Consultant. Gary is a creative yet strategic Play Consultant that was brought here to make your life even better than it already is. By day, Gary helps companies and professionals level up their skills, and by night he is an improv comedian. In between all of Gary's passions, his most desirous one is helping people become the best versions of themselves through fun and entertainment. See Gary at World Conference on Thursday, February 6, at 1:00 p.m. for Improv Your Influence: Fun and Effective Communication Strategies for Club Managers.
On the 98th episode of The Hennessy Report by Keystone Partners, Dave is joined by Gary Ware, founder and corporate facilitator of "Breakthrough Play," author of "Playful Rebellion," and frequent Keynote speaker. His mission? To help creative professionals in sales and marketing use the power of play to be more creative, confident, and develop deeper relationships with their team and clients. Are you struggling with workplace stress and declining creativity? Listen in to discover how strategic play can revolutionize your organization's performance. In this episode you will learn about: The science of play and productivity MAP Framework for workplace transformation Evidence-based strategies for reducing stress Real success stories from transformed organizations Learn why leading companies are embracing purposeful play to boost innovation, enhance team collaboration, and drive sustainable growth.
In this inspiring episode, Ginny Yurich welcomes Gary Ware, expert in play and author of Playful Rebellion, to explore how embracing play can transform the adult experience—particularly at work. Gary reveals his journey from corporate burnout to fulfillment through improv, proving play is essential, not frivolous. Together, they discuss how adults can harness playful tools to build focus, creativity, and richer relationships. Learn how "adult recess," intentional play breaks, and breaking away from routine can boost not just productivity, but life satisfaction. ** Learn more about Gary here Get your copy of Playful Rebellion here ** Download your free 1000 Hours Outside tracker here >> https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/trackers Find everything you need to kick off your 1000 Hours Outside Journey here >> https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/blog/allthethings Order of copy of Ginny's newest book, Until the Streetlights Come On here >> https://amzn.to/3RXjBlN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On the Schmooze Podcast: Leadership | Strategic Networking | Relationship Building
Write a book and become rich, right? Nope. There are many pitfalls between writing a book and becoming a successful author. Tune in to today's author panel where we'll chat about the ups and downs of being a business author. I got to know these authors while running a Kindle Cross-Promotion campaign, during which 77 business books were on sale for just 99 cents or $1.99 during Amazon Prime Days. We all worked together to spread the word. Many books made it to the Top 10 in their categories, and 30% even hit #1 Best Seller. I sold over 220 books, showing that our teamwork paid off. Today's panel will dive into what it's like to be a business author and what you can get from publishing a business book. Let's hear from our amazing panelists! Gary Ware, author of “Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play.” Irma Parone, author of “WINX for Employees: The Problem-Solving Model to Unlock Workplace Success” and “WINX: The Problem-Solving Model to Win Exponentially with Customers, Employees and Your Bottom Line.” Morgan Lim, author of “Unleashing the Power of Time: How to Optimize Your Sales Effort with a Time-Based Approach.” Please join me in welcoming Gary, Irma, and Morgan. Dive into another insightful episode of Biz Book Publishing Hub Podcast! This time, Gary Ware, Irma Parone, and Morgan Lim share their experiences of turning their business strategies into impactful books. Hosted by Robbie Samuels, this episode is packed with valuable advice for budding and experienced business authors. In this episode, we discuss: Gary Ware reveals how his book "Playful Rebellion" is a cornerstone of his business strategy, which aims to engage burnt-out professionals and emerging leaders. Gary Ware shares how he converted existing video content into a coherent, engaging book. Morgan Lim talks about how writing his book led him to formalize his sales methodology, opening doors to workshops and coaching opportunities. Irma Parone highlights her strategy to accumulate a significant number of book reviews, emphasizing the importance of early engagement and support. Tune in to this episode for a masterclass on integrating book publishing into your strategic business growth!
Text your thoughts and questions!Whether you're working for someone else or yourself, personal time is essential for maintaining mental and physical well-being, preventing burnout, and boosting your productivity and performance. It's something we know we need to prioritize, but it can feel so challenging to make the time for it. This week, episode 232 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast is about how to prioritize personal time by setting boundaries!In this episode of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast, I'm sharing the common challenges that multi-passionate entrepreneurs, caregivers, and people pleasers face when setting boundaries around their time, and I offer you actionable steps to take right now to start prioritizing your personal time. I cover the following topics:Six reasons why it's essential to prioritize our personal time. Why it can be such a challenge to take personal time (even when we acknowledge the benefits). Three steps to take when you're ready to break free and create your own boundaries (and protect them). Prioritizing personal time isn't selfish; it's essential. It's about filling your own cup so you can show up as your best self for the people and passions you care about. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don't forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about Positively LivingⓇ and Lisa at https://positivelyproductive.com/podcast/Could you use some support? The Quickstart Coaching session is a way to get to know your productivity path fast! A speed-round strategy session is perfect for a quick win and to see what coaching can do. The Quickstart will encourage and inspire you to take intentional, effective action! Go to https://www.positivelyproductive.com/plpquick for a special listener discount!CONNECT WITH LISA ZAWROTNY:FacebookInstagramResourcesWork with Lisa! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:(Find links to books/gear on the Positively Productive Resources Page.)Manage Stress through Rest and Play with Gary Ware (buzzsprout.com)How Overplanning Actually Hinders You From Doing More (buzzsprout.com)Why Bringing Nature Inside Will Help You Focus Better with Kasey Riley (buzzsprout.com)How to Balance Your Life through Wholeness Pillars with Nicole Mixdorf (buzzsprout.com)Dance Song Playlist V1, V2,
On this episode, we have a special guest who knows about business and about play… and has created a business around combining them to make people be better leaders (and have a better time at work because of it). Our guest Gary Ware returns to our show after four years to discuss the transformative power of play in combating leader burnout. Learn About... Using Play to Improve Work Life: Discover how incorporating play into your professional life can enhance creativity, confidence, and collaboration. Overcoming Leader Burnout: Understand the signs of burnout and actionable strategies to alleviate it through play and intentional breaks. Creating a Playful Workplace Culture: Learn the steps to foster a resilient, innovative, and inclusive culture by integrating play into daily routines and meetings. Success Stories: Hear about real-life examples of organizations that transformed their culture and improved employee retention and satisfaction through playful strategies. Our Guest... Gary Ware: Founder of Breakthrough Play and author of "Playful Rebellion," Gary is a corporate facilitator and keynote speaker with over 20 years of experience. He has partnered with top-tier companies like SAP and Intuit, using improv and playful methodologies to enhance team dynamics. Recognized as one of the top 25 emerging culture creators, Gary brings a wealth of knowledge on how play can maximize workplace success. Join us for an enlightening conversation filled with practical tips and inspiring stories. Whether you're a leader, a marketer, or someone seeking to rejuvenate their work life, this episode offers valuable insights for everyone. ~._.*._.~ Making a Marketer is brought to you by Powers of Marketing - providing exceptional podcast experiences & online and in-person events. Check out episode 151, and if our show moves you, share it and let us know your thoughts! Take our LISTENER Community Survey!!! HERE ** Our editor Avri makes amazing music! Check out his music on Spotify!**
Meetings are often seen as necessary but dreaded events that everyone complains about. But do they have to be? As a leader, you can transform these gatherings from mundane to meaningful. The answer lies in creating a safe environment that nurtures idea-sharing, collaboration, and innovation. Podcast guest, Gary Ware shares essential strategies to make your meetings more engaging, productive, and enjoyable. Gary is the Founder of Breakthrough Play and is a sought-after Corporate Facilitator and Keynote Speaker with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. He assists teams with unlocking creativity, confidence, and sparks collaboration with experiential methods proven to drive peak performance. In this episode, we start with some questions to ask before you pull people together and how to set your meeting up for success. Gary shares some connection activities to use at the start of meetings and describes how to create group agreements. We discuss how to get a meeting back on track, the best ways to brainstorm, and code words you can use. Finally, Gary shares how to get feedback after the meeting to ensure the meetings are valuable for everyone. Join us as we uncover practical strategies and valuable tips to transform your meetings, foster creativity, and cultivate a positive atmosphere that inspires collaboration within your team. For full show notes visit www.growthsignals.co. Connect with Gary on LinkedIn. Connect with Jen on LinkedIn.
