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Fun Is Good: How To Create Joy & Passion in Your Workplace & Career
Maverick marketing whiz Mike Veeck presents his simple, no-fail formula for business make work fun and you'll create a culture where the best people will want to work and customers will want to spend their money.
Mike Veeck runs six minor-league baseball teams, and for each of them he's drafted a business plan that begins with three simple "Fun is good." The fun-is-good philosophy not only has worked to make an evening at one of his ballparks--full of laughs, zany promotions, and free giveaways--enjoyable for everyone; it has transformed a half-dozen money-losing or start-up teams into a thriving $25 million business.
In this book Veeck, son of legendary baseball owner Bill Veeck, shows why an injection of fun, creativity, and passion is so essential to business success. We
o Why customer service, the lifeblood of any business, suffers when employees aren't having fun at work
o How just a few people with the fun-is-good attitude can transform an entire workplace
o What companies should look for when hiring people and how employees can forge a fun-is-good career path.
Throughout, the book is peppered with vignettes, where we hear firsthand from people who have benefited professionally and personally from the fun-is-good philosophy and how they have applied it specifically to their own industries and careers.
Mike Veeck runs six minor-league baseball teams, and for each of them he's drafted a business plan that begins with three simple "Fun is good." The fun-is-good philosophy not only has worked to make an evening at one of his ballparks--full of laughs, zany promotions, and free giveaways--enjoyable for everyone; it has transformed a half-dozen money-losing or start-up teams into a thriving $25 million business.
In this book Veeck, son of legendary baseball owner Bill Veeck, shows why an injection of fun, creativity, and passion is so essential to business success. We
o Why customer service, the lifeblood of any business, suffers when employees aren't having fun at work
o How just a few people with the fun-is-good attitude can transform an entire workplace
o What companies should look for when hiring people and how employees can forge a fun-is-good career path.
Throughout, the book is peppered with vignettes, where we hear firsthand from people who have benefited professionally and personally from the fun-is-good philosophy and how they have applied it specifically to their own industries and careers.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2005
3 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 20, 2009
This is one of the best books I've read! It's entertaining and informative and also gives you lots of inspiration for ideas to publicize your company, career, event or product. Loaded with lots of anecdotes about the business of baseball from the minors to the majors. Successes, failures, nothing is held back. That's why I love it. This guy is as real as it gets and humbly describes a life of ups and downs and overcoming tough obstacles. My kind of read!
May 23, 2018
Very interesting book revolving around Mike Veeck’s (Owner of the St Paul Saints) business philosophy “Fun is Good”. It is all about putting the fun back in the work place. There is a high amount of Mr. Veeck promoting his dad and his genius ideas with past baseball teams they have run. I didn’t find this too off putting as his narrative style is excellent, and this is a book about self promotion and finding the fun in things. I found a lot of good ideas in this book that I think can help me on both a business and personal level. Mr. Veeck has been extremely successful for the most part. When he has failed, he has owned up to it and learned from it. Anyone trying to put more joy in their workplace could benefit from reading this book.
August 13, 2023
Great book! Opened my mind to loads of ideas! My team and I have fun at work but even a little more fun doesn't hurt anyone! Must Read!
August 7, 2017
This book read like an autobiography of the authors dad and that was not what I was expecting from this book. There were countless tales about his dad and the author running baseball teams. I started counting the number of times I read "me", "my", "I", "my dad" that I had to quit there were so many. The author came across as very egotistical. I did not enjoy this read nor did I get anything out of it as a business woman.
July 25, 2025
Excellent book. A must-read for anyone working in sports, especially minor league baseball, but good for any professional. Littered with anecdotes from Mike Veck and his father, two icons in sports promotions.
My biggest takeaway was don’t take yourself seriously but take your job seriously.
My biggest takeaway was don’t take yourself seriously but take your job seriously.
January 29, 2008
This book was penned by the man who was lambasted for his Disco demolition stunt in Cominsky Park. In the middle of a doubleheader, the promoters put a box of disco records in the middle of the field with a bomb. When it exploded, fans ran onto the field and commenced creating their own disco record explosions. This eventually caused the cancellation of the second game is considered a travesty in baseball lore.
However, it has become part of baseball lore. From a marketing standpoint, it was brilliant. How many marketing stunts have 25th anniversary DVDs?
This is a book about embracing failure, laughing, trying something new, and of course having fun. The book largely follows Mike Veeck and his father’s philosophies and antics with baseball (and a few other businesses they tried). It’s a fun book that those who are a little disgruntled or inspired with their workplace should read. Surely, you will find something that will make you laugh and improve your own workplace.
However, it has become part of baseball lore. From a marketing standpoint, it was brilliant. How many marketing stunts have 25th anniversary DVDs?
This is a book about embracing failure, laughing, trying something new, and of course having fun. The book largely follows Mike Veeck and his father’s philosophies and antics with baseball (and a few other businesses they tried). It’s a fun book that those who are a little disgruntled or inspired with their workplace should read. Surely, you will find something that will make you laugh and improve your own workplace.
October 2, 2015
Mike Veeck gives us a little bit of "inside baseball" on how he runs his minor league baseball teams. It has rich anecdotes from his past and his father's past, along with case studies from well known businesses that institute similar philosophies in the business world.
There are times that this book was hard to follow, but overall it was an enjoyable read and it has some benefit.
There are times that this book was hard to follow, but overall it was an enjoyable read and it has some benefit.
September 10, 2014
This book was recommended by my father. The author shares his personal story of how he made his work place and the baseball stadiums and teams that he owned a fun and enjoyable place to work and attend. Many ideas are presented on how to enjoy life and build a great work environment.
December 10, 2009
Veeck's stories are good but the value of his management advice is limited.
May 11, 2010
Fun Is Good because that’s the way life is supposed to be. It’s the main feeling that we’re supposed to have. I mean, if you’re not having fun, what’s the point?
February 23, 2012
Fun book to read , some great stories about baseball and bringing some fun to where you work.
August 2, 2013
Really enjoy Mike's sense of adventure and his creativity. as a businessman and baseball fan, this is a fun read.
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January 7, 2018Loved it!! Sent to friends!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews