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The Latest from Brad Montgomery
1. Why You Need A Funny Email Signature.
2. 7 Tips For Telling A Joke.
3. Cool Links to Even More Humor!
The Whys and Hows of a Funny Email Signature
Humor helps people to connect with other people. And people tend to trust those people who make them laugh. If these points are true — and they are — doesn’t that mean that we should all strive to use more humor?
One of the easiest ways to be funny is to add some humor to your email signature.
Read a great example and get more ideas in this article.
To be honest, I think that most presenters should avoid telling jokes. But on the other hand, telling jokes around the water cooler or on the porch while sippin’ lemonade is a time-honored tradition. If it was good enough for Gramps, why ain’t it good enough for us? But if you are going to tell jokes, you should do it right.
1. Make sure you actually know the joke. Practice it! Tell it to your kids, your spouse, and your dog. Trust me, you want to tell the joke a few times before you do it for real. Nothing will make you look like a bigger idiot than telling a joke wrong.
2. Scan the internet for jokes to AVOID. Don’t tell jokes that everybody has heard… if your joke is all over the internet, then this is a great joke to AVOID.
3. Shorter jokes are better. I know, I know. You think you’re a great story teller. But trust me, your audience will appreciate you for NOT adding all of the colorful details and fluff. Just tell the joke. Shorten it if you can.
4. The punch line comes last. And I mean last! Nothing should come after the punch-line. Consider this joke done well.
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.
Now, the same joke when the punch-line is not last. This is much worse. (I know, that joke is pretty bad on it’s own, but… you get the idea.)
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side of the road which was on a long block because he wanted to get to his chicken coop.
See? Punch-lines should be last. Period. NOTHING comes after the punch. (Except for your silence and their laughter.)
5. Keep it clean. And I mean crystal clean. If you wouldn’t tell it to the Queen of England (who probably doesn’t like jokes much anyway) then leave it out. Seriously. If you have any doubt whether you are “crossing the line,” then don’t tell it. Think of it this way: if you tell a joke to 10 people and 9 of them laugh, then you’ve still alienated a friend. Don’t do it.
6. If you are telling a joke as part of a presentation, don’t take credit for the joke. You can do that before the joke with something like, “Here’s one I read on the internet.” Or after the joke with something like, “That old joke was on the internet, but it reminds us to…. (follow with a point.)” If you don’t let people know that his joke is from the internet, you risk looking like a fool.
I guarantee that at least a couple of people in every audience already know your joke, and if you want to earn and keep THEIR respect you need to make sure you don’t (tacitly) claim that joke to be yours.
7. Don’t steal jokes from stand up comics. Unless they are dead. Jokes are material, and it is how they earn a living. If you tell it, copy it, email it…. whatever… you devalue the joke for them. Besides, it’s bad karma. :)
Humor Links (Cool Places to Visit)
Humor helps people to connect with other people. And people tend to trust those people who make them laugh. If these points are true — and they are — doesn’t that mean that we should all strive to use more humor?
Looking for some fun, new music? Something that will make your feet tap, and still put a smile on your face? Check out Chris Hudson’s Modern Earl. Fun (and sometimes funny) music that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I love it. Go to this page for for sample clips. (I bought the album…it’s great.)
It’s available for instant download from Brad Montgomery and his corporate comedian pal David Glickman.
Are you a believer in the power of levity and lightheartedness and its ability to help your organization get to where it deserves to be? Are you having trouble convincing the masses? Give us a call. We can help.
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Brad Montgomery is a laugh-out-loud funny motivational speaker, humor at work expert and Meeting Energizer. Speaking. Facilitation. Customized High-Energy Content Games. Master of Ceremonies, & Copy Boy.
First of all, I hate Spam… (unless it’s fried). I never rent, trade or sell my email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. Not even if they give me $1 Million. (If they give me $3 Million, you might be in trouble, but
seriously, what are the chances?) You’ll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger
as a result of joining this list. Not that I’m not pretty strange, but… well… you get the idea.
TYPOS!
Finally, some readers love to find typos, grammar errors and other sundry goofs. I occasionally leave them in just to make those people happy. So if you found some… Yippee! It’s you’re lucky day.
If you’re still reading this far down, you REALLY need to find a hobby. It’s over! All done.
Seriously dude. It’s time to get back to work. Don’t you have some email to return or something?
Ok, now you’re just pushing it. You need some serious help with time management. Move on baby! This thing is over!
Since you’re still here, here’s a video of a flash mob performance in Seattle. I love it for two reasons. One, the energy is undeniable. I’d love to be part of one, and I’d love to witness one. Second, what killer marketing for the TV show. Hire some dancers, and let YouTube have it’s way. I wish I had thought of it.
You must be craving more. Why are you here? I bet you have something that you SHOULD be doing but don’t want to. Clean your desk. Get coffee. Call your mom.
There has to be a better way to procrastinate than this!
Since you’re here …might as well check out my blog. (Hey! If you can’t fight it, embrace it!)