When was the last time you were genuinely playful at work? If you are like most of us, it might have been a while. We've been conditioned to believe that work and play don't really mix. Not only we've been taught to draw a clear demarcation line between work and play, we've also been convinced that work is somehow way more noble and more important that play. But what if truly great work couldn't happen without a healthy dose of play? What if, unless we can have fun with the work itself, at least occasionally, we can't really achieve greatness? Today's conversation with Gary Ware, the Founder of Breakthrough Play a keynote speaker, and author of the book Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through the Power of Play addresses these questions. Gary talks about the relationship of workplace productivity and play, play as the driver of innovation and performance, the eight play personalities and how we can integrate purposeful play into our workday. You can follow Gary Ware on LinkedIn. You can find the transcript HERE. Join the CultureBrained® Community– a one-of-a-kind virtual community for Heads of Culture, founders, and leaders who want to up their culture game. Check out more of our free resources
In this episode, Gary Ware discusses the importance of play in various aspects of life, including work, learning, and relationships. He emphasizes the need to see the world as a playground of possibilities rather than a proving ground. Gary also highlights the impact of play on memory and learning, explaining that play can significantly reduce the number of repetitions needed to create a synapse in the brain. He shares how he incorporates playful methods in training and bonding activities, and encourages adults to prioritize rest and give themselves permission to play. Gary concludes by discussing the concept of the playful rebellion and the power of small moments of play. In this conversation, Sami Kinnison and Gary Ware discuss the importance of play in parenting and how it can enhance the parent-child relationship. They explore the challenges of finding balance in parenting and offer practical tips for incorporating play into daily life. They also discuss the benefits of adding playfulness to work and share examples of how to gamify tedious tasks. Overall, the conversation highlights the power of play in bringing joy, connection, and creativity to both parenting and work.TakeawaysSee the world as a playground of possibilities rather than a proving ground.Play significantly reduces the number of repetitions needed to create a synapse in the brain.Incorporate playful methods in training and bonding activities to improve effectiveness and build relationships.Prioritize rest and give yourself permission to play.Embrace the concept of the playful rebellion and find joy in small moments of play. Play is essential in parenting as it strengthens the parent-child relationship and creates joyful moments.Adding playfulness to work can increase engagement, productivity, and overall job satisfaction.Find out more about Gary's work: https://www.breakthroughplay.com/Follow Gary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garyware/Order Traveling Light wherever you get your books!Sign up at bfreakingawesome.com to get the latest news, insights, and episodes straight to your inbox.Follow Be Freaking Awesome on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Instagram.Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.
Welcome to Part II of this special episode with Lucy Prebble, executive producer and writer from the hit tv show Succession. If you're curious about why you both loved and hated Logan, why Shiv was as deeply flawed as her brothers and why a bromance like Tom and Greg's made us feel all kinds of things, then hit play because all those questions and more will be answered.As Lucy and Damon take a deep dive into the world of Waystar Royco and Succession, Lucy shares openly to what lengths deeply researched real world stories were used to create this fictional company, goes on to explain that Logan Roy's media mogul character was the only archetype in the show, and then takes us inside the writer's room that leaned on the power of constraint to tell this story for the ages in the most Succession-y way possible, and yes, Succession-y is a word. As hard as it was to watch at times, as the dark side of the world of work was broadcast into our living rooms, this television show that is, at it's core, about love and power - the need for it, the absence of it, and the lengths people will go to get it and then keep it - can be received as a gift to us all in the way it helps us find clarity on the types of companies and company cultures that we want to create and be part of.If you haven't already listened to Part I, where we learned about Lucy's background as a playwright in London's West End, her time as a TV Showrunner and how she nearly didn't accept the offer to work on Succession, you can - check it out here.Show notes: If you love our Pop Culture First episodes, be sure to check out this joyous conversation between Damon, Priya Parker and Gary Ware about a very different workplace run by, the legend himself, Ted Lasso.Damon also mentioned his recent conversation with Jamila Rizvi on how to make work actually work for women. You can find that brilliant episode here.Bonus content:Culture Amp is excited to announce that Culture First is back and our virtual event series is going global with three events across APAC, The Americas and EMEA. At this year's Culture First, today's guest Lucy Prebble, will be doing an exclusive sit-down with Culture Amp CEO Didier Elzinga. As a thank-you for listening to the Culture First podcast, we'd love to give you access to this brilliant bonus session. Head to http://cultureamp.com/podcastcfg to register for what is sure to be jam-packed conversation between Didier and Lucy.If you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review.Learn more about Culture Amp at www.cultureamp.com or @cultureamp on InstagramConnect with Lucy Prebble on Twitter @lucyprebblishSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Lucy is an award winning British playwright and is the Executive Producer, and writer for the TV show Succession. She is known for her compelling story telling that often explores themes of power, corruption, and the dark side of human nature.In part one of this episode we are going to learn about Lucy the writer, the storyteller and the world creator.You'll hear Lucy applying her techniques for world creation to the company cultures we all experience every day and we'll explore the “note behind the note” - a brilliant mechanism Lucy uses to analyze feedback from above to help her get to the heart of what the right next step to take is. Lucy helps us to remember that stories are not just entertainment. They can also be powerful tools for understanding ourselves and the world around us. They can help us to see things from different perspectives, challenge our assumptions and help us to feel connected to others. Ultimately, the best stories help us to find meaning in our lives.Show notes: If you love our Pop Culture First episodes, be sure to check out this conversation between Damon, Priya Parker and Gary Ware about a very different workplace run by, the legend himself, Ted Lasso.Bonus content:Culture Amp is excited to announce that Culture First is back and our virtual event series is going global with three events across APAC, The Americas and EMEA. At this year's Culture First, today's guest Lucy Prebble, will be doing an exclusive sit-down with Culture Amp CEO Didier Elzinga. As a thank-you for listening to the Culture First podcast, we'd love to give you access to this brilliant bonus session. Head to http://cultureamp.com/podcastcfg to register for what is sure to be jam-packed conversation between Didier and Lucy.If you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review.Learn more about Culture Amp at www.cultureamp.com or @cultureamp on InstagramConnect with Lucy Prebble on Twitter @lucyprebblishSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
“The opposite of play is not work; it's depression.” Dr. Stuart Brown. So why do we think play doesn't belong at work? Because I'm pretty interested in avoiding depression. For myself and those I lead! Gary Ware says, “Play is the cheat code to business success,” and great leaders find ways to develop play for themselves and their teams. How does this strike you? Do you get excited, or do you feel resistant? When I met Gary, I was thrilled to meet someone whose energy fills a room as mine does, and someone who is as passionate about whole life living! Join Gary and me this week on Monday Mentor to talk about the power of play. Gary, founder of Breakthrough Play, works as a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and author helping organizations improve their workplace through play. Time stamps: 1:27 Gary's journey 7:17 What is play? 8:40 Purposeful play 9: 51 Play vs Playfulness 11:35 The playful map Method Audience Purpose 13:20 How does play help us as a team? 15:57 Teams that are playful have a higher level of psychological safety. 18:31 Where to start? - some quick start tips from Gary! 22:17 Where to find Gary - [x] **How to have an innovation mindset - Leo Chan** - Leo was a powerhouse of innovation! And how we build this skill that is accessible to everyone. - 3:00 How Leo found innovation and the beauty of it - 5:30 The definition of innovation and why it's for everyone - 8:00 How to have a mindset of innovation 8:45 The future is coming. How do we shape it? 10:30 The difference between innovation and invention 11:00 What's a prototype mindset and how to fight perfectionism 13:50 The beginners mindset 15:00 How to apply innovation to our whole lives 15:38 How innovation empowers your people 20:30 Some homework and vision casting. You can create the future you want.
