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EXCELLENCE
Excellence Creative
EXCELLENCE CREATIVE

Be Funnier Without Being Mean

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LEVEL 1 · 0/3LEVEL 2 · 0/3LEVEL 3 · 0/3LEVEL 4 · 0/3LEVEL 5 · 0/3START
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Get funnier the evidence way: the benign violation, why surprise isn't enough, psychological distance, setup and punchline, editing and testing jokes, shared laughter, humor styles, teasing without wounding, humor at work and its legal lines, good-natured coping, and a funny speech.

2h 56m5 constellations
AT THE SUMMIT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO

01Understand what makes things funny, and why some jokes offend

02Write, edit and test your own jokes

03Use inclusive humor that bonds rather than wounds

04Be funny at work within the lines, and cope with good-natured humor

Every lesson of Be Funnier Without Being Mean

15 lessons in 5 levels, about 3 hours. Level 1 is free.

Level 1What Makes Things FunnyFree · 3 lessons
  1. The benign violationUnderstand the leading theory of what makes things funny, something wrong that's also OK.11 min
  2. Surprise isn't enoughSeparate the ingredients that make things funny from the popular myths.11 min
  3. Too close, too farUse psychological distance to judge when a topic will land, and when it will hurt.12 min
Level 2Write a JokeMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Setup and punchlineBuild a joke from an expectation and a second reading that flips it.12 min
  2. Cut, sharpen, landEdit a joke so the reveal is short, clear and at the very end.11 min
  3. Checkpoint: test your materialTry jokes on a safe audience first, because humor that misses has a real cost.12 min
Level 3Humor With PeopleMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Laughing together bonds peopleSee what shared laughter does for relationships, and make more room for it.11 min
  2. Four humor stylesRecognize your humor style, and which styles go with better mental health.12 min
  3. Checkpoint: teasing without woundingTease in a way that bonds, and repair it fast when it lands wrong.13 min
Level 4Humor at WorkMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Humor at work: the evidenceKnow what positive humor at work is linked with, for you and for managers.11 min
  2. When humor raises or lowers your statusUse humor that signals confidence and competence, and avoid the kind that backfires.12 min
  3. Checkpoint: the lines at workKnow when a “joke” becomes harassment, and what to do if you're on either side.12 min
Level 5Humor for LifeMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Humor for hard timesUse good-natured humor to cope, and know why mean-spirited humor helps less.11 min
  2. A funny speech or toastWrite and rehearse a short speech that's warm, funny and safe for the room.13 min
  3. Capstone: your humor planCombine theory, craft, people and limits into a plan for being funnier: kindly.12 min
FREE

Level 1 is open.

Membership opens every other level of this path.

See membership
AFTER THE CORE

Keep going where this path leads.

Tell Stories That StickStories with a payoff · 2h 59m
Communicate With ConfidenceSpeaking and conversation · 3h 25m