It’s a terror nearly as elemental as the fear of dying. It can bring strong men to their knees and turn the smartest of women into incoherent babblers. Maybe you already know where I’m headed. It’s public speaking and there’s nothing else quite like its scary prospect. Many people would rather go through a spinal […]
Entries Tagged as 'Public Speaking'
So You Think You Know Flop Sweat
November 21st, 2009 · 3 Comments · American Humor, British Comedy, British Humour, Canada Humor, Career Choices, Construction Humor, Economic Humor, Family Humor, Funny Embarrassment, Funny Horror, Funny Workplace, General Humor, General Interest, Hard Life Choices, Horror, Human Nature, Jokes, Lifestyle, Public Speaking, Slice of Life, Twisted, Whimsy, Witty
Tags:coping mechanisms·fear of public speaking·flop sweats·funny awkward moments·funny embarrassment story·funny excruciating story·funny making a fool of oneself story·funny panic attack stories·funny public address·funny public speaking stories·life flashing before your eyes·overcoming a fear of public speaking·painful public speaking experience·putting things in perspective·spinal tap·standing before a crowd
What’s Happened to Jokes Isn’t Funny
August 25th, 2008 · Comments Off on What’s Happened to Jokes Isn’t Funny · Celebrities, Economic Humor, Economics, Entertainment, General Humor, Jokes, Lifestyle, Public Speaking
A good joke is a thing of beauty. Furthermore, shorter is often better than longer. For example, did you hear about the couple who met while bungee jumping? They got married on the rebound. Yes? No? Maybe?
Tags:Adam Smith·comedy·funny·humor·Jerry Seinfeld·joke·Martin Lawrence·politically incorrect·Ray Romano·situation comedies·Wealth of Nations
Ode to an Audience (Part 3 of 3)
August 7th, 2008 · Comments Off on Ode to an Audience (Part 3 of 3) · American Humor, Amusing, British Comedy, British Humour, Canada Humor, Cop Humor, Crossed Wires, Economic Humor, Economics, Family Humor, Farce, Funny Banter, Funny Dialogue Story, Funny Embarrassment, Funny Workplace, Human Nature, Jokes, Lifestyle, Offbeat, Public Speaking, Romp, Screwball, Zany
So far, I’ve spent time with the police, then time with the emergency task force and now I can’t find anybody to listen to what I have to say. Picking up from where I left off yesterday:
Tags:comedy·emergency task force·funny alarm bell story·funny awkward moment story·funny embarrassing story·funny having a bad day story·funny police story·funny public speaking story·funny speech story·funny traffic violation story·humor·thunderous applause·trade show·wrong gig story
Ode to an Audience (Part 2 of 3)
August 6th, 2008 · Comments Off on Ode to an Audience (Part 2 of 3) · American Humor, Amusing, British Comedy, British Humour, Canada Humor, Cop Humor, Crossed Wires, Drama, Economic Humor, Economics, Entertainment, Farce, Funny Banter, Funny Dialogue Story, Funny Embarrassment, Funny Workplace, Human Nature, Jokes, Lifestyle, Offbeat, Public Speaking, Romp, Screwball, Zany
This story picks up from yesterday when I started to describe one particularly strange day I had last fall while scheduled to make a public presentation. At this point, I’ve just said my good-byes to the police.
Tags:CNE·comedy·Direct Energy Centre·funny alarm bell story·funny awkward moment story·funny embarrassing story·funny having a bad day story·funny police story·funny public speaking story·funny speech story·funny traffic violation story·speakers' room·wrong gig story
Ode to an Audience (Part 1 of 3)
August 5th, 2008 · 1 Comment · American Humor, Amusing, British Comedy, British Humour, Canada Humor, Cop Humor, Crossed Wires, Economic Humor, Economics, Farce, Funny Banter, Funny Dialogue Story, Funny Embarrassment, Funny Workplace, Human Nature, Jokes, Lifestyle, Offbeat, Public Speaking, Romp, Screwball, Zany
I do a lot of public speaking and let me tell you how much I appreciate having an audience. All of what I’m about to relate really happened.
Tags:busted by the police·funny·funny alarm bell story·funny awkward moment story·funny embarassing story·funny having a bad day story·funny police encounter story·funny police story·funny public speaking story·funny speech story·funny traffic violation story·interior design show·trade show·wrong gig story
Bathroom Humour
April 14th, 2008 · Comments Off on Bathroom Humour · Allegory or Fairy Tale, Children and Pets, Construction Humor, Entertainment, Family Humor, General Humor, Jokes, Lifestyle, Public Speaking
There is bathroom humour and then there is “in the bathroom” humour, which may be a form of advertising. I have been accused, on occasion, of using bathroom humour in my speeches and written material. This mystified me until I realized that there had been a misunderstanding.
Tags:building product manufacturers·comedy·eco-friendly·funny·human folly·humor·killer whale·rubber ducky
The Curious Meanings of Some Canadian Place Names
March 12th, 2008 · Comments Off on The Curious Meanings of Some Canadian Place Names · American Humor, British Comedy, British Humour, Canada Humor, Economic Humor, Funny Absurd, Funny Canada, Funny Language, Funny Outrageous, Funny Toronto, Jokes, Lifestyle, Political Humor, Public Speaking
When I started out in this business, back in the 1970s, I would often leave Toronto and travel to the “hinterland” to make economic presentations before somewhat skeptical audiences. Many times, I was told the old joke, what’s the definition of an expert? An expert is some son-of-a-gun from Toronto with slides. I’ve cleaned up […]
Tags:Canada·Don Valley Parkway·Edmonton·funny Canadian place names story·funny centre of the universe story·funny meaning of Calgary story·funny meaning of Toronto story·hand in your pocket·humor·Ottawa·Toronto·Vancouver