Unleash the power of play. Gary Ware integrates playfulness into every aspect of his work. It's not for the sake of play itself, but to help teams unlock and be more productive. He is an author, founder, speaker, and improv actor who quickly discovered that combining improv and play could be a powerful solution to achieving various business challenges. Thus, Breakthrough Play was born. In their conversation, Gary gives actionable advice on how he goes about opening up a team to have a hard but necessary conversation to speak their truth. They also discuss Gary's book, Playful Rebellion, a literal “play” book for unlocking success across your organization. Join us for our Courage Week “Courageous ActionChat" on Zoom, Friday, September 8th at 2pm PST. Over the course of the pandemic, a community came together for 55 online ActionChats. The forum created a space to feel connected over genuine conversations. As the world re-opened, we recognized that the ActionChats served a purpose while we were all stuck in our homes. It has been 18 months since our last Zoom ActionChat and it's time to check in and get a temperature check from across the country. Join us as leaders from all four corners of America come together to share how life has been since hybrid work has become the new normal.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/courageous-actionchat-tickets-707463722037?aff=oddtdtcreato
Join us as Pam sits down with Gary Ware to dive deep into his background and explore how embracing our inner child can unlock creativity, improve relationships, and drive success. Follow Gary on all things social: Instagram LinkedIn First Chapter of Playful Rebellion Play Personality Assessment Follow Cafe con Pam on all things social: Instagram Facebook http://cafeconpam.com/ Secure your spot for Be Heard and Launch Your Podcast Join the FREE Cafe con Pam Challenge Join our Discord space and let's keep the conversation going! Want to get insider updates and learn more about all that's coming to Café con Pam? Get on the insider list, por que sabemos que te gusta el chisme ;) Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with someone you love! And don't ever forget to Stay Shining!
‘Pop' Culture First is a new style of episode and one that we'd love to do more of if you, our audience, agree!In this episode, you'll hear Damon and his guests unpack the leadership styles of Ted Lasso and Logan Roy, both lead characters in smash hit shows that take us to the edge of what typical leadership is often confined to. When we say smash hit, we mean it! In 2023, Ted Lasso received 21 Emmy nominations, while Succession received 27!Priya Parker, author of the best selling book 'The Art of Gathering', compares the two starkly different management styles of the main characters in each show and breaks down for us what we can learn from how they gather and how they use or abuse power. Gary is a Culture First Chapter Lead Volunteer for Culture Amp in San Diego, a facilitator and a master improv teacher, and dives deep into what Ted Lasso, as a leader, taught us across the three seasons. Our guest's thoughts on why The Lasso Way works, and why the cruel manoeuvres of Logan Roy don't, are well worth the listen!If you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow and leave a review.Learn more about Culture Amp at www.cultureamp.com
In this episode I totally geek out with Gary Ware, Founder of Breakthrough Play. Gary shares how he went from working the corporate rat race to now inspiring others to bring more playfulness in their lives, whether they are the CEO or a stay -at-home mom. Gary's work is backed by research and his own personal testimony of feeling run down and burnt out until he discovered the wonderful world of improve and play. This episode will have you wanting more playfulness in your life, for home and even your work. To follow and learn more about Gary and Breakthrough PlayWebsiteInstagramLinked InYoutubeFacebookCheck out Gary's new book, Playful RebellionTake the Play Personality Assessment
Do you have a relationship with play?Do you integrate time to play into your life around work and rest?Or does play feel elusive or like a luxury?If it does, you're not alone.So many of us are weary and weighed down, trying to stay afloat while keeping up with life, work, and being engaged citizens. And we live in a culture that continues to prioritize work and productivity over play and rest.But building a relationship with play can be an antidote to toxic hustle productivity. And play can help quiet the noise in our minds and temporarily distract us from our burdens, leaving us in a better place to come back and tackle them.Today, I'm so excited to dig into the benefits of play with Gary Ware.Gary Ware, the Founder of Breakthrough Play, is a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker,certified coach, and author of the book Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world holding various leadership positions. Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theater.After experiencing burnout in his pursuit for success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play. Committing to a life of play is what led Gary to discover his passion for facilitating. Gary uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Gary was recently featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2021 by the Engagedly HR software platform. When Gary isn't leading workshops or speaking, you can find him learning magic or off on an adventure with his wife Courtney and sons Garrett and Cameron.Listen to the full episode to hear:Why Gary defines play as an accelerantHow we become play-deprived and how that contributes to burnoutWhy adults need to reclaim play and rebel against productivity cultureTips for bringing play into your work life and enlivening meetingsWhy play needs to be an invitation and you can't just book a ropes course Three major barriers to play and their antidotesHow to find micro moments of play and rest in your dayLearn more about Gary Ware:Breakthrough PlayInstagram: @garyware Connect with Gary on LinkedInPlayful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of PlayLearn more about Rebecca:rebeccaching.comWork With RebeccaSign up for the weekly Unburdened Leader EmailResources:Hilton CarterPlay: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, Stuart Brown7 Gems Of Intercultural Creativity, Genein LetfordTed LassoReal Genius
On the Schmooze Podcast: Leadership | Strategic Networking | Relationship Building
Today's guest helps adults transform their lives, be more creative, and regain joy with purposeful play. He is the Founder of Breakthrough Play, a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and author of the book “Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play.” Featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2021 by the Engagedly HR software platform, he has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world, as well as nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. He uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Please join me in welcoming Gary Ware. In this week's On the Schmooze episode, Gary Ware shares his playful approach to unlocking creativity, fostering better communication, and transforming workplaces, inviting listeners to embrace the power of purposeful play for personal and professional growth. In this episode, we discuss the following: Gary emphasizes that leadership involves listening, inclusivity, and championing the people in one's care, creating a supportive environment. His experience of building a mastermind group in elementary school highlights his early inclination towards collaboration and shared learning. Through therapy and reflecting on his childhood, Gary embarked on a journey of self-discovery, aligning his passions and talents with his career choices. As a multi-potentialite, Gary's varied interests, including science, naval service, and music teaching, demonstrate the value of exploring different paths for personal and professional growth. Listen to this episode to "play their way" to success with Gary Ware as he shares how incorporating purposeful play and the power of improvisation can unlock creativity, boost communication, and bring joy to the workplace. Links Gary Ware on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. www.BreakthroughPlay.com Other Resources Listen to my episode with Jeff Harry. On the Schmooze is a podcast that features interviews with talented professionals who have overcome challenges to achieve success. I ask probing questions, and guests share untold stories about their leadership journey and how they built and sustained their professional network. Subscribing (or following) and leaving a rating and review wherever you are listening helps this podcast be discovered.
