The Secret to Create Funny Content When You’re Un-funny

How do you write entertaining, humorous content if you’re not an entertaining, humorous person? 

So asked a “Serious Sadie” (name changed to protect the innocent) during yesterday’s meeting of the Mastermind Book Club. 

We were discussing Joe Polish’s Hello Kitty wallet (I wrote about that yesterday. Subject line: “How the ‘Hello Kitty Effect’ can help you grow your biz”).

Joe uses humor to break the ice and build rapport. 

Sadie chimed in: “Maybe somebody could sprinkle humor dust on me to rejuvenate my humor self.” 

I’d heard this one before…

…the idea that creativity and humor are magic arts, reserved only for creative unicorns  – or those who have the pixie dust. 

Sadie: 
I tend to have trouble putting humor into things… I like to have fun, but I have trouble expressing it and have trouble inserting it even into my writing. As a result, it’s hard to tell stories because I think I get too serious. 

Me: 
For people who know you outside your business world, would they suggest you have a good sense of humor?

Sadie: 
Yes! 

Me:
Why do you think there’s a disconnect between sense-of-humor (“Sadie”) in your non-business life and no-sense-of-humor (“Sadie”) in your business life.

Sadie: 
Maybe because I think joke-telling is part of humor, and I don’t tell stories or jokes very well.

(A tale as old as time.) 

I referenced that funny Hello Kitty story again.

Me: 
Did I invent the joke? No… I said, “Here’s an interesting story about something funny I read.” And then I repeat the funny story that Joe Polish told me. I do that all the time. “Here’s a funny cartoon I saw. Here’s a funny scene I saw at a movie. Here’s why I thought it was funny…”

(And then I shared the big idea…) 

“You don’t necessarily have to be the comedian. You can be the CURATOR of the comedy.” 

Me: 
Curation is a remarkably valuable service. That’s what I did in this (Hello Kitty) email. I curated a really powerful and valuable and funny idea that Joe Polish shared in his book, and then I connected it to why is it important and how is it related to things that I teach… I saw somebody else’s content — Joe’s content in this book and said, “Oh! That makes a point I wish to make…Oh, by the way, it’s entertaining. It’s funny. It’s interesting. I’ll share that story. I’ll make my point.” And now people are more entertained, more captivated, more connected to my content.” 

(And I did it all without any humor dust). 

If you want your audience to be more entertained, more captivated, and more connected to YOUR content (so you can engage prospects and inspire them to hire you), let’s chat. See the p.s. part below — especially 3 and 4.