One-der-fuel Issue Number 26 – The joy of celebrating

Celebrating is just the most joyous thing ever. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, new baby, new job, new clients, new house.

But these are pretty huge things that don’t come round all that often. So this means we don’t end up celebrating stuff nearly enough as I think we should do.

Celebrating stuff however small is a very clever way of teaching your subconscious that you are infact a very successful person.

Much like gratitude, patting yourself on the back and celebrating is essentially giving yourself a present. The small release of dopamine happens and low and behold, the same sort of feelings come in that happen when you are actually given a present.

So go celebrate something small, buy yourself a coffee or a sugar based snack, sit back and pat yourself on the back because rarely these days, the only pats on the back we get are from others and even they are too few and far between.

Manners and gratitude to yourself will go a long way.

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// Quote of the fortnight //

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// The founder diary //

There I was at the Royal Festival Hall, ever so slightly high on the fact that I’d just attended the most unreal full orchestral version of one of my favourite albums ever. And the fact I’d had a couple of beers too...

“You’re the joy guy off LinkedIn.”

He caught me off guard, and I paused for a second before responding, “YES, yes I am!”

“And you’re Wonderman, Wonderthing…”

“Wonderment.”

“Yes, Wonderment. Man, I love what you are doing. Keep spreading the joy!”

And with that, he had turned and gone.

There I stood with one of my best mates, having attended one of the best gigs ever and having just been given arguably one of the best compliments of my life.

A few years back, when I set up my branding agency Wonderment, joy was one of the drivers and the reasoning behind the name. Something joyful, something wonderful, that is meant, deliberate and done on purpose. Joy on purpose.

As a self-confessed brand enjoyneer with 30 years of experience in branding, I am always helping my clients aim for their north star, creating a brand that stands for one thing above all else.

You’d think it would then come easily to me to do the same for myself. But as all you creatives out there know, practising what you preach to others on yourself is a near impossible task.

When I set up Wonderment three years ago, did I intentionally set out to become the ‘joy guy’ on LinkedIn? Not intentionally. But has my daily practice of creating and sharing as much joy as I can led me to now being in that exact place? You bet it has.

Did I love the fact that I had become recognised for something? Ok maybe a little. More it, was how it made me feel in that moment.

The most me I think I have ever felt.

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// The joyful brand – Duolingo //

Duolingo didn’t reinvent learning a language.

They reinvented how it feels to learn one.

Because let’s face it, learning a new language can feel a lot like going back to school. Homework, repetition, getting things wrong and the slightly terrifying prospect of speaking French to an actual French person.

Then Duolingo came along with a bright green owl called Duo.

Rather than behaving like a serious educational business, Duolingo turned learning into a game. Little celebrations when you get something right, daily streaks you become ridiculously protective of and a green owl who seems personally offended if you dare miss a lesson. And those sounds and noises when you succeed and move on. Bada ding!

And then there’s the brand’s social media, where Duo has become something of an internet celebrity, behaving more like an unhinged comedian than the mascot of a language-learning app.

But that’s what I love about Duolingo. They’ve understood that making something enjoyable doesn’t make it any less valuable. In fact, it can make people want to keep coming back.

Because joy isn’t just something you feel when you’ve achieved something. It can be the very thing that keeps you going.

That’s the joy of Duolingo.

Who knew learning French could be such a hoot?

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// From the archives – Resolve App //

Not every brand needs to make people smile. Sometimes making people feel understood is far more important.

Resolve is an app designed to help couples navigate difficult conversations and work through relationship challenges together.

The problem is that seeking relationship support can feel intimidating, uncomfortable and, for some, like admitting something has gone terribly wrong.

So when it came to creating the brand, the challenge wasn’t to make something that looked like another therapy service. It was to make the whole experience feel more approachable, reassuring and human.

At the heart of the identity is a simple little symbol combining two people, a speech bubble and a sound wave. A visual expression of what Resolve is really about. Getting people talking, listening and understanding each other.

Because good branding isn’t just about making something look different. It’s about intentionally designing how people feel about it.

And sometimes the most joyful thing a brand can give someone isn’t a laugh or a smile. It’s the relief of knowing they’re not alone.

That’s the joy of Resolve.

Want to see some more work? Here you go…

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// Word of the fortnight – Joyvolution™ //

I’ve started a Joyvolution.

And I’d love you to be part of it.

Without meaning to go all woo woo on you, my reason for being, is to create and share as much joy in the world as I can. Through the work I do and how I choose to live each day.

Wonderment is how I put that purpose to work, helping businesses discover how making people feel better can help them do better.

Because there’s something powerful about a business that makes you feel welcome, puts a little spring in your step or surprises you with just how much someone cares. Those feelings give people a reason to choose you again, and a story worth sharing.

I call that transformation Joyvolution. It happens when we embrace joy as a strategic advantage, asking “How could this feel better?” with the same enthusiasm we bring to “How could this work better?”

And I want to live that idea too. There are opportunities to share a little joy every day, often in the smallest moments, if we choose to take them.

Making a good living while making life feel a little better.

Now that’s a Joyvolution worth starting.

Click to see all my other made up words

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// Happy Birthday to me //

In the spirit of all things celebrational this week, not only does Wonderfuel celebrate it’s birthday today. But last week This week I celebrated three years of Wonderment. Three years being the most joyful agency out there. Three years of taking joy seriously. But more to the point, three years making dull brands nervous.

So what have I been up to the last three years?

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// The Wonderfuel archive //

So you missed an episode of Wonderful. Don’t worry joy never bears a grudge. Here is a link in that will allow you read all the past issues in the joynal on the Wonderment Website.

Popcorn at the ready…

Off you go!

Click for the Wonderfuel Archive

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// And lastly, always remember… //

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