By @taylrmcarthur

Would you rather crunch numbers in a boardroom or on a beach? Launch a marketing strategy from a formula or from a work of art? Win customers over with ‘customer acquisition strategies’ or with personality?

Here at Androids and Oranges, we say, if you have a choice, who wouldn’t choose the latter?

And Entrepreneur Sam Calagione agrees.

In his book, Brewing Up a Business: Adventures in Beer from the Founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Calagione shares his views on business and entrepreneurship mixed in with some very entertaining stories about how he has built his brewery over the past 15 years. Many of the stories that Calagione shares come from experiences he had outside of his business, doing things that seemingly had nothing to do with his brewery – and yet ended up having a profound effect on his company.

Calagione explains to his reader that most of the aha-moments, exciting new ideas, or innovative concepts that have helped his brewery grow at an astounding rate have come not while in the office in front of a computer screen, but rather while he was taking part in one of his many hobbies outside of the office.

“Ultimately, Whatever your hobby is, it will in some way impact your business, either by directly contributing to it or by giving you some time away to recharge and gain a clear perspective,” Calagione said.

The truth is, being an entrepreneur doesn’t have to mean endless work days and sleepless nights worrying about your next big project or how much you have on the line. You can actually still have fun . . . even in the beginning stages of your business. But that doesn’t mean you can just pick up any old hobby and be in business. There are definitely some hobbies that are better for the entrepreneur than others.

Here I have taken the liberty to list just seven of the hobbies I believe can make you a highly effective entrepreneur. Enjoy.

Be an artist. Whether you are capable of creating something visually appealing or not, art is a great way to open your mind to new ideas. You can draw, sculpt, or even do some graffiti art (just wear your running shoes and stay away from gang turf). Whatever you choose to do, you’re bound to be feeling more creative when you’re done and a little more creativity is something we can all use every once in a while. Play a sport: Entrepreneurs are known for their competitiveness, and what better way to nurture the spirit of competition than a good ‘ol fashioned pick up game. Whether it’s basketball, tennis, racquetball, soccer, or the always popular golf, getting out of the office for some friendly competition is sometimes just what we need. Get into nature. Try and take some time to go on a hike, go fishing, kayaking, or just send some time being quiet in nature. The hectic life of an entrepreneur can be draining and the peace that comes when outdoors enjoying the beauty of God’s creations really is priceless. Write. Write anything that has nothing to do with your business, and do it often. Not only does writing things down help you remember important experiences, it may also be a wake up call if while trying to do so you can’t find much to write about other than your work. Read. This may be one of the most important hobbies that anyone could ever pick up. Read often and read on a wide variety of topics. You will find yourself making connections from your reading to your business that you had never thought of before. Be a chef. Cooking is an activity that requires careful planning, yet a willingness to improvise and go with the flow. Sounds like a metaphor for starting a business if i’ve ever heard one (and I have). It also brings us closer to our families and allows us to appreciate the simple things in life, like a good – or bad – home cooked meal. Volunteer. Taking the time to go out and do something for someone else, without asking anything in return is a simple way to maintain perspective in everything we do. It’s not only a good hobbie to have and a way to stay grounded, it’s the right thing to do.

So go, be well rounded entrepreneurs that find inspiration for their business in many places and while becoming a better person. Your office will still be there when you get back, I promise.