Working in tech can be fun, and you can make it even more fun for everyone involved!
There’s absolutely no need to be so serious all the time.
Sure, I’ve received a comment about not being “professional” when I configured our proxy/ADC to present 🐶(dog) & 🐱(cat) pictures on certain HTTP error codes.
(see example pics in slide deck below)
And sure, there’s a line there somewhere, but sometimes we just shouldn’t listen to the negative comments. 😉
And then there are some who are actively promoting fun into tech and networking.
For instance, Chloe Condon (x: @chloecondon) has included “the importance of bringing humor and dad jokes into tech” in multiple presentations & podcasts.
Alexis Bertholf tag line here on linkedin, X and tiktok is “making network engineering cool again 💅🏼”
Kevin Nanns IG is “Making technology easy (and fun!)”
Erika Dietrick tag line on LinkedIn includes “Tech should be fun!”
And more superheroes bringing fun into the profession! 🙂
But ok, maybe you’re not a content creator making awesome & funny videos (yet…), that doesn’t need to stop you from bringing fun into the workplace.
For example…
➡️ If you run a proxy/ADC/web service, you can use http.dog and http.cat services to display error codes.
➡️ If you need to make a presentation, include bad(dad)-jokes and memes.
➡️ If there’s a [pink] theme day at work, go all in!
➡️ Bring the gifs & memes into the work chat 😉
And if you think for a moment that, nahh, you want to be “professional” like all the big respectable companies, just remember that:
💀 Splunk repeatedly refers to itself as a T-Shirt company.
💀 If you look inside some of Cisco’s hardware, you’ll find images of hobbits and other stuff, plus Cisco has made some interesting comics.
💀 Microsoft’s “Ugly Christmas Sweater” is so popular that when available, it sells out instantly.
💀 Speaking of Microsoft… Clippy. Need I say more?
💀 Juniper’s “show version and haiku” shows that the fun can committed into production!
And the list goes on, probably ending with the social media team at Wendy’s.
So how are you bringing fun into your workplace (and tech)?
Comment on my LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jonatanj_fun-into-tech-activity-7284321770961010688-WtnR