Fostering Fun: Duke Harten's Playbook

I want to share a story about Duke Harten, a dynamo in shaking up workplace culture and organic videos , making it a bit more fun, and maybe even a touch ridiculous—in the best way possible.

Office Shenanigans and March Madness

So, you know the usual office humdrum, right? The constant drone of keyboards, the endless cycle of coffee-making? Duke Harten found a way to flip that script at his company, Shinesty. Picture this: Duke once flirted with the idea of impersonating his CEO to resolve an MLB uniform snafu with the Colorado Rockies. Crazy, right? Though he didn’t go through with it, it gives you a taste of his boldness (or let's call it unparalleled cheekiness).

Now, if you really want to grasp Duke's flair for the dramatic, let's talk about his "office March Madness competition." Not just your run-of-the-mill office pool—this turned into a national sensation! A simple idea grew legs (and maybe wings) because Duke curated it meticulously, then gave it the freedom to go viral. Moral of the story? Sometimes the most casual idea can make the biggest splash if you organize it thoughtfully and let creativity take over.

Action Point: Got an idea? Don’t dismiss it! Organize a small, fun competition. It might just resonate with your team and have unforeseen impacts.

Introducing "Music League" and the Power of Fun

Having conquered March Madness, Duke didn't stop there. He introduced "Music League" via Slack—a communal activity where employees submit songs based on a theme, creating a playlist that everyone votes on. This wasn’t just a fleeting gimmick; it brought staff together, igniting interaction and camaraderie. You might think your team won't engage in such quirky activities. Duke's advice? Start small. Even the tiniest, goofiest activities can make a big difference.

Action Point: Start a Music League in your office. Use Slack, Teams, or even good old-fashioned email. Theme the playlists—'Songs that make you feel invincible' or 'Guilty pleasures only'—and watch your team vibe and bond over melodies.

Invest in What Works: Platform Adversity & Adaptation

Fun fact: Duke manages the social media for Shinesty and focuses on the organic reach on TikTok and Instagram. He's a living testament to the philosophy, “entertain first, sell second.” He noticed TikTok's content shifting away from viral dances toward more personalized, creator-focused content. What did Duke do? He adapted.

When asked about his strategy for navigating the ever-changing social media landscape, Duke underlined the importance of sticking to what works for your brand and not spreading yourself like thin butter across too many platforms. If TikTok were to disappear tomorrow, he'd pivot. Flexibility is key, folks!

Action Point: Assess your current social media strategy. Are you diluting your efforts by trying to be everywhere? Focus on one or two platforms that work best for you and your audience.

Creative Content & Wholesome Engagement

Duke's approach? If it’s not wholesome and positive, it’s not happening. Take his series where he texted the CEO daily until he got blocked. Witty much? A sure-fire engagement magnet! The takeaway here: Identify what your audience responds to and hone in on it.

He emphasizes: Keep your content concise, make it tell a story in under two minutes. And when all else fails, combine humor with acts of thoughtfulness. One time, Duke made a custom card for a colleague, a small gesture that blended humor with genuine intent. It’s this marriage of fun and sincerity that makes his strategy stand out.

Action Point: Challenge yourself to tell a compelling story in under two minutes. A product, a service, a persona. Brainstorm transactional and engaging content to balance the scales.

The Game Show Dream & Beyond Office Walls

Imagine an office-based British Taskmaster; this is exactly the kind of energy Duke brings to Shinesty. He always looks for positives in interactions, making everyone feel included and celebrated. His future dream? Hosting a game show—one that’s inclusive, fun, and dripping in camaraderie.

Action Point: Consider organizing your own mini-office game show. You don’t need high production values—just a bit of creativity and a lot of heart.

Conclusion: Create Joy, One Silly Challenge at a Time

Duke has mastered creating joy in unexpected places. From turning mundane office spaces into a hive of humor to innovating marketing strategies, he demonstrates that finding joy at work isn't about grand gestures or huge budgets. It’s about small, consistent efforts to make people smile and feel connected. So go ahead, channel your inner Duke Harten. Introduce a goofy activity. Dream big. Keep it fun, keep it real, and watch the magic unfold.

