Jerome Engel’s Post

Profound words from Jerry Seinfeld here, I encourage you to listen to this before you start your day!

Great insight

Have you watched this speech yet? Jerry Seinfeld's commencement address at Duke University has gone viral. Many of you know I became a lover of wisdom later in life, recognizing that it's the way we think that determines much of our quality of life. And wisdom has a profound effect on the way we think. 💡 🧠 Jerry, at 70 years old is long some pretty insightful wisdom. Especially on the need for Humor. Humor often gets ignored in favor of more "serious" categories of wisdom (e.g. gratitude, process over result, purpose, etc.)... But Jerry says humor is a SURVIVAL SKILL. "The most powerful survival essential quality you will ever need to navigate through the human experience", which is "a pretty insane mess" and won't change anytime soon. Basically, we all need to laugh much, much, much, MUCH more. Because life is a "brutal long hike" and there is "silliness to humans and all existence" so in order to get through it with smile on our faces, we need to embrace humor like crazy. If you have some time, about 15 minutes, its worth watching the entire speech. I will leave it in the comments section. 👇 If you only have a minute or so, watch him speak about the wisdom of humor at 15:45. (He also dropped wisdom nuggets on obsessing over results, money and the present moment - I'll share those later in another post.) Happy wisdom seeking! - - - - h/t Scott Galloway for posting For more on combating stress and uplifting your mindset for thriving and wellness, sign-up to my newsletter up top 👆

I know this speech isn't about qualitative research, but it's about human beings and how human beings can thrive. As a voice of the consumer expert, my goal is to make each consumer feel comfortable to thrive in an interview. This ability to thrive in an interview allows them to share more and thus uncover more insights. Humor is one way I do this. Of course humor is applied tastefully, but it's important to work it in to get to the heart of the consumer.

The right mix of humor and empathy is absolutely essential to navigate this human experience.

"Just don't lose your humor" I really enjoyed Jerry Seinfeld’s recent commencement speech. At 70, Seinfeld bridges generations, highlighting humor's crucial role in navigating life's complexities and absurdities. He reminds us that humor is essential for survival. This sentiment deeply resonates with me. I realize I've lost my sense of humor when I become too fixated on being right, rather than focusing on moving forward constructively. In my experience, teams that laugh together, stay together. Humor fosters trust, ignites creativity, and eases the perception of pressure, allowing teams to thrive amidst challenges. Integrating humor doesn’t undercut the importance of empathy and sensitivity; it enhances them. It's about finding joy in the ride, tackling the chaos with a grin and understanding that things may not go to plan. Seinfeld’s advice is a great reminder as we strive to create better workplaces: keep laughing. Humor does more than lighten the mood; it's key to staying resilient, having fun, and creating an environment to hit those lofty goals.

Some inspiring words for not only the next generation of business leaders but for all of us today. Dont shy away from a little discomfort and embrace the need to laugh as ways to embrace change!

Humor is one of the most powerful tools you can use in your life. Not everything needs to be taken seriously. #humor #lifeandbusiness #management

As we kick off a new week of work, to-do lists, meetings, etc, keep your sense of humour intact. I can atttest to humour being a lifesaving skill to possess. I find so many people making a noticeable effort to be dilligent in their duties, pragmatic in their professional engagements, really pushing through to be of use to their employer and show that they bring value to work. What they forget to bring in, is a smile... a little bit of humour to relax their shoulders and lighten the day. Laugh a little, no, actually a lot, with your colleagues, at your colleagues, at yourself, and enjoy the 8 hours that you spend at work. When you build positive connections with the people you work with, your daily activities do not seem like a task. "Do not lose your sense of humour".

😎 Humor is a survival tool, make sure you are equipped.