The Skill of Humor | Andrew Tarvin | TEDxTAMU
TLDRThe speaker shares humorous anecdotes about his grandmother's text messaging and her evolving use of technology, leading to a broader discussion on the importance of humor in our lives. He argues that humor is not just a luxury but a necessity in our stressful, overworked culture. The speaker, an engineer by training who has found success in the world of comedy, emphasizes that humor is a skill that can be learned and developed. He provides insights into how humor can improve productivity, reduce stress, and enhance communication. Drawing from different comedic disciplines like stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy, he offers practical advice on how individuals can incorporate humor into their work and personal lives to foster a more positive and connected outlook.
Takeaways
- 📲 The speaker's grandmother, at 78, sent her first text message, illustrating that humor and technology can be embraced at any age.
- 🤣 Humor is often seen as a 'nice-to-have', but the speaker argues that it is a must-have for a happier, less stressed, and more productive life.
- 🧠 Humor has cognitive benefits, such as improving memory retention, understanding, and learning, which are supported by research and real-world examples.
- 🤝 Humor enhances social dynamics by building group cohesiveness, reducing status differentials, diffusing conflict, and building trust.
- 💰 People who use humor are often paid more, highlighting the economic benefits of a skill that can be learned and applied.
- 🎭 The ability to make people laugh is not just an innate talent but a skill that can be developed through practice and experience.
- 🌟 Personal anecdotes and stories can be powerful tools for connecting with an audience and delivering a message with humor.
- 📈 The 'Yes, and...' principle from improvisation can be used to explore and heighten viewpoints, making interactions more engaging and meaningful.
- 🕒 Recognizing the significant amount of time spent at work, the speaker encourages finding humor and enjoyment in the workplace to improve job satisfaction.
- 🤓 Even those who are not naturally funny can still benefit from humor by being a 'shepherd of humor', sharing jokes, quotes, or funny images with others.
- 🙂 Smiling and using positive, inclusive humor can create human connections and a more pleasant atmosphere, even if the intended joke doesn't land.
- 🚀 The speaker concludes by emphasizing that humor is a skill anyone can learn and that it can greatly enhance one's outlook on life and work.
Q & A
What was the initial reaction of the speaker when receiving the first text message from his grandmother?
-The speaker was surprised because his grandmother, who was 78 years old at the time, had never sent a text message before.
How did the speaker's grandmother interpret the format of a text message?
-The grandmother interpreted the text message format as a formal letter, including a salutation and a closing with 'Love, your grandma.'
What was the grandmother's misunderstanding of the acronym 'WTF'?
-The grandmother thought 'WTF' meant 'Wow That's Fun,' as she had been told by someone at Bridge.
Why did the speaker leave his corporate job at Procter and Gamble?
-The speaker left his corporate job to teach people about the value of humor and how it can increase productivity, reduce stress, and improve happiness.
What are some of the benefits of humor mentioned in the script?
-Humor helps people to listen, increases long-term memory retention, improves understanding, aids in learning, communicates messages, improves group cohesiveness, reduces status differentials, diffuses conflict, builds trust, and brings people closer together.
What does the speaker suggest about the perception of humor in professional settings?
-The speaker suggests that humor is not just a nice-to-have but a must-have in today's overworked and stressed-out culture, and that it can be learned as a skill.
How does the speaker describe his background before becoming a humorist?
-The speaker describes himself as a nerd with a degree in computer science and engineering from Ohio State University, who initially worked as an IT project manager at Procter & Gamble.
What is the significance of the 'Yes, and...' concept from improvisation?
-The 'Yes, and...' concept is fundamental to improvisation, representing a mindset of acceptance and building upon ideas, which can be used to create humor, connect with others, and explore viewpoints.
How does the speaker relate the idea of managing energy to the use of humor?
-The speaker relates managing energy to the use of humor by suggesting that regardless of the time we have, it's our energy that enables us to engage with our work and life, and humor can be a tool to enhance that energy.
What advice does the speaker give for those who are not ready to create humor themselves?
-The speaker advises that even if one is not ready to create humor, they can still benefit from it by being a shepherd of humor, sharing quotations, TED talks, or images, and by simply smiling, which can create a human connection.
How does the speaker's grandmother use social media to engage with him?
-The speaker's grandmother uses social media, specifically Facebook, to comment on his status updates, which may be her way of humorously engaging with him or 'trolling' him.
