Often we don't have to look very far to find humor in action. (At least not at my house.)

My wife kim and I were putting our little kids to sleep. They are afraid of the monsters that might be around, and as I watched from the doorway asked Kim to close the doors to the closet and the bathroom. (Apparently monsters are unable to operate doornobs.)

"Do you want me to look under the bed?" she asked them?

Of course they did. So she bends down to look under the bed and says, "Ok Frank and Larry: they know you are here and they are scared so just stay where you are or you're gonna freak them out. Ok? Ok."

My kids eyes got really big REALLY fast. But I cracked up. I mean cracked up.

The kids ... probably prompted by me ... cracked up too. It was a great end of the day for them.

I loved it and have told the story several times since... including here.

Wanna know the funniest part? Kim doesn't think she was particularly funny night... and she thinks the fact that I DO think it was hilarious is (further) evidence that I'm a wacko. Which of course, just made it funnier for me. So be it.

My point? You don't have to hunt far for humor. Just pay attention and you'll find very funny people who may (or may not) be trying to be hilarious. Without much of a fuss you should be find plenty of humor anywhere you look for it. (Especially if you look under the bed.)

Howdy Humor Lovers! The new site is up and we couldn't be more thrilled. It's huge... if ya wanna see just how mammoth this thing is check out the site map: http://www.bradmontgomery.com/sitemap.html. We've worked hard on it (Brian Rants, the designer and myself.) And we're both really proud of it. Let us know what you think... Cheers!

This is a note I received from a pal and High School Teacher, Lindsey Pahs....who happens to be a very funny person. I used to think he was an expert at humor by accident. But check out this note that proves him to be way deeper than I thought. :) And his point is right on. Check it out....

"I have thought a little about it though. Here's what I think. Being funny (at home or work) isn't as much about telling the joke or making the wise-crack as it is about the attitude. In order to be funny, you have to have the certain outlook on life. Try to look at things from a different perspective than you normally do. Sometimes that's funny. Think about what would happen if you took something to the exteme--sometimes the result is funny. You have to be willing to break out of the mold. Flower pots aren't funny. . . a flower pot on your head is funny. If you do something different or look at things from a different point of view, the results are sometimes funny. I think this is why it's hard for me to think of funny things--it's not really the thing that's funny; it's the way you approach the thing. Anyhoo, just some thoughts. "

It is one thing to speak to a group for 45 minutes (or an hour, or 90 minutes, or even a half day) and to teach them about the power of laughter, motivational humor, and just generally how to lighten up.

But it is another (sometimes much harder) thing to actually get people to do it. For them to actually change their behavior, their outlooks and their attitudes based on what I tell them.

I give my audiences a bunch of ideas about how they can take laughter with them (and how they can use it to help make their lives better.) But to be honest, I’m always unsure of how much they actually take with them. I wonder sometimes if they get it.

So, imagine how cool it was to get an email from a group of folks at the Quality Assurance Association (a bunch of food folks) with a great photo taken of a bunch of their members at dinner.

Apparently they did get it! What a blast.

Check out the letter and the photo:

Brad,

You really made a hit with our members. They kept quoting you all week,especially with "Incredible" and "ride the pony". Some even wore their red noses to dinner. I have pictures of our group at dinner holding up 10 on napkins for our waitress who was asked to give us 16 individual checks!
I also have a sign we found at the lab we visited that everyone thought you could use in your program. I'll fax to you if you send me your fax. I really enjoyed watching Joe Kelly , sitting opposite me in the meeting , go from no expression to actually laughing a few times. He looked like a stick in the mud most of the time.


Your entertainment helped alot. You are great and I had so many people ask how I found you.

Take care,

Ann Thompson"


(PS. They are holding up signs that say 10. This is a very cool idea created by my mentor, Dr. Earl Reum http://www.earlreum.com ) where you hold up a sign Olympic-Judge style after a co-worker does something cool, a new-hire finishes a first product, your spouse makes a great dinner, etc. You get the idea. It’s awewsome. Thanks Earl!)