Are you feeling burnt out from the relentless pursuit of success and happiness in the corporate world? In this episode, we have a fascinating conversation with Gary Ware, the Founder of Breakthrough Play, a renowned corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and author of the book "Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play." Join us as Gary shares his transformative journey from burnout to finding joy and fulfillment through play. Gary's extensive background includes over 14 years of experience in various leadership positions within the corporate world. But it was his nearly decade-long involvement as a performer in improv theatre that ultimately led him to a breakthrough realization. Burnt out and searching for something missing in his pursuit of success, Gary discovered that play was the key ingredient. Embracing a life of play not only rejuvenated him but also sparked his passion for facilitating and helping others unlock their creativity, confidence, and better communication skills. Tune in to this episode as Gary discusses how he utilizes applied improvisation and other playful methods to empower individuals and teams in the corporate environment. Learn how incorporating play can lead to enhanced workplace success, improved teamwork, and increased productivity. Gary's unique approach has gained him recognition as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2021 by the Engagedly HR software platform. Ready to infuse your workplace with the power of play? Don't miss this enlightening episode with Gary Ware. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform or visit www.CreativeChats.me. And remember to share this episode with someone who needs to hear the valuable insights Gary has to offer. For more visit: www.breakthroughplay.com Join the free Facebook community, "Daily Creative Habit," where you can connect with like-minded individuals and cultivate your creative journey. Make sure to subscribe to the "Daily Creative Habit" newsletter, delivered right to your inbox twice a week, for a dose of inspiration and practical tips. And don't forget to grab your copy of the "Daily Creative Habit" guided creative journal, designed to ignite your imagination and help you develop a consistent creative practice. www.DailyCreativeHabit.com
If you are one of the many people eating lunch at your desk and working too many hours a day, this episode is going to change your life! Today's guest, Gary Ware, is an advocate for the importance of fun; not only does incorporating play into your life make you happier and healthier, it actually makes you better at what you do! Tune in today to hear how to rebel against the idea that work and play don't mix and turn your world into a playground! Meet Gary Ware: Gary Ware, the Founder of Breakthrough Play, is a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and author of the book Playful Rebellion. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world, where he has held various leadership positions. Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improvisation theatre. After experiencing burnout in his pursuit of success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play! Gary now uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Episode Highlights: Don't conflate hard work and burnout. Work can be hard, but it shouldn't lead to burnout. The core concept of Gary's book, Playful Rebellion, is that we need to learn to see work “as a playground rather than a proving ground.” [01:34] Set time aside every day for play. For example, after each meeting you have during the course of your work day, block out ten minutes in your calendar to dance, read a book, play with legos, or whatever works for you! When you get back to work, you will find that you are much more engaged and productive. [03:43] Mezzo-rest (as opposed to micro-rest) occurs when you take more than just a short break from your work to do something creative. Research has shown that people who have hobbies outside of work are more successful than those who don't. [09:26] Celebrate your failures! If you're not making mistakes, you're probably not pushing any boundaries, which probably means you aren't growing. So, embrace your failures because they are a sign of growth. [16:57] Find allies on your Playful Rebellion journey. These are the people who will play with you in the workplace, support you during challenging times, and make your working world lighter, brighter, and more fun. [25:52] Resources Mentioned: The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker The Science of Wellbeing Ferris Bueller's Day Off Todoist SuperBetter by Jane McGonigal Follow Gary: Instagram Website Playful Rebellion Follow Will Moore to #gamifyyourhabits: Website Podcast TikTok Instagram Will's #1 mission in life is to help you GAMIFY YOUR LIFE by replacing your failure habits with success habits in the FIVE CORE areas of your life scientifically linked to happiness. Sign up for the newsletter: https://mooremomentum.com/contact Follow the success stories: https://mooremomentum.com/success-stories/ What's your core score? Take the FREE Life Evaluator Quiz to see where you currently stand in the 5 Core areas of life scientifically tied to happiness: https://mooremomentum.com/quiz --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/5corelife/message
Play is essential for healthy human growth and development. But despite the benefits, many adults lose their sense of play. Why?Gary Ware is a Strategic Play Consultant, corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and author who helps individuals and teams integrate play into their daily business. He was featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2021 by the Engagedly HR software platform, and is the author of the book, Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play.After 14 years in the corporate world, Gary's experience with burnout led him to discover that his life, and his work, were missing play. With benefits ranging from improved mood, increased creativity, more self-confidence, and psychological trust, today, Gary uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to help teams and organizations discover the benefits of play.In this interview, Gary shares his discoveries and experiences in teaching the power of play, including:How play creates, and preserves, crucial levels of psychological safety, especially in the workplaceThe neurochemical benefits of play on productivity, mood, and building interpersonal trustWhat a society that values play could look like—and how we can each get startedWant to get in touch? Leave us a voicemail Support our partners and affiliates for exclusive discounts:Fathom Analytics: Get beautiful, secure website data without trading your customers' private browsing data to Google and FacebookFlywheel: Seamless WordPress website hosting on US-based serversHover: Register domains with ease. Save $2 on your first purchaseMailerLite: A lite, powerful, affordable email marketing platform with premium plans starting at just $9/mo.Sanebox: Take back your inbox with machine learning to automatically organize your emails. Save $5 when you join.Trint: Turn recordings of meetings, calls, and interviews into transcripts with 99% accuracy.Affiliate Disclosure: Our show is listener supported through affiliate and partner links. By clicking one of the above links and registering or making a purchase, we may earn a small commission, which helps pay for the costs of our show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast Host Christy Tonge with Guest, Gary Ware. Gary picks his favorite scene that leads to a rousing conversation on this first in a series of leadership lessons from the hit Apple+ series Ted Lasso. Enjoy!
