That’s What Humor Does by Steve Rizzo

Last week I was on my way to Kona, Hawaii to give a keynote speech to over one thousand people. I called home during my connection in Los Angeles and my wife told me my father passed away.

I made a decision to continue on to Kona. My plan was to give my speech the next day and then fly back home in time for the wake and funeral services.

The following morning I was at the hotel restaurant having breakfast. My thoughts were on my father and all the wonderful memories we shared. I felt a wave of emotions building up. The one thing I didn’t want to do, was to loose it at a restaurant. But it was too late, my emotions got the best of me and the tears began to fall.

Just then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was my waitress. “Mr. Rizzo, she said, is everything alright?”

Without missing a beat, I turned around in my seat, looked her straight in the face and said, “No it’s not. This is the worst omelet I’ve ever had!” Read more

If You Can Find Humor in Anything by Steve Rizzo

Years ago, I was watching a television news special. Dan Rather was interviewing Bill Cosby only weeks after his son was murdered. After sharing his grief over his son’s death, the comedian was asked what I thought was a very difficult, if not unfair, question. “Now that Bill Cosby’s son is no longer with us,” said Rather “what is Bill Cosby going to do with the rest of his life?” Cosby contemplated the question for a few seconds and confidently said, “I think it’s time for me to tell the people that we have to laugh. We’ve got to laugh. You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything…you can survive it.” I think that about says it all!!!!!

www.steverizzo.com

3 Steps to Pump & Strengthen Your Humor Muscle by Steve Rizzo

Here are three steps or exercises that can help you pump and strengthen your humor muscle.

First, as soon as you wake up, tell yourself it’s a great day and that no matter what happens there is a power in you that can overcome any obstacle. Know that you are in control and that you always have a choice. Recite positive affirmations as you get ready to greet the day, like: “I am in control of my life.” “Whatever this day brings, there is something in me that is strong enough to meet it, overcome it, and be blessed by it.”

Second, find something to make you laugh, or at least put a smile on your face before you leave the house for work or where ever it is you have to go. You will be amazed at the power and energy you’ll get from doing this every day. In a short time, you will notice that humor ignites creativity, creativity leads to productivity, and productivity can be contagious. Why not start an epidemic of positive energy in and around your life? Why shouldn’t you start your day off in a good mood?

Use your imagination. Put your laughter cap on and be observant. It’s what I call observing and developing your humor insights. It simply means observe the funny stuff that is around you. Observe your kids. Watch how they grow up to be just like you. Read more

3 Steps to Pump & Strenghten Your Humor Muscle

Here are three steps or exercises that can help you pump and strengthen your humor muscle.

First, as soon as you wake up, tell yourself it’s a great day and that no matter what happens there is a power in you that can overcome any obstacle. Know that you are in control and that you always have a choice. Recite positive affirmations as you get ready to greet the day, like: “I am in control of my life.” “Whatever this day brings, there is something in me that is strong enough to meet it, overcome it, and be blessed by it.”

Second, find something to make you laugh, or at least put a smile on your face before you leave the house for work or where ever it is you have to go. You will be amazed at the power and energy you’ll get from doing this every day. In a short time, you will notice that humor ignites creativity, creativity leads to productivity, and productivity can be contagious. Why not start an epidemic of positive energy in and around your life? Why shouldn’t you start your day off in a good mood?

Use your imagination. Put your laughter cