Given all the facts, and taking your point of view into account, it depends on which limb falls off. Still, whether it's an arm or a leg, you need a lumberjack refresher course.
Matt
· 1 year ago
Great post!
2 Rules; 1. Don't sweat the small stuff 2. Everything is small stuff
Everything (almost) is fodder for jokes, and even those things that aren't appropriate to joke about often become appropriate with time.
Regards,
Matt
frank
· 1 year ago
I think it comes down to not taking yourself or life to seriously. Obviously there are things/situations that are very serious and require serious attention, but being funny and being a person who can teach others through humor takes an ability to not take one self to serious - and that can be a challenge in the world we live in.
Anyone have thoughts on how to develop the skills of storytelling & humor??
They are both great skills that some are born with ... while others have to develop.
Writer Dad
· 1 year ago
Make them laugh, and you can make them breakfast.
Katybeth
· 1 year ago
I love a good story, and one that makes me laugh is even better. Strong well told stories from lecturer experience always drawn me in usually leave me wanting more. My son's whole education (Waldorf education) is based on story telling and the retention level--even for subjects he find less than interesting is amazing.
Mom Brogan
· 1 year ago
As I told you so often when you were growing up, no matter what you look like, I will always love you.
Dad
· 1 year ago
Like what your mother says ... ditto ...
kat
· 1 year ago
try to fall asleep with a smile on your face it's tricky! your audience knows that
Dorai Thodla
· 1 year ago
That is a nice story. Being funny is not easy, but worth every bit of effort you put into it. I agree that it is a great way to have facts stick since they are associated with humor.
I try it a lot (mostly self deprecating) and seems to work almost all the time. It also lightens the mood a bit and you feel a bit chummy.
Tina Mammoser
· 1 year ago
Love the photo Chris! My brother and I do a photobooth session of silly faces each time I visit the old 'home' (Chicago) and my mom rolls her eyes at us. So maybe it's just mothers. (Hi Mom Brogan!)
But as you say things like this show us a human, a real person who isn't always in serious business mode. I had a photosession for my portfolio and the image I decided to use online is the one silly one. It brings a bit of lightheartedness to my professional listings and writing online. Perhaps it doesn't need to always be flat-out humour, but just a little lightening of the mood.
Jasmine Lim
· 1 year ago
I love this post Chris. Laughter truly is the best medicine! And life gets by a lot more easier when we don't take ourselves too seriously.
I live by humor everyday- At work, personal life and even in my blogging. It makes me happy when others are happy too.
Anne McCrossan
· 1 year ago
This is a great post Chris, funny is a saving grace is a big point. Yes indeedy.
Discount Digital Camcorders
· 1 year ago
This is so true, I read several blogs only because of the humour of the blogger.
Betsy Richter
· 1 year ago
The Cup O Noodles presenter was Jason Grigsby from Portland, Oregon. You can see his original presentation (given at Ignite Portland a few months ago) here.
Kristina Schneider
· 1 year ago
Chris, I could not agree more with you. I recently wrote a post about Humour - A Viable Strategy for Diversity Training? which unfortunately didn't generate any discussion. But I personally find that for me, humour is one of the best ways to deal with adversity.
Cenay Nailor
· 1 year ago
Chris, thanks for keeping things fresh, and for the great photo of you! I will have trouble seeing other photo's of you without remembering this one!
Cenay'
Jason Grigsby
· 1 year ago
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the kind words about my Cup Noodle talk. Looks like Betsy already provided the url to one of the videos. This other video has an angle that makes it easier to see the slides.
If anyone is interested, the book about Cup Noodle is one of the best business case studies I've read. It is part of a series of Japanese Manga called Project X Challenger. Each one follows a story of business innovation. I'm not normally a fan of manga, but these books are great.
Project X Challenger: Cup Noodle is $11 and available on Amazon. I highly recommend it.
TimWalker
· 1 year ago
Amen, Chris. There are a few people who genuinely can't pull off funny on stage, and if they have any experience, they don't try. (I'm thinking of Paul Collier at TED, who admits to feeling awkward onstage. But even he manages a wry take on himself in conveying this.)
For the rest of us, though, it's vital that we get something of our personality, our humanity, across through our interactions. My office is such a fun place to work in no small part because there's a smart, smart-ass sense of humor that runs all through the place. It keeps us from the faux-seriousness that poisons so many business interactions.
We all critique politicians who aren't "real" -- but then we get in front of people and go into drone-mode. We need to abandon the corporatespeak ("at this point in time...") and get on with *living* our working lives as real people. And sticking our tongues out at (in)opportune moments. ;)
Stephen Baugh
· 1 year ago
LOL Reminds me of dating ... Oh that was long ago.
I used to think think the girls just went for the "Bad Boys"
I think in truth, they were just attracted to the ones that were prepared to be a little "out there" and more importantly ... Themselves.
Humor is very attractive quality ... Thank you
BethP
· 1 year ago
The importance of being earnestly funny--it's true! I had a college professor with a similar approach to Ken Hadge's.
I agree, humor resonates. At least it does for me. I had a high school physics teacher named Ken that was Wes Anderson-like. I remember once when he gave us a test he sat in the front of the class on a stool with his sunglasses on the whole time looking out at us, without speaking a word. I can’t say his style helped me understand physics any better, science just wasn’t my thing – but I remember him. And I didn’t cheat on my test.
Randy Stewart
· 1 year ago
Tell your mom I'm sorry for the pic :-). That said, I couldn't agree with your sentiment more.
Humor and wit come across in both writing and photos and in general, it's always easier to learn a hard lesson with a spoonful of sugar.
Thanks for making taking pictures at Gnomedex easy and fun.
Cheers, Randy Stewart
Stephen Hopson
· 1 year ago
Chris, you're right - it's important to be funny or at least humorous when telling stories b/c it helps people relate.
As you already know, I'm an inspirational speaker and I have learned how to tell stories around certain points. I don't bill myself as a comedian, just naturally humorous and I've found it to help bridge whatever gap there might be between myself and the audience (perceived gaps or whatnot).
For instance, I tell the story about getting snookered by a hooker one night because of my refusal to accept my hearing disability (I let her whisper in my ear, pretending to undertand). Imagine what happened later that night. This is not a "fall down funny" kind of story but it makes the point of accepting ourselves for who we are pretty clearly.
Thanks for sharing. You rock my friend.
Sharron (kkomp)
· 1 year ago
That is a great post you've made there. I've learned something by reading this; quite possibly something very important.
I had a sense-of-humour implant some years ago and I'm still getting used to making people laugh. It fails from time to time though: I wonder if WordPress could design a free plugin to assist?
I like this blog. I'll be checking in more often. :-)
Capone
· 1 year ago
Было бы интересно узнать поподробнее
Reut
· 1 year ago
Добавил в закладки. Теперь буду почаще читать!
Dawn Goldberg
· 1 year ago
One of the reasons storytelling, and humor, works is because the storyteller paints a picture. We can all see in our heads what he's describing. Better for us to learn and remember and retain. Much better than just figures and theories. Give us color, smell, sound, taste, touch!
Thanks for the great post!
Matt Keegan
· 1 year ago
Listen to the wisdom of your parents. They're giving to you unconditional love but they're also encouraging you to show some restraint which isn't a bad thing.
Tumblemoose
· 1 year ago
Chris,
Nothing brings people together like funny. I've used humor with my daughter since she was born. Now at the precocious age of 5, she is constantly playing tricks on her dad.
I was fortunate to be blessed with an exceptional sense of humor and some of the best comments I've received relate to posts where I've used humor in some form.
I recently commented on a post where the blogger had been personally attacked over a grammar issue. I told her that "those people are insecure in their own lives, hiding behind their impenetrable flat panel monitors while eating ho-hos in their underwear, in a dingy corner of their Mommy's basement"
All Comments
2 Rules; 1. Don't sweat the small stuff
2. Everything is small stuff
Everything (almost) is fodder for jokes, and even those things that aren't appropriate to joke about often become appropriate with time.
Regards,
Matt
Anyone have thoughts on how to develop the skills of storytelling & humor??
They are both great skills that some are born with ... while others have to develop.
it's tricky!
your audience knows that
I try it a lot (mostly self deprecating) and seems to work almost all the time. It also lightens the mood a bit and you feel a bit chummy.
But as you say things like this show us a human, a real person who isn't always in serious business mode. I had a photosession for my portfolio and the image I decided to use online is the one silly one. It brings a bit of lightheartedness to my professional listings and writing online. Perhaps it doesn't need to always be flat-out humour, but just a little lightening of the mood.
I live by humor everyday- At work, personal life and even in my blogging. It makes me happy when others are happy too.
Cenay'
Thanks for the kind words about my Cup Noodle talk. Looks like Betsy already provided the url to one of the videos. This other video has an angle that makes it easier to see the slides.
If anyone is interested, the book about Cup Noodle is one of the best business case studies I've read. It is part of a series of Japanese Manga called Project X Challenger. Each one follows a story of business innovation. I'm not normally a fan of manga, but these books are great.
Project X Challenger: Cup Noodle is $11 and available on Amazon. I highly recommend it.
For the rest of us, though, it's vital that we get something of our personality, our humanity, across through our interactions. My office is such a fun place to work in no small part because there's a smart, smart-ass sense of humor that runs all through the place. It keeps us from the faux-seriousness that poisons so many business interactions.
We all critique politicians who aren't "real" -- but then we get in front of people and go into drone-mode. We need to abandon the corporatespeak ("at this point in time...") and get on with *living* our working lives as real people. And sticking our tongues out at (in)opportune moments. ;)
I used to think think the girls just went for the "Bad Boys"
I think in truth, they were just attracted to the ones that were prepared to be a little "out there" and more importantly ... Themselves.
Humor is very attractive quality ... Thank you
http://www.onlinefundraisingblog.com/2008/07/go...
Humor and wit come across in both writing and photos and in general, it's always easier to learn a hard lesson with a spoonful of sugar.
Thanks for making taking pictures at Gnomedex easy and fun.
Cheers,
Randy Stewart
As you already know, I'm an inspirational speaker and I have learned how to tell stories around certain points. I don't bill myself as a comedian, just naturally humorous and I've found it to help bridge whatever gap there might be between myself and the audience (perceived gaps or whatnot).
For instance, I tell the story about getting snookered by a hooker one night because of my refusal to accept my hearing disability (I let her whisper in my ear, pretending to undertand). Imagine what happened later that night. This is not a "fall down funny" kind of story but it makes the point of accepting ourselves for who we are pretty clearly.
Thanks for sharing. You rock my friend.
I had a sense-of-humour implant some years ago and I'm still getting used to making people laugh. It fails from time to time though: I wonder if WordPress could design a free plugin to assist?
I like this blog. I'll be checking in more often. :-)
Thanks for the great post!
Nothing brings people together like funny. I've used humor with my daughter since she was born. Now at the precocious age of 5, she is constantly playing tricks on her dad.
I was fortunate to be blessed with an exceptional sense of humor and some of the best comments I've received relate to posts where I've used humor in some form.
I recently commented on a post where the blogger had been personally attacked over a grammar issue. I told her that "those people are insecure in their own lives, hiding behind their impenetrable flat panel monitors while eating ho-hos in their underwear, in a dingy corner of their Mommy's basement"
Cracked the blogger up and made her day.
That's what I'M talkin' 'bout!
George