Never Leave the Playground In this episode, where we delve into the importance of self-care in our daily lives. Whether it's through mindfulness practices, physical exercise, or leisure time activities, taking care of our emotional and physical health is crucial for a better quality of life. From diaphragmatic breathing to bike rides, we explore different self-care practices that can help us manage daily stressors and negative emotions without relying on prescription medication. We also discuss how self-care can benefit young people, families, and individuals with mental illnesses. Join us as we share new ideas and small steps towards creating our own self-care regimens and personal commitments. From transition rituals to champions of the shengha, we explore the full range of emotions and the importance of social interaction and sense of independence in our self-care plan. So, grab your lunch break or end of the day, and tune in to learn how self-care can positively impact our physical and emotional well-being in the long term. In this discussion, Rukshana shares insights and practical tips on how to maintain a playful and curious mindset throughout your life. Drawing on her own experiences, Rukshana shows that play is not just for kids – it's a vital tool for personal growth, creativity, and overall well-being. Staying In Touch with Playfulness Triem argues that many of us lose touch with our playful side as we grow older, getting bogged down in the demands of work, family, and daily routines. But she shows that playfulness is not just a frivolous indulgence – it's a fundamental human need that can help us stay curious, flexible, and resilient in the face of challenges. Through engaging stories and exploration, Triem encourages her audience to rediscover their inner child and embrace a spirit of play in all areas of their lives. Whether it's trying new activities, engaging in creative pursuits, or simply finding joy in everyday moments, Triem shows that playfulness is the key to unlocking our full potential as human beings. Never Leave the Playground is a powerful and uplifting discussion that will leave you feeling inspired, motivated, and eager to incorporate more play into your daily routine. Whether you're looking to boost your creativity, improve your relationships, or simply have more fun in life, this talk is sure to provide you with valuable insights and practical strategies for cultivating a playful and joyful existence. You can find the full community discussion in the Embracing Intensity Membership. About Rukshana Rukshana has a huge Hunger to serve, to bring deep connection to transformation women all around the world. Rukshana Hafez Triem is an Author, inspirational Speaker, and CEO of a Women's Lifestyle Coaching LLC. Her journey started in Zambia living in a Refugee camp. Due to Trauma and overcoming her sexual abuse past, she was able to create a comfortable lifestyle that supports her family. She shares her story with others as she travels around the world, doing public speaking, workshops and Retreat and her New Mission Building schools in Africa, in Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia. In this episode: Rukshana Triem, a former refugee, discovered the benefits of play and exercise through her Pacific Northwest Women's Hiking Group, emphasizing the importance of self-care activities for emotional health and balance in daily life. Playfulness and nature are connected for Rukshana, who suggests small steps like a mindful walk or bike ride as part of a self-care regimen to reduce daily stressors and promote positive changes in brain function and heart rate variability. Rukshana's book, Never Leave the Playground, encourages readers to create their own self-care plan based on their life experiences and personal commitment to self-love, vulnerability, and privacy policy. Self-care activities can also benefit family life, including young children who can develop social skills and transition rituals through play and new tasks, such as video games or self-regulation strategies, that promote a sense of play for the whole family. Incorporating play into our lives can be a healthy self-care practice for long-term health and managing daily stressors. Taking small steps towards our own goals, such as scheduling play during lunch breaks, can be a great way to build healthy habits. Different people may find play in different activities, and exploring what play means to us individually can be a new skill to develop. Encouraging family members and friends to prioritize play and building a culture of play can also be a form of self-care and a healthy habit. Building a culture of play is necessary for our soul and can give permission to others to prioritize play as well. There are resources available to dive deeper into the topic of play, including call recordings and podcasts. The speakers mentioned in the podcast, Gary Ware and Jeff Harry, have platforms focused on play and are great resources. * Transcript Available * Resources: Rukshana's Website Join our Community & Check out our calendar of upcoming events! Join the monthly Planner Club!
You don't often hear the words work and play together. You couldn't possibly be productive at work and have fun at the same time. Could you? Yes. On this episode, Deloitte Chief Well-being Officer Jen Fisher talks with Gary Ware, author of “Playful Rebellion” and fonder of Breakthrough Play, about the importance of fun in the workplace and the gifts play can bring including vulnerability, quicker problem solving, and joy.
You don't often hear the words work and play together. You couldn't possibly be productive at work and have fun at the same time. Could you? Yes. On this episode, Jen Fisher talks with Gary Ware, author of Playful Rebellion and founder of Breakthrough Play, about the importance of fun in the workplace and the gifts play can bring including vulnerability, quicker problem solving, and joy.
If you have ever wondered how to be more creative or how to connect on a deeper level with the people in your life, Playful Rebellion can help. Create a playful rebellion in your life, and reclaim the joy and play in your world! Join me for a conversation about creativity and connection and PLAY with Gary Ware, author of Playful Rebellion. ★ Support this podcast ★ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyaf.substack.com/subscribe
How afraid of failure are you? Does it shine through in perfectionism? In not attempting certain things? In not going for your dreams because it may not work out?In this episode I'm chatting with Gary Ware, who is the founder of Breakthrough Play, a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker & certified coach all about Failure! He shares his philosophy on failure, and ways that you can take action and get in the habit of failing more often. The more you “fail” the more the fear of failure disappears. Gary is super dynamic and a real treat to listen to, enjoy!Where to find Gary:Gary Ware, the Founder of Breakthrough Play is a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and author of the book Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world holding various leadership positions. Being a multifaceted individual Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. After experiencing burnout in his pursuit for success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play. Committing to a life of play is what led Gary to discover his passion for facilitating. Gary uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Gary was recently featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2021 by the Engagedly HR software platform. When Gary isn't leading workshops or speaking, you can find him learning magic or off on an adventure with his wife Courtney and sons Garrett and Cameron.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garyware/LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyware/Email: gary@breakthroughplay.comWhere to find Alicia: Instagram: @alicia.rose.wood Tik Tok: @alicia.rose.wood Join Hina's Success Circle: CLICK HERE Book a Complimentary Clarity Call: CLICK HERE Audio Editing & Music provided by: Jordan Wood: www.instagram.com/jordan.m.wood
When your schedule is jam packed, it can be difficult to carve out time for self-care and rest, but it's those very things that seem optional that we need the most. This week, episode 131 of the Positively Living Podcast is about managing stress through rest and play!In this episode of the Positively Living Podcast, my guest Gary Ware shares the science and stories that support why you need to welcome rest and play into your life and he gives you actionable steps to incorporate rest and play so you can actually increase your creativity, confidence, and productivity. Gary and I cover the following topics:Why we sometimes avoid play even though it is so critical in our lives.The ways in which play connects to rest and how we can incorporate different types of rest and play to manage the stress we have and promote the productivity we want. The three different types of rest (it's not just one!) and how they all play a part in our overall well-being.Establishing a power down ritual to increase your quality of sleep even if you can't increase your quantity of sleep. Using the powerful “when/ then” statement that will help even the rebels trigger a response to take a break. Rest and play are personal and need to be customized. It's about what brings you joy, rejuvenates you, and makes you feel your best. If you're a DIY dynamo looking for simplicity and productivity support, you'll find it in the Positively Productive Resources Vault. It's packed with the worksheets, checklists, workbooks, and recordings I use with clients. Go to http://www.positivelyproductive.com/podcastvault where the promo code PODCAST will give you a special listener discount.CONNECT WITH GARY WARE:WebsiteLinkedInPlayful RebellionCONNECT WITH LISA ZAWROTNY:FacebookInstagramResourcesWork with Lisa! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:(Find links to books/gear on the Positively Productive Favorites Page.)Conquer Your Inner Critic Through Play with Jeff Harry Benefits of Being a Jack of All Trades with Mike MontagueLiving a Multi-Passionate Life with Lauren YeePrioritizing Sleep for Health and Productivity with Mollie McGlocklinBiohacking Brain Fog for Productivity with Tanessa ShearsMicrosoft Study: Research Proves Your Brain Needs BreaksWhat Got You Here Won't Get You There (Marshall Goldsmith)Play (Stuart Brown)Dance Song Playlist V1, V2, V3Music by Ian and Jeff Zawrotny
Gary Ware is the Founder of Breakthrough Play and a Play Consultant who helps leaders and companies use play in order to help people and businesses become their most successful and fulfilled selves. Turns out that with play, you can learn more about who you are so you can lead with it. In my conversation Gary, you'll learn about the 9 play-types so you can identify which one is yours. You'll get a prompt to help you connect how you play with how you lead and show up in other contexts in your life. One of the key takeaways here? You need to make play part of your routine. You can learn more about Gary and Breakthrough Play here.Get Gary's book “Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play” here.Check out all things Dia Bondi here.
