logo
episode-header-image
Oct 27
46m 10s

586 – The Power of Play in Business with...

Henry Lopez
About this episode

Toy designer and educator Cas Holman explores how embracing play can unlock creativity, reduce stress, and help small business owners reframe failure as part of growth.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/586-cas-holman-play-in-business/

Cas Holman, renowned toy designer, educator, and author of Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity, shares with host Henry Lopez how play isn't just for children. It's a powerful mindset for entrepreneurs.

From her early projects like Rigamajig and playful installations at New York's High Line to working with teams at Google, Nike, and the LEGO Foundation, Cas has made a career out of turning curiosity and experimentation into design breakthroughs.

Cas and Henry discuss how small business owners can benefit from a more playful approach to work, shifting from rigid outcomes to exploration and possibility. Cas explains her "three essentials for adults to relearn play": release judgment, embrace possibility, and reframe success.

Together they reveal how these principles foster innovation, collaboration, and agility - qualities essential for thriving in today's rapidly changing business environment.

"The most important thing any human can be right now is flexible," Cas shares. "A playful mindset makes us more creative, more agile, and more open to what's possible."

You will be inspired to integrate play into small business meetings, problem-solving, and daily business life. Transforming creativity from a childhood memory into a strategic advantage.

Cas Holman is an award-winning toy designer, educator, and author. Founder and Chief Designer of Heroes Will Rise and creator of the acclaimed Rigamajig building kits, her work focuses on the combination of creativity, design, and learning through play. Formerly a professor of Industrial Design at the Rhode Island School of Design, Cas now consults with companies and teams around the world, including Google, Nike, and Disney Imagineering, on the power of play to inspire innovation.

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Up next
Yesterday
R393 – Rethinking Hourly Worker Motivation
Motivating hourly employees starts with a mindset shift. To do it well, it requires rethinking how we lead, communicate, and create purpose for hourly workers. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/r393-rethinking-hourly-worker-motivation/ Host Henry Lopez and his ori ... Show More
42m 14s
Oct 20
585 – Crafting Your Sales Pitch
Learn a simple, repeatable framework for crafting an effective sales pitch that connects, communicates value, and inspires action. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/585-crafting-your-sales-pitch/ Crafting an effective sales pitch isn't about being slick or persuas ... Show More
18m 56s
Oct 13
584 – Essential Legal Tips with Wesley Henderson
Attorney and entrepreneur Wesley Henderson shares practical legal insights every small business owner needs to protect their business and operate with confidence. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/584-wesley-henderson-legal-tips/ Disclaimer: The information in thi ... Show More
43m 46s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
How to Scale a Start-Up
Managing rapid growth is a huge challenge for young businesses. Even start-ups with glowing reviews and skyrocketing sales can fail . That’s because new ventures and corporate initiatives alike must sustain profitability at scale, according to Harvard Business School senior lectu ... Show More
27m 45s
Jun 2023
S9 Ep24. Scaling a Startup in Asia
Welcome to FOMO Sapiens, the podcast about entrepreneurial thinkers who don't just follow the crowd, but instead take their own path to success in business and in life. In this episode, host Patrick J. McGinnis is joined by Ron Baetiong, a successful entrepreneur from the Philipp ... Show More
41m 4s
Sep 2024
How Startups Can Turn Failure into Success
AptDeco, a peer-to-peer marketplace for used furniture, launched in New York City in 2014. Despite its complexity and high costs, the company grew quickly. Co-founders Reham Fagiri and Kalam Dennis considered several different options for scaling the business—from expanding into ... Show More
25m 58s
Sep 2024
24 Steps to Launch a Start-Up
Many people aspire to entrepreneurship. But Bill Aulet, who has advised founders for decades, warns that it remains a high-risk endeavor. In this episode, he outlines concrete steps anyone can take to get a new venture off the ground — including intrapreneurs within large organiz ... Show More
28m 46s
Jan 2025
How He Built a $1M/Day Brand Through Bold Marketing and Innovation | Rudy Mawer | EP 56
In this episode, Rudy Mawer shares his journey from a fitness entrepreneur to a global branding and marketing powerhouse, generating $1 million a day in revenue and managing $300,000 daily ad spends. He discusses the pivotal role of personal branding, the importance of embracing ... Show More
31m 59s
Apr 2025
How An Online Marketer Raised $100M For His Business | Brian Moran
In this episode of The Wealthy Way podcast, I sit down with Brian Moran, the founder of SamCart, an eCommerce platform that helps business owners sell products, maximize profits, and build long-term customer relationships. We dive into Brian's journey, the birth of SamCart, ... Show More
1h 37m
Dec 2023
THE BIGGEST STARTUP OPPORTUNITIES IN 2024 BY LEAN STARTUP GUY ERIC RIES
Greg interviews Eric Ries, author of "The Lean Startup" and founder of The Long Term Stock Exchange.They talk about how to test business ideas, why businesses with a social mission will outperform, and opportunities in AI.►►Subscribe to Greg's weekly newsletter for insights on co ... Show More
46m 41s
Oct 2024
E105: Ryan Serhant: How Successful Entrepreneurs Manage Time (1,000 Minute Rule)
David Weisburd speaks with Ryan Serhant, founder and CEO of Serhant, about the explosive growth following the Netflix debut of *Owning Manhattan*. They discuss how the show has transformed the business, increasing market diversification, website traffic, and lead engagement. Ryan ... Show More
39m 52s
Apr 2025
Scaling Smart: Financial Strategies for High-Growth Startups
As the startup funding landscape evolves, is your financial strategy keeping pace? In this changing environment, a well-crafted financial strategy has become increasingly crucial for startups. Janelle Gorman, CFO of York IE, York IE, an advisory and investment firm that helps tec ... Show More
37m 26s
Dec 2024
The 1% Mindset: Success through Focus, Team Building, and Marketing Mastery [REPOST] | Andy Elliott | EP 51
Andy Elliot advocates for achieving top-tier status in one's industry by focusing on mastery in a singular area rather than diversifying efforts. Throughout the conversation, there is a recurring emphasis on the significance of constant self-improvement, resilient mindsets, and s ... Show More
45m 39s