『Do You Talk Funny?』
A great memoir of the author's extraordinary adventures as a trial comedian.
He shares a wide variety of tips with us on how to talk funny, particularly on how to make our stories more engaging. In today's world, where even businesspeople are expected to be entertaining in their presentations, it is crucial to learn from stand-up comedians when it comes to the art of public speaking.
My favorite tips are as follows.
1 Draw Upon Your Own Real-Life Experience
"The safest humor involves personal stories, because they are guaranteed to be original and unheard, they can be practiced and perfected, and they are highly personalized to your style," says Alan Weiss.
3 Find the Key Story to Each Point
Where is the funny anecdote, interesting bit of knowledge, or the entertaining part? Work to cut out unnecessary words and re-tell the best stories using the following rule of thumb: Three lines with no funny are too much.
12 Jokes Are: 1, 2 ... 4!
"They look like they're about to establish a pattern but then break it just when it is about to become one," says Rajiv Satyal. "In this example, you think I'm counting but, when you hear '4', you realize I was doubling the numbers. It makes sense in retrospect. (But they are not 1, 2 ... 7! That would just be random.) Jokes work due to the element of surprise. Too many business presentations are stuff people already know (1, 2 ... 3!) or stuff people don't know what to do with (1, 2 ... 7!). Give 'em something both memorable and fun."
13 Get a Quick Laugh
There is always a tension in the room as the audience tries to figure out a little bit about you and decides if they want to listen to you. Getting a quick laugh can be a great way to lighten the mood.
20 Put the Word the Joke Hinges On at the End of the Sentence
"For example, if the fact it's a cat is the surprise or twist, don't say 'There was a cat in the box' Say, 'In that box was a cat.' That way you're not still talking when they're meant to be laughing," Says Matt Kirshen.
25 Start Strong and Finish Even Stronger
Start with your second-best part. Leave the best until last.
30 Wear Dark, Sweat-Proof Clothing
Presenting in front of an audience takes energy and focus, which means you will perspire. Instead of feeling uncomfortable with visible sweat stains, dress for success. Make sure your presentation wardrobe includes fabrics like 100 percent cotton, linen, lightweight merino wool, jersey, rayon, silk or moisture wick fabric.
44 Trust Yourself and Your Material
If you look like you know what you're doing, people will believe it and that confidence is infectious. Remember, people are fundamentally good at heart. Nobody want to see a speaker or performer doing badly. They want to see you succeed. Give them reason to think you will.
48 Try and Use Present Tense
Avoid "I was walking and I saw." It should be "I'm walking and I see," Even if the event happened many, many years ago, you want the audience to be living that moment with you as if it's happening right now. Create the scene for the audience as if it's unfolding in front of their very eyes.
54 Don't Finish on Q&A
Never finish your talk with a questions and answers section. Say, "Now I am going to take a few questions before I make my conclusion." Save a slide for after the Q&A that lists the main points from your talk (Ideally three), then deliver your parting words of wisdom.
71 Don't pet the hamster
New and experienced speakers alike tend to couple their hands nervously in front of their body almost as if they are petting a hamster. Leave the hamster at home and consciously catch yourself every time you stroke the imaginary little fur ball.
75 Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance
Over-preparation will help you be ready for anything. The knowledge and confidence that you can handle whatever comes your way on stage will assuage some of the fear you might be feeling. With calm nerves, rehearsed delivery, and material you know through and through, you will look better on stage than you could ever hope to without consistent practice. After all, as Steve Marin says, "Persistence is a great substitute for talent."
78 Stay in Permanent Beta
Video- or audio-record every time you're on stage and review it. Be pleased but never satisfied with every performance. The idea of being in Permanent Beta, that there's always room for improvement, is a perspective that will set you up for success.
Intermediate Learner's Plateau
Recently, I have been feeling like I've hit a plateau in my language-learning journey. Every tutor I've encountered through online services has provided me with cliched advice such as reading more books, listening to TED talks, writing journals, and practicing speaking. I'm well aware of these suggestions, and I actually already incorporate them into my routine. As an intermediate learner, I am struggling to find a way to break through this plateau because I have already explored the conventional methods without much success.
I have come to realize that what I need from my tutors is an understanding of my learning history. They should be aware of the mistake I tend to repeat, the specific grammar or syntax I rely on too heavily, and the areas where I need to invest more effort compared to others. Unfortunately, most conversation platforms do not offer this level of personalized adjustment. This realization has led me to search for services that can track and analyze my learning history, guiding me toward the next level instead of merely providing casual conversations with native speakers.
