Why Portland’s Weather Helps Us Work and Play Better

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

B. Scott Taylor, GoLocalPDX MINDSETTER™

Photo credit: iStock

That was close.

After a blue bird summer, full of sun and amazing temperatures, I thought we were in trouble. I actually started to imagine that Portland had lost its mind and become Santa Barbara.

The thing is, the weather here is what really defines us. It sets the tone for most of what we do and how we do it, when we do it, what we wear when doing it and whether we do it inside or outside when we do it.

It? Well, it is both work and play. And as it turns out, play pretty much comes first in Portland. In fact, one of the foremost authorities on the subject of play and the role of said activity in our lives, and more importantly on our productivity in the workplace, is a Portlander.

Kevin Carroll, also known as the “Katalyst” lives right here in our fair city. He is one of our genuine human treasures. Kind of like our version of the Dalai Lama, but black, an Air Force Veteran from Philly and married with kids.

You should know that Phil Knight let him pick his job title when he was recruited years ago to come out to Portland to do – well, what Kevin does. Be Kevin for Nike. That was his job for eight years full time. After that, he went on the road to share his story of “play” with audiences around the world.

So what’s his theory? He believes that play has a purpose, and that productive play can become part of our work - it can even be the work itself. According to Kevin, if people embrace their spirit of play, they can maximise their potential and that can help in both their personal growth but also their professional growth and the growth of their business.

You can find that story in a best selling book he wrote called The Rules of the Red Rubber Ball, Published by ESPN/Disney.

So back to the big scare this year.

Can you imagine if it was sunny all the time here? The carnage it would bring to our little damp, drizzly, Parka -clad, Rose city makes me shake with horror.

When I first moved here in 95 I arrived at my office at 7am. Not super aggressive but not Portland casual either. I was the new boss from the east coast arriving to grow the business to another level, get people fired up and continue to build my corporate resume.

As I looked around at an eerily quiet office, it hit me that I might be the only one there. “Where the f**k is everybody” I said out loud, thinking no one was there to hear my shriek.

A response came moments later. It was from my new assistant. She proceeded to tell me that everybody was probably getting lattes and relaxing, enjoying the sun because it rarely pays us a visit. Because that’s Portland.

So I thank you rain, for coming home where you belong. You have brought order and purpose back to our beloved city of pale skin and ugly shoes.

Let it rain again and let us now work tirelessly to build great companies and pay our bills. To complain with utter satisfaction about the terrible weather.

We know how to work, but maybe that’s because we also know how to play. We can relax and enjoy the sun because we know that when the rains come, we’ll be putting our heads down and working through winter again. And maybe finding a way to incorporate that spirit of play into our work. And I for one doff my hat to Kevin Caroll for that.

Originally from New York, Scott Taylor moved to Portland in 1996. He's an entrepreneur, Internet millionaire, former MadMan, author, eco-industrialist and disruptive force.

Banner Photo Credit: iStock