Lesson 11 – (Preview)

Finally, let’s explore poking fun at yourself using a contrary point of view. This additional technique involves identifying the most embarrassing or quirky things that people might be say about you behind your back. You find humor by identifying the advantages of this defect. The items listed in CAPITALS/BOLD in the third column below are examples of using a contrary point of view.

1) Dave Hill – Appearance, Personality Traits, Weaknesses etc.	2) Identify and list the generic characteristics, adjectives, or things that relate to this.	3) Try and Find a “Bridge” or “Link” Between 1) & 2) to Turn it into a Witticism or find a CONTRARY POINT OF VIEW.
Irish (living in Texas)	Ireland Foreigner Accent Immigrant Saint Patrick Beer Drinking Red Hair Freckles Irish Dancing	I am from an Island off Texas…called Ireland Some of you may be able to identify that I have a fake Texas accent NON-IRISH PEOPLE FIND MY ACCENT “CUTE.” MY ACCENT MAY SOUND POSH BUT I AM REALLY JUST A HOBBIT WITH AN ACCENT
Bald	Aerodynamic Human Radiator Follicle Challenged Shampoo Hairdryer Comb Hairbrush Dandruff Curling Iron	I AM AERODYNAMIC. I GET GREAT CAR GAS MILEAGE WHEN I OPEN MY CAR WINDOWS
Short	Elf Vertically Challenged Hobbit In-Laws Playfully Mocking Me Reachability High heels Clogs Small Clothing Store High Chair	MY BUCKET LIST ITEM IS TO BE AS TALL AS THE HEIGHT ON MY DRIVER’S LICENSE. I DON’T FEEL SHORT UNTIL I SEE A SHORT PERSON WHO IS TALLER THAN ME MY HUNGARIAN IN-LAWS CALL ME DAVID (DANNY) DEVITO BEHIND MY BACK. I DON’T SPEAK HUNGARIAN…BUT I CAN WORK IT OUT WHEN I HEAR, “DAVID DEVITO …GIGGLE…GIGGLE…GIGGLE.” BEING SHORT IS GREAT; WHEN I STAND UP ON MOST AIRPLANES MY HEAD DOES NOT TOUCH THE OVERHEAD LUGGAGE RACK. “GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES”. THIS MISCONCEPTION HELPS ME GET AWAY WITH BEING EVIL AT TIMES! AT 58+ YEARS OLD I STILL BUY SHOES IN THE “YOUNG MEN’S” SECTION OF THE STORE. WHEN I SEE A SIGN THAT SAYS “MIND YOUR HEAD” I SMILE THINKING THAT THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY THE WORLD PUNISHES TALL PEOPLE! BEING SHORT IS EXCITING. I FEEL A SENSE OF ADVENTURE AND ACHIEVEMENT WHEN I MANAGE TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING FROM THE TOP SHELF OF A KITCHEN CUPBOARD WITHOUT INJURY. BEING SHORT IS PRACTICAL. WHEN I GO BACK TO THEFAMILY HOUSE IN IRELAND, I STILL FIT IN THE SAME BED THAT I HAD WHEN I WAS 5 YEARS OLD!
Overweight	Calories Beer Food Medical Doctor Weighing Scales Exercise Gym Fitness Out of Breath	Doctor has been giving out to me about my weight for 20 years. Need to change to a doctor who’s more overweight than I am…
Hearing	Hearing Aids Batteries Deaf Ears Volume Ear Wax Noise Music Background	I thought I needed hearing aids …turn out my wife does not finish her sentences.
Twisted sense of humor	Trouble Diversity Committee Human Resources Conservative Wife	Daughter wanted me to drive her to the swimming pool at 4 am to do competitive swimming. I jokingly commented, “Why can’t you just do drugs like a normal kid?”
Color Blind	Eyes Navigation Lights Test Red/Green Challenges	My wife sends me to work with a “I dressed myself” sticker on my back.
Glasses	Bulky Expensive Transition Bi-Focal Duct Tape Repair Engineers Glasses	I miss my thick rimmed engineers’ glasses. Women love them!
Frugal family	Dollard Spending Frugal Father Savings Shopping Impulse Candle Heat Steam Breath	In Ireland to stay warm my family would sit around a candle in the kitchen. When it got extremely cold…my dad would light it.
Storyteller	Engagement Personal Stories Family Stories Embarrassing Funny What Happens in this House…	My wife hates it when people come up to her and say, “We love the story your husband told us about you.”
Tough	Temper Tenacity Bull-Headed Poison Dwarf Angry Elf	I got angry with my 3-year-old son for not eating his corn-on-the cob. He cried, “But daddy…I have no front teeth.”
Bad listener	Listening Skills Hearing Background Noise ADD Squirrel	When I try and remember the short grocery list my wife gives me, I sometimes forget by the time I reach the store. I just buy a six pack of beer. If you are going to be in the doghouse, you may as well be in the doghouse with beer!
Caffeine deficiency is risky for me	Coffee Mug Tea Maker Starbucks	When bringing my wife’s car to the muffler shop many years ago, I got 3 miles from home and discovered I was driving my car. I do not do errands in a caffeine deficient state anymore!
Emotional	Cry Laugh Weep Hysterical Teary Eyed	While zip lining in Costa Rica my kids discovered I scream loudly…like a little girl!
Personable	Friendly Helpful Solving Problems Build Rapport Make People Laugh	When someone on the phone asks me how I am I reply, “fully caffeinated.”
Helpful	Solve Problems Good Character Wired to Help Good Citizen	Stopped at a crossroads to pick up hitchhikers in Ireland. Put the hitchhikers gear in the car…then discovered they wanted to go in the other direction.
Beer drinker	Guinness Cold Beer Warm Beer English Beer Homebrewer	Brew my own beer and keg it. I keep it in a temperature-controlled chest freezer. If there is ever a nuclear attack… the cockroaches and I will survive.
I make mistakes	Human Bad Engineering Learn Poke Fun at Mistakes	My turn to drive the kids to school. Kids started giggling in the back seat of the car when I was well on my way to work.
I pack for business trips at the last moment	Rushing Risk Taking Clothes Toiletries Laptop	Ended up packing a pair of my 3-year-old son’s underwear
Mischief	Lightheartedness Playfulness Trouble Playfulness Irresponsible	Bored shopping with my wife…started trying on wigs to get her to laugh. Got “caught” by the checkout women who were giggling and pointing at me (the bald guy). Embarrassing!
Terrible at buying gifts for my wife	Shopping Jewelry Christmas Birthdays Tools Appliance	For an anniversary gift I bought her an Amish step ladder that folded into a chair…that then folded into an ironing board
Minimal personal goals	Have Fun Make People Laugh Measurable Write Them Follow Them Accountability	Life goal to keep shaming the family in funny ways
Not always a good engineer at home	Breaking Stuff Inventive Frugal Long List of things to Fix	Built a tall fence to keep my Irish Setter dog from getting to the back garden muddy area. Glowing with self-achievement when the dog bounded over the fence without effort.
My ears stick out	Dumbo Super Hearing	I was worried about never having a girlfriend as a teen…my mother commented, “at least you’ll be a great listener.”

Lesson tags: energize, engage, humor, Personal Euphoria