Ready to take your workspace from “meh” to marvelous? One silly challenge at a time. Trust me; it’s worth it.

Listen to Episode 240 of Creative Chats podcast with guest Duke Harten.

Bringing Smiles Through the Art of Social Media

If you've been following me for any length of time, you know that I practice a daily art habit. I create at least one piece of art a day, and post it to social media. As of late I have also been incorporating public images I find through my social media streams, namely Instagram.

Some people have wondered why I would choose to pick a random stranger and use their post for inspiration to create a daily digital drawing. Aside from looking for ideas and inspiration, I have found that when I create a piece of art centered around someone else, it brings surprise and delight to that person (expect only once, where the person was a little apprehensive). 

There has been so much noise on social media with everyone airing their opinions on current events and politics. So much hate and division. Rather than add fuel to the fire or checking out completely, I'd rather start another conversation - using social media to spread JOY and KINDNESS. 

Below are two recent examples of recipients of my daily art from their posts to Instagram, along with their reactions. This is why I do it. To make people smile. To make them feel noticed and loved, even if for a moment in their day. You never know what someone else may be going through. And as an Artist, you have the power to use your art to benefit someone else's life. I mean, it's blessed you in the act of creating it right? Why not share that blessing?

Where can you share your talents or art to enrich the lives of others? Try it for 7 days straight and see what happens. I'd love to hear about it!

One of the many Yoga inspired digital drawings I've done as of late. @flyandreleaseyoga

This drawing was following a recent Walker Stalker event, where I was part of the Artist Alley. So many fans of The Walking Dead were excited to meet their favorite stars. I just had to capture this moment from @ProducerJamieNYC with #NormanReedus @BigBaldHead

My 100 Day Project Completed

This image represents the last 100 days of my life. 100 Days of sketching photos from my Instagram feed using only my iPhone and a stylus as part of the 100 Day Project with Elle Luna and The Great Discontent.

What a journey. I would choose a photo, sketch it (using an app called Sketchclub), upload and tag the original Instagram user who posted the photo. 

Friends. Social Media buddies. New friends. Organizations. Other artists. And celebrities. 

Fun moments happened. Like when Emily Kinney (from the Walking Dead) repost my art. Or my portrait of fellow artist Jon Burgerman shared my sketch in the official 100 Day Project email sent out to the thousands of participants. Or people I don't know expressed gratitude and said they were honored to be sketched. Or friends who I made smile because I captured them in sketch format.

I may take some of these sketches and use them for some other projects. As a matter of fact I already started to turn a few into actual physical paintings.

And perhaps I'll continue to do smaller 30 day sketch projects. What do you think? What themes should I explore? This time I reached to include surfing, yoga and some underwater sea life. Leave a comment if there's a subject matter you'd like to see me tackle.

So farewell for now. Until next time 100 Day Project!

30 Paintings in 30 Days Complete Project

Here's a look at the 30 days all together in one collage. Enjoy!

30 in 30: Day 30

Day 30 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @popesaintvictor

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 29

Day 29 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @bammerjoy

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 28

Day 28 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @kwick

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 27

Day 27 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @_cherishthemoment

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 26

Day 26 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @mediapeople

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 25

Day 25 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @pamelaroserodriguez

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 24

Day 24 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @emiliapare

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 23

Day 23 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @heredes

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 22

Day 22 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @mrs_kier

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 21

Day 21 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @Boston41

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 20

Day 20 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @brynnwatkins

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 19

Day 19 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @lorikadlec / @oliviaschoeller

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 18

Day 18 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @lady_reade / @gregreade

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 17

Day 17 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @djkennymitchell

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 16

Day 16 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @negrouriburu

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

30 in 30: Day 15

Day 15 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I'm using sketches i created from Instagram photos on my iPhone I did as part of a 100 day project and turing 30 of them into paintings. User: @madisonkaytucker

Original Instagram photo:

100 Day iPhone Sketch:

30 in 30 day painting:

Acrylic & Ink. 8 x 8 on 140 lb. watercolor paper.