Greetings.  It’s a new week and a chance to unlock greater innovation in yourself and your organization.  And it might also be a good time to gain insight from a group of people who are constantly trying to be creative…and funny.  Yes, standup comedians.  Folks whose jobs depend on their special ability to earn laughs by finding humor in the world around us.  And a recent article by Samuel Bacharach in Inc. magazine provides helpful advice from the likes of John Cleese, Woody Allen, Jerry Seinfeld, Louis CK, and Ricky Gervais.

It’s a fun and quick read with a clear emphasis on the importance of play and playfulness, the value of testing new ideas and learning from “failure,” the logic of never being satisfied, the real potential for finding possibilities in the mundane, and the wisdom of revisiting old ideas for new insights and possibilities.

Important lessons for all of us as individuals and companies.  And important lessons for leaders charged with bringing out the real genius in all of their people.  Leaders who can get better results when they combine humor and humility.

We win in business and in life when we take a fresh look at the simple and complex aspects of life.  And when we find humor in the most likely and unlikely places.

Cheers!