The Gary Ware Legacy Award, run by Amnesty International focuses on facilitating our rangatahi to advocate for human rights. Applications for the next round are open currently! Stella spoke to Sabrina Manu from Amnesty about their work in the space of empowering youth, and a past recipient of the award about her project being created with the grant.
Gary Ware is someone that inspires me. I've seen him give two walks, both at the World Domination Summit in 2018 and then in 2022. In each, he stood out for his ability to show up as himself and share playful and powerfully true stories about his journey. I love when I get to meet people like Gary and this interview was no different. You can feel his positive energy flowing through the screen (or earbuds!).
Ah, the F word ... no not that one! 'Fun', that one.Life is happening now, like right now, and while there are many serious things and distractions to hold your attention for basically ever, even things like Yoga, breathwork, exercise, and personal development, what's your current relationship with fun?The energy that lives in fun, play, creativity, flow... you choose the word... is the same. It allows you to thrive in a deep, connected way and without it, well, that's up to you to decide to find out! Join Rebekka in this journey of the Self, acknowledging Yoga principles for your modern living, keeping this motivation fresh and digestible so you can LIVE FULLY NOW! Play Power episode 23 with Gary Ware of Breakthrough Play Check this or any 'wheel of life' assessments to figure out your fun levelBe sure to share with a friend! Tag @rebekka.mars in your stories.Next round of LIT Living group coaching kicks off October 2023 : get on the waitlist!_______________________________________________
Meet the delightful Gare Ware, author of "Playful Rebellion" ! Gary Ware, the Founder of Breakthrough Play is a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and self-proclaimed Creative Catalyst. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world holding various leadership positions. Being a multifaceted individual Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. After experiencing burnout in his pursuit for success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play. Committing to a life of play is what led Gary to discover his passion for facilitating.
In this episode of Your Story Medicine, I welcome Gary Ware, Founder of Breakthrough Play, a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and self-proclaimed Creative Catalyst. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world holding various leadership positions. Being a multifaceted individual, Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. After experiencing burnout in his pursuit for success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play. Committing to a life of play is what led Gary to discover his passion for facilitating. Gary uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Gary was recently featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2021 by the Engagedly HR software platform. Main Topics Discussed: Overcoming the guilt of diving into play to live a life with joy and abundanceThe choice between overwhelm vs. easeMoving from a playground of possibilities to a proving groundHow improv helps us see the “offers” in the world Learn more about Breakthrough Play: Visit their website: www.breakthroughplay.com Buy the book Playful Rebellion: www.playfulrebellion.com Follow Gary on Instagram: www.instagram.com/garyware
On this week's episode, Christine and Shannon interview Gary Ware (Breakthrough Play) about what it means to create a brave (safe) space, and how play can inspire creativity, community, and new connections. References Gary Ware – Breakthrough Play Sexuality, Playfulness & Play (S. Paasonen)
Businesses and brands often adopt identities online that are sellable but not authentic, and this holds true in the wellness and fitness industries as well. Having met thousands of wellness coaches and athletes, India shares the three most common mistakes she witnesses them make in their visibility strategies and what you can do instead to amplify your influence online. In this discussion: How to consider the events and online spaces where you show up Why your gym selfies aren't selling your services Why your content needs to highlight your values How considering who follows you and why informs your content Connect with India Jackson and Flaunt Your Fire: Flaunt Your Fire LinkedIn: India Jackson Instagram: @FlauntYourFire Ready to dive deeper? Want to learn more about authentically amplifying your influence online? Join Pause on the Play® the Community and get access to monthly Q&A sessions with India Jackson and Erica Courdae and get your questions about brand visibility, strategy, and mindset answered, along with community support, workshops, and replays. Resources: India recommends listening to Pause on the Play Ep 151: Make the World Your Playground of Possibilities, with Gary Ware for more on playing and experimenting with how you show up in your visibility efforts.
Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine: We begin with Mark Dunlea's report on the May 26 meeting of the New York Climate Council. Then, Roaming Labor Correspondent Willie Terry brings us excerpts from the panel discussion following a recent screening of the film Inheritance, about the history of labor in this country. Later on, Brea Barthel talks with the founder and director of the Mooncatcher Project, Ellie Van Wellsheim, about how menstrual products can keep girls in school. After that, Dulcinia Diggs interviews fitness coach Gary Ware about a recent bootcamp he held at the Boys and Girls Club on Delaware Avenue in Albany. Finally, Shirley Buel, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Rensselaer County, joins us to talk about the League and its work.
Coach G (Gary Ware) is a fitness instructor who came to Albany, NY all the way from Atlanta, Georgia. Gary Ware hosted a fitness bootcamp on 5/22/22 at the local Boys & Girls Club on Delaware Avenue in Albany. In this interview Coach discusses the importance of physical and mental health and shares why grapefruit is good for you with Hudson Mohawk Magazine's Dulcinia Diggs. To learn more about this program visit coach G on instagram @gmajor_fit.
