Let Me Tell You A Joke

Let me tell you a joke. It is the funniest joke in the world. I almost died laughing when I heard it.

It goes like this . . . .

Can you already feel your resistance? Would you bet your house that it is the funniest joke in the world or have you already predicted that it will be a disappointment?

That dangerous build-up teaches us a great deal about humor and public speaking: There is nothing wrong with enlivening most topics with a little humor. The key is to keep your humor short and fast so if a line dies you'll be so quickly on to another point that people won't notice.

And never announce a joke. Let them discover it.