I believe that a personalized approach, tailored to individual learning patterns and weaknesses is key to breaking through the plateau.
Writing Practice: My Daily Routine
My daily routine typically follows the following schedule.
In the morning, I wake up and have breakfast while watching the news on Hulu Live. I take my elder son to elementary school and then return home. After that, I drop off my younger son at the daycare facility. Once I see him off, I take the train and commute to the office.
The tasks I work on vary. On Mondays and Fridays, my schedule is often filled with meetings. On other weekdays, I usually write materials to train young workers or plan schedules for current and upcoming projects. Sometimes it requires additional work hours, but recently I have been able to maintain a good work-life balance.
When I leave the office, I often visit a nearby bookstore to browse through some books. Occasionally, I also stop by the electronic store. But since I enjoy spending time at home, I rarely waste time wandering around the city. I take the train and return home promptly.
Around 10 pm, after putting my children to bed, I continue to work or enjoy some free time for myself. It depends on the situation. If I have free time, I spend most of that time reading books or listening to music, occasionally studying English. I would like to compose music, but unfortunately, there isn't enough time to dedicate myself to it.
Around midnight or 1am, I start feeling sleepy and head to bed.
Securities Account
Today, for some reason, I opened the very first securities account in my entire life.
I didn't suddenly decide to make a fortune in the stock market. Still, since my regular bank app suggested integrating my bank and securities accounts, and considering the NISA benefits, I thought it wouldn't hurt to create one. If I buy some random stocks and leave them untouched, even if they don't increase in value, it could become a beneficial form of savings for me.
『数値化の鬼』
Finished reading "数値化の鬼".
To be honest, it feels like this book falls a bit short in comparison to the previous one, "リーダーの仮面", which successfully conveys the core concepts of "Shikigaku". Given the perfection achieved in that book, the current one is not as comprehensive and lacks the same level of informative content.
Let me touch on the advantages. This book is geared towards players rather than managers and effectively explains fundamental concepts like KPI and PDCA in a straightforward manner. Those who lack a clear understanding of why KPI and PDCA are essential in practical settings would gain a lot from reading this book.
Key Insights from 『リーダーの仮面』(Translation)
The 5 fundamental points on which leaders should rely to consistently deliver results effortlessly.
- Create explicit rules instead of relying on implicit understandings.
- Communicate from a hierarchical standpoint rather than as equals.
- Influence people based on benefit rather than personal appeal.
- Focus on outcomes rather than evaluating the process.
- Prioritize future growth over short-term profit.
Human beings are designed in such a way that elevated emotions eventually subside. Therefore, it's far more crucial to calmly and consistently achieve results than to rush through tasks with a surge of motivation.
Don't depend on the concept of motivation. Just achieve profits by making rules and systems.
Never interfere in matters where subordinates have the authority to make decisions. Offering excessive advices narrows their scope of responsibility and creates an environment where they can easily make excuses.
Getting along with subordinates is not your role as a leader or manager.
We must not accept individuals who can only thrive with praise, considering they are no longer students but mature employees. It is within their freedom to seek personal fulfillment through receiving smiles from customers and compliments from their family as a result of the substantial bonus they earn based on their evaluation. However, it's not the responsibility of a leader to provide such validation.
The company is not a place where we can feel good through being praised.
Every sport has its own rules, and everyone plays under them. However, in the workplace, it is sometimes unclear, and leaders often make unfair decisions. The role of an ideal leader is to rectify this situation and strive to make work more like sports.
Fairness encourages a healthy spirit of competition.
『リーダーの仮面』
Finished reading "リーダーの仮面".
The author argues that business leaders should focus on concepts such as rule, position, benefit, result, and growth, suggesting that aspects like motivation management and fostering good workplace chemistry are not as critical.
New leaders should set aside their previously successful methods and prioritize company profit above all else. At the end of the day, the pursuit of profit is considered the ultimate motive for the company, and only by achieving it can financial stability and support be provided for its employees.
As a leader, you should give up on being a good person. You should give up on maintaining friendly relationships with your coworkers. You should give up on teaching and motivating your subordinates. You should give up your personal feelings and preferences. You should give up your own abilities as a player.
Does that sound challenging to you? Are you reluctant to change yourself in such a drastic manner? Then, it's time to wear the leader's mask.