Join me for this live episode of Wild Hearts at Work as I chat with Gary Ware, Allison Pollard, and Seth Erickson about one big question: In this Great Resignation era, what is the opportunity for employees to make change in the workplace? Support the show
Normalizing Non-Monogamy - Interviews in Polyamory and Swinging
We are so excited about this conversation with Gary that is all about the power of play in life and in relationships! Gary Ware is the Founder of Breakthrough Play, a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and self-proclaimed Creative Catalyst. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world holding various leadership positions. Being a multifaceted individual Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. After experiencing burnout in his pursuit for success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play. Committing to a life of play is what led Gary to discover his passion for facilitating. Gary uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Gary was recently featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2021 by the Engagedly HR software platform. When Gary isn't leading workshops or speaking, you can find him learning magic or off on an adventure with his wife Courtney and son Garrett. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/
Gary Ware was working as a VP at a digital ad agency when he realized that being completely depleted, feeling broken, and having no drive to do anything was perhaps *not* normal. Gary was experiencing what many of us have faced, especially during the pandemic—burnout. So Gary took an improv class and realized play is what was missing in his life. On the podcast this week, Gary chats with Erica about his journey from burnout to breakthrough by incorporating play and games into the work day. He illustrates how applied improvisation and games help teams and colleagues unlock creativity, confidence, and better communication. Gary shares the challenges of reimagining in-person games to an online environment once the pandemic hit, signs an employee may be on the verge of burnout, why playing a silly game as a team before a client call can make everything go more smoothly, and why sense of intimacy must be created if we want to form a genuine connection. Please Subscribe, Rate and Review on Apple Podcasts You can also listen to the show on: StitcherOvercast GoogleSpotify Resources:Quotes:On his former position: “The vibe was, ‘You sleep when you're dead. Hey, you know what, we're here to work, we're here to work hard.' It was interesting because it was, ‘work hard, play hard,' however there was no playing at all. When you work a 12-hour day and then you go home, the last thing you want to do when you go home is do anything other than sleep.”“As a leader you can start to understand, are people showing up to meetings and *not* bringing their whole selves? And I don't think it's intentional. When you're running at that [overworked] level for so long, you start to deplete yourself. Are people being a little bit more cynical than before? Those are some of the early signs that people may be starting to burn themselves out.”“That's the beauty of play. Play is pleasurable and when you're in true play you want to share with other people.”“We started creating psychological safety just by playing these silly games. We started seeing the purpose of, ‘Oh, wow, this is actually helping us listen better. This is helping us connect better with each other.' And of course, performance increased.”“One of the cool things about [the 5 Things game] is that it starts to prime your brain to look for connections, to look for these blind spots. And then when we would go into meetings, we would be more open to suggestions from our clients. We would actually see [more] ways that we could help our clients.”“When the pandemic first happened and everything stopped being in person and went virtual, it was challenging. How can we create this intimacy when we are miles apart, on camera, and people are stressed out. And so I had to reimagine everything. I had to essentially dissect all my activities and say, ‘Alright, what's the purpose here. Can it work in a virtual environment?' But in the spirit of ‘Yes, and,' I would go into these meetings, and I would just be quite frank with them, and I'd say, ‘Look, I get it. You've probably been on Zoom meeting after Zoom meeting, and the last thing that you want is to do some silly games.' And I would just call out the current environment. And by doing that, it creates this level playing field of like, ‘Alright, cool. You're not trying to sugar coat this situation like nothing wrong is going on in the world.'”“When you create a sense of intimacy, that's where the oxytocin happens. That's where we get the dopamine and the endorphins and then we can focus.”“With the companies I'm working with, how they're looking at their office is almost like a clubhouse. ‘We're all together. This is going to be the time when we're going to connect. This is the time when we're going to do things that are more experiential so that when we disperse, we can be more productive. We will feel like we made those connections.'” Links to Websites or Resources, text numbers email signupsGary's website, Breakthrough PlayErica's websiteOrder Erica's book, Rituals RoadmapOrder Erica's book, Bring Your Human to WorkText ‘human' to 66866 to sign up for Erica's newsletter where she shares how to honor relationships well and how to bring your human to work and life. Connect with Gary:InstagramTwitterLinkedInFacebook Connect with Erica: InstagramTwitterLinkedInFacebook
This episode is the second anthology of the stories shared during Season 2.Chase Reeves talks about advice from his wife's midwife that inspires him to this day. Gary Ware tells the story of how and why he threw himself into play therapy.Marli Williams shares about her first paid public speaking opportunity and the lesson she learned from it.Marc Megna recounts the time he made a big play and how Coach Bill Belachick reacted.Viktoria Harrison talks about getting malaria from her first trip to West Africa and how it almost devastated her life.
Many of us want to have the capacity to be more creative, to be better communicators, and to be able to tap into our empathy. Improvisation can be a tool to broaden your capacity in all of these areas, giving you a playground to expand what you think is possible with a sense of levity and play. Gary Ware and Erica discuss how to use improvisation skills to bring energy and joy to your work and to access your empathy and communication skills. In this discussion: How improvisation and play helps you be present How improv builds your empathy and communication skills Why improv provides a container to safely release and work through difficult emotions Why you need to give yourself permission to play Connect with Gary Ware: Breakthrough Play Connect with Gary on LinkedIn Instagram: @GaryWare Ready to dive deeper? Leading from a place of empathy, curiosity, and play requires you to be clear on your values and what you support so you can build transparency and trust with your team. Join up for the From Implicit To Explicit Masterclass where we help you lead through your values, get explicit about what you support, and align your actions with your values and goals as you shape your company culture.
This week I am joined by Gary Ware. Gary is many things as you will hear shortly - a self proclaimed creative catalyst, and corporate facilitator. He is also a master at play and that is something we dive into as we talk about his upcoming book which is all about play. Gary and I talked about his writing process and how he completed his “play-book'' as someone who has dyslexia and ADHD and how he brought play into the process. He also talked about seeing the world as a proving ground vs as a playground of possibilities, illustrations for a book that isn't a children's book, working with a graphic designer or facilitator and the importance of collaboration in the book writing process. You can check out season 1 and other season 2 guests of Writing Black Joy over on https://www.writingblackjoy.com/ You can jump on his mailing list to be the first to know when his book comes out over at https://www.breakthroughplay.com/ Gary also suggested that you take a look at the magic of Eric Jones and I found a clip here on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL9U4UXnezA Gary and I talked about one of our favourite books The Night Circus and you can find it here https://www.amazon.com/Night-Circus-Erin-Morgenstern/dp/0307744434 If you want to listen to my interview with Jeff Harry then go over to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSL8OFnO3Iw Follow Gary on Instagram over on https://www.instagram.com/garyware/ If you want to know about working with me, go over to https://www.safiyarobinson.com/
Mike and Gary talk about the innovative idea of bringing play into our work lives. They talk about how someone who is very high energy, like Gary, transitioned to online presentations, and how Gary wins over the skeptic in the room. Finally, Mike almost gets Gary kicked out of the Magicians' Alliance by asking him to explain a magic trick.Gary Ware is a Play Consultant for Breakthrough Play, where he helps professionals and companies incorporate play into the workplace to improve creativity and strategic thinking. He's on social media @garyware.Host Mike Pacchione is at bestspeech.co, where listeners can join the weekly email list, get free speaking tips or hire Mike to help your own storytelling skills. Follow Mike on social media @mpacc.
