JOYMAKER🎈You should downregulate...

The only Joymaker newsletter on the internet.

The world needs more Joymakers—now more than ever! So forward this to a friend who loves spreading joy!

---

Read on to discover…

• 3 actionable tools—downregulation, single-threading, and group regulation

• 1 question you can ask for deeper, happier conversations.

• Wisdom from party crashing the nomad conference, leading a stage-party crash, & adorning people with banana suits at a beach club

Next event? Learn about Joymaker Bootcamp →
Twenty Joymakers in a 9BR mansion… 15 spots left. Two weekends.

---

PERSONAL JOY 🧠

• Downregulate.

The world is a stimulating, noisy, dopamine-releasing environment, these days. So take breaks from it with intentionally quiet, slow periods. Baths, meditation, nature walks. This boosts your mental vitality!

Want to be the kind of leader everyone loves to be around?

My Joymaker Leadership Manual & Habit System teaches you 40 simple habits to unlock your natural charisma, spark joy in any room, and lead with contagious good energy. Warning: People will ask you to be friends!

---

RELATIONAL JOY 🫂

• Single-thread.

I received a wonderful compliment yesterday. Someone said “You’re very intentional with your convos.” One thing I practice is single-threading. I focus on one topic at a time. I complete it. Then move to the next.

Want to host gatherings people never want to leave?

My Joymaker Games Vault includes 130+ of my favorite connection games — tested on streets and stages in 15+ countries — to help you create laughter, warmth, and real human connection every time!

---

GROUP JOY ⚡

• Regulate & revitalize.

You’re leaving benefits on the table if you do not regulate and revitalize people’s bodies before anything begins. Regulation means relaxation = reducing cortisol and adrenaline. Revitalization means energization = dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin.

Ready to build a community that inspires you to be healthier and happier?

I just launched the Joymaker Community Blueprint: 10 steps to get your first 100 enthusiastic members. You’ll get the specific actions I’ve taken to create and launch an in-person, conscious, sober community of 500+ members.

---

ASK THIS QUESTION❓

Try this question and let me know how it’s received!

What has had the biggest impact on your ______ (health, business growth, vitality, life satisfaction)?

This question has many variations. It’s pragmatic and unlocks valuable conversations. My answer? PDP journaling, hands down. This practice, called Psychological Distance Programming, is what I introduce at Joymaker bootcamp. It has many steps. The goal is to program new cognitive and behavioral patterns into the brain through repetition.

---

NEW PODCAST🎤

Dong is a DJ, conference producer, and nomad known for his Workations! I really enjoyed speaking with him and witnessing him on the decks!

---

LESSONS OF THE WEEK 🎓

How I led a joymakers parade and watched strangers come alive

With a nudge from a friend, I rallied a crew of Joymakers and invited them to spread joy with me on the boardwalk. What started as a simple idea turned into something much bigger—it felt like the birth of a new kind of event.

We began with a short briefing: this was about taking social risks and inviting strangers into expression. I opened a circle, invited participants to step in and give a pep talk, and introduced a simple runway-style activity.

Then we set off.

As we moved through the boardwalk, something incredible happened. People didn’t just watch—they joined. Young people, parents, bold personalities, even the hesitant ones. Singing, dancing, laughing.

There’s a unique kind of high that comes from watching your joy ignite joy in others.

This experience made me realize I want to create more outward-facing events—ones that don’t just serve the group, but ripple into the public.

Key takeaway for group leaders:
Design moments that extend beyond your group. When you invite the public into participation, you amplify energy, impact, and memorability.

---

How I opened a festival by breaking the script

I had been preparing an opening session for a digital nomad festival—designing a sequence of activities to create both joy and belonging.

The structure was intentional:
Start with light, playful games to spark joy.
Then gradually move into deeper connection and vulnerability.

Because joy isn’t just a feeling—it enhances cognition, openness, and social bonding.

At 9:00 a.m., I didn’t walk on stage.

I burst in—music blasting, speaker held high—and immediately shifted the energy of the room.

Before introducing any activity, I primed the audience with three simple questions. This step is everything. When people understand why they’re doing something, they participate more fully.

From there:
Movement. High fives. Pair games.
And finally, a full-group circle where everyone shared an appreciation or inspiration.

Afterward, people told me it was the best way they’d ever started an event.

Every event deserves an opening that creates connection—not just delivers information.

Key takeaway for group leaders:
Prime your participants before any activity. Context and framing dramatically increase engagement and willingness to participate.

---

What dancing while exhausted taught me about growth

I showed up to an ecstatic dance completely exhausted.

And I left energized.

The facilitator guided us through a warm-up and partner exercises. As I danced, I noticed something surprising: I still carry self-doubt about my dancing.

I’m not perfect.

But instead of withdrawing, I leaned in.

Every time I made a mistake, my partner and I laughed—and kept going.

That’s the mindset I want to embody: laugh, learn, continue.

So many people make a mistake and stop. But mistakes are where the energy is. They’re invitations to keep playing, keep practicing, keep growing.

Key takeaway for group leaders:
Normalize imperfection through play. When people feel safe to make mistakes, they stay engaged and grow faster.

---

How a banana suit turned strangers into performers

One night, a friend and I walked into a beach club wearing banana suits.

People stared. Then smiled. Then laughed.

I ran toward them, playfully “charging” with my banana head, and the reactions only grew.

When we hit the dance floor, I started dancing immediately. Within a minute, someone joined. Within five minutes, the floor was full.

But the real magic wasn’t just us dancing—it was inviting others into it.

We went around offering people the banana suit. When someone put it on, the whole group cheered.

In that moment, they transformed—from observer to performer.

Sometimes all people need is permission—and a prop.

Key takeaway for group leaders:
Use props to lower social barriers. Giving people something to wear or interact with makes participation easier and more playful.

---

Why creating a stage changes everything

At the end of the week, I hosted another Joymakers parade.

We started with prompts like: What’s one of the most courageous things you’ve done? and What brings you the most joy? Then we warmed up with movement and took the energy to the beach.

We danced, invited strangers in, and built momentum.

Then came the finale.

We spotted an empty stage and jumped on it.

Within minutes, a crowd formed. People gathered, watched, then joined. We took turns dancing in the center while everyone else cheered.

The energy skyrocketed.

That’s when it clicked: when you give people a stage—literal or metaphorical—you give them permission to shine.

And when individuals shine, the whole group rises.

Key takeaway for group leaders:
Create a stage for expression. Whether physical or symbolic, a space where individuals are seen and celebrated elevates the entire group dynamic.

Next week, I’ll share lessons from attending a Founder’s retreat at a 5-star eco-resort. Fun times.

— Jacques

Congratulations! You read the whole thing! You’re one of the rare few who should apply to my next leadership camp! Apply →

---

What did you think of this email?

I loved it 😍
The best thank-you is to forward this to a friend—or reply and let me know! The world needs more Joymakers—now more than ever!

Give me more 🤗
Get my most important joy principles with my 10-Day Joy Habit Challenge →

I’m new here 😵‍💫
Find my audiobook, sober camps, and games here →

Not interested 👎
Unsubscribe below, sorry!