Outlines
📱 The Delightful Misadventures of Texting with Grandma
The speaker, Andrew, recounts his grandmother's initial foray into texting at 78 years old, highlighting the adorable and often humorous misunderstandings that ensued. Andrew's grandma treated her first text like a formal letter, which led to a series of comical exchanges. As she gradually became more accustomed to texting, she still maintained her signature style, always signing off with 'Love, your grandma.' This anecdote leads into a broader discussion about the importance of humor in our lives.
😂 The Power of Humor in Personal and Professional Growth
Andrew explains his journey from a corporate job to teaching the value of humor, emphasizing its role in productivity, stress reduction, and happiness. He dispels the notion that humor is a luxury, arguing that it's essential in our modern, stressed-out culture. Andrew outlines the many benefits of humor, including improved listening, memory retention, understanding, learning, communication, group cohesion, conflict resolution, and trust-building. He also shares his experiences as a stand-up comedian and how he learned to use humor as a skill that can be developed by anyone.
🎤 Learning from Comedy: Perspectives, Points of View, and Improvisation
Andrew delves into how he learned humor through comedy, starting with his experience in an improv group in college. He discusses how practice and repetition helped him improve, and how humor can be a tool for connection and making a point. Andrew also explores different comedic styles from various stand-up comedians and how everyone has a unique perspective to share. He uses humor to illustrate the differences between human emotions and computer error messages, highlighting the importance of managing our energy, not just time.
💡 Embracing Humor in Work and Life
Andrew encourages the use of humor in work and life, suggesting that it can turn mundane conversations into meaningful exchanges and make work more enjoyable. He shares personal stories, like his time working in a factory, where he used humor to pass the time. Andrew also talks about the importance of commitment to a performance in sketch comedy and how confidence plays a role in humor, as well as in other areas of life. He addresses common concerns about using humor, such as the fear of not being taken seriously or the worry about awkward silence, and offers reassurance and advice on overcoming these fears.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Humor
💡Personality Assessment
💡Stand-up Comedy
💡Improvisation
💡Energy Management
💡Sketch Comedy
💡Stereotype
💡Creativity
💡Workplace Culture
💡Life of the Party
💡Nerd
Highlights
The speaker's grandmother, at 78 years old, sent her first text message, showcasing a humorous and endearing generational gap.
The grandmother's initial text message to the speaker was mistaken for a letter, reflecting her unfamiliarity with texting norms.
The grandmother's consistent sign-off 'Love, your grandma' adds a personal and humorous touch to her texts.
The grandmother's confusion with the acronym 'WTF', thinking it means 'Wow That's Fun', lightheartedly demonstrates a learning curve with technology.
The speaker advocates for a world where people view situations with a humorous and positive perspective, inspired by his grandmother.
The speaker left his corporate job to teach others about the value of humor, emphasizing its importance beyond mere entertainment.
Humor is presented as a necessity for improving productivity, reducing stress, and increasing happiness in the workplace.
The benefits of humor are backed by research, case studies, and real-world examples, highlighting its effectiveness in various settings.
Humor can improve long-term memory retention and group cohesiveness, among other benefits, as shared by the speaker.
The speaker humorously contrasts his ability to do stand-up comedy with Kevin Richardson's, known as the 'Lion Whisperer', to illustrate the perceived fear of performing comedy.
Humor is a skill that can be learned, contrary to the common belief that it is an innate talent.
The speaker's journey from an IT project manager to a humorist shows a significant career shift driven by passion.
Personality assessments do not define a person but can provide insights into behavior and motivations.
The speaker's experience in improv comedy taught him project management skills and the importance of practice and repetition.
Stand-up comedy can teach individuals how to share their unique point of view, a skill applicable in various aspects of life.
The 'Yes, and...' mindset from improv can be used to explore and heighten viewpoints, fostering creativity and connection.
The speaker humorously suggests that if humans came with error messages, it would simplify communication and understanding.
The importance of commitment to performance in sketch comedy can be applied to increase confidence and enjoyment in everyday life.
The speaker encourages embracing humor in work and life, emphasizing that it is a personal choice and responsibility.
The grandmother's humorous and sincere Facebook interactions with the speaker demonstrate that humor can be a powerful connector across generations.
The speaker concludes by emphasizing that humor is a learnable skill accessible to anyone, regardless of their background or personality.
Transcripts
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