The power of play -- yes as in fun! Yes as in games! Yes as in whatever is playful to you! In this episode, Gary Ware of Breakthrough Play shares how we {adults!} can find and use play to help during times of stress.His personal journey through the corporate routines led him to return to childlike curiosity and learning how to incorporate play back into his days, along with research to support why it has the powerful impact that it does. Turns out, the actual neurochemistry that takes place is extremely similar to the effects of meditation -- boosting feel good chemicals in the brain and all that follows.And guess what else -- "play" doesn't look the same for everyone or mean the same thing for everyone. Gary explains the "play personalities" [free assessment below!] where you can connect with what makes you feel fun, it's not all jungle gyms and board games.Listen up and send to a friend who may use these uplifting reminders and more!Gary's Links:Breakthrough Play's websiteGary's Play Personality AssessmentThe Accountability Success Circle {ASC}Follow Gary on IG _______________________________________________
Two years into the pandemic, things still feel heavy. To cope, some professionals have turned to self-medication versus meditation (or other healthy habits). For many of us marketers, our creative candles have flamed out. Instead of focusing on discussing the theme, "The Great Resignation," what if we made 2022 "The Year of PLAY?" In Episode 51, we explore the connection of PLAY to performance with my colleague, Gary Ware. You may think I'm glossing over the severity of the pandemic. I'm not. I recognize and feel the collective global trauma on a daily basis. Instead, I'm inviting you to sit in the sandbox for a bit, and try on a new perspective. Let me offer additional context from Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk. He is the author of the seminal book, The Body Keeps the Score. Van Der Kolk believes that we have become overly dependent on pharmacological solutions to address trauma and mental illness in Western cultures. He calls it the "brain-disease model." The model overlooks four fundamental truths: 1) Restoring relationships and community is central to restoring well-being 2) Language gives us the power to change ourselves and others and find a shared sense of meaning; 3) We can regulate our physiology…through basic activities such as breathing, moving, and touching; and 4) We can change social conditions to create environments where we can feel safe and where we can thrive." PLAY enables all four. That was enough for me to reach out to Gary Ware. In this livestream he outlined the strategies that he uses with marketing and leadership teams to re-ignite creativity, trust, and passion. He is the president of Breakthrough Play in San Diego, CA. Tune in this episode of The Mindful Marketer now— Re-Engage Your Marketing Team: The 2022 Playbook. Watch the replay on LinkedIn. Some key moments include: ✔️ The PLAY model helps us create the right environment for learning and experimentation. Ware has taught this framework at AARP, Intel, Salesforce, SAP, and Kaiser Permanente. The PLAYbook consists of these 4 qualities: #1 - Psychological safety: Create an environment where people aren't afraid of being judged. Allow yourself to say something vulnerable. This gives other permission to do the same. #2 - Listening: Leaders must always listen to understand. #3 - Adapt - Adaptability is crucial to play. #4 - Y- "The Why" - how can you accept reality and build on it? ✔️ The PLAY model isn't a trite acronym. It is a proven way to re-ignite job satisfaction, trust, and team confidence, especially in high stakes situations. Most people think of play as "it's childish" or "it's what kids do." In reality, Ware points to proven science of how play helps engage teams. Listen to the replay on Stitcher. ✔️PLAY helps you spend much less time repeating your messages–and hoping they stick. Dr. Karyn Purvis conducted a study on how we learn and retain information. She found that creating a new synapse neural pathway requires about 400-420 repetitions before it sticks. However, you can shortcut that to as few as 10 repetitions if you add play. When you are playing, you are engaging all of your senses. Listen to the replay on Stitcher. You create a sandbox for your employees to play by creating those elements. Listen to the replay on Stitcher. ✔️ Being a PLAY-full culture starts with one step: Find the moments or rituals in your organization that could use more playfulness. Then, set your intentions using a template from Tiny Habits author, BJ Fogg: "Before we start our brainstorming session, I will take 5 minutes and brainstorm ideas by myself, because I know it will pry my brain to be more creative." May your holidays be PLAY-full! See you next year. Copyright 2021, Lisa Nirell. All rights reserved. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Lisa Nirell of EnergizeGrowth™ LLC helps courageous marketers and CEOs accelerate growth and get promoted faster. Download your Mindful Marketer learning bonuses at themindfulmarketer.com/bonus. You will also join the "know ahead" list for our upcoming Life Streams. Do something NEW in 2022—for your career and your personal growth. If you are feeling isolated, consider applying to the Marketing Growth Leaders. It's a collection of some of the country's top marketing leaders that have taken us ten years to cultivate. Learn more here. Gary Ware is the Founder of Breakthrough Play, a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and self-proclaimed Creative Catalyst. Gary uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Copyright 2021, Lisa Nirell. All rights reserved.
Neuro*Queering: Beyond the intersection of Neurodiversity and Queerness
Gary Ware is quite simply one of my favorite people on the planet. To know him is to love him.In this episode, Gary and I talk about how PLAY unexpectedly saved both of our lives. You have probably heard that the opposite of play is depression and perfection. Yes, And...We go quickly and deeply into conversation about our painful and pivotal catalyst moments that lead us to a place where we value PLAY and pleasure. Gary is masterful at encouraging companies/schools to use play to improve productivity, collaboration, and engagement. We discuss how play can even save your relationships. Couples that play together, stay together! This conversation is rich with tips on living with ADHD, pleasure/play practices, having difficult conversations, parenting, worthiness/self care, and the magical healing powers of games. Follow your compass of joy, commit to those things that bring you joy, and witness yourself saving your own life. Gary Ware is a creative yet strategic Play Consultant. He helps companies and professionals level up their skills. He is also an improvisational comedian AND a brilliant magician. Gary's mission is to help people become more creative, confident, and collaborative through play. He is the founder of Breakthrough Play and, most importantly, a husband and father. Gary is simply inspirational and completely lovable. I feel like he brings out the best version of everyone he meets. "For every job that must be done, there is an element of fun, and (SNAP!) the job becomes a game" Mary Poppins"We are all wired for play and we need to find our way back to the playground" Gary WareTo reach Gary: breakthroughplay.comIG @garyware and @breakthroughplayTo reach Pasha:pashamarlowe.comFB/IG @pashamarloweBOOK YOUR FREE LIBERATION CALL HERE https://calendly.com/pashamarlowe/30minSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/pashamarlowe)
Purposeful play at work is an underrated indicator of productivity, team belonging and team morale, so why are we not talking more about it? Join me and guests Gary Ware and Jeff Harry explore play as the “special sauce” for psychologically safe teams and innovative companies. Jeff and Gary share their perspective of play from the lens of positive psychology and what organizations and leaders can do to create the right environment to enable spaces where flow and play can happen. Here is what you will learn in this episode: The role of purposeful play in creating psychologically safe workplaces. Laughter and experimentation as observable measurements of psychological safety within a team. The power of “permission to play” and experimentation on a team's morale, productivity, creativity, and innovation. Understanding the role of play for humans in learning, growing, and connecting. We touch on the different varieties of play personalities and the importance of a diverse definition of play. The importance of increasing the percentage of a teams' total motivation and “flow” work (play, purpose and potential) and the impact on resilience, productivity, reduced turnover and feelings of purpose for team members. (Source: Primed to Perform: How to Build the Highest Performing Cultures Through the Science of Total Motivation). What organizations and leaders can do to create the right systems and environment to enable spaces where flow and play can happen. Hint: it starts with trust and understanding the people as humans! The characteristics of an organization that experiences anti-play and barriers to play including: a bias toward success, a bias toward action, a bias toward fitting in, and a bias toward being seen as “the expert.” Resources Referenced: Primed to Perform: How to Build the Highest Performing Cultures Through the Science of Total Motivation 7 Varieties of Play Personalities Work with Gary: Breakthrough Play Website Twitter & Instagram: @garyware YouTube Channel Work with Jeff: Rediscover Your Play Website Twitter & Instagram: @JeffHarryPlays YouTube Channel --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humanlypossible/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/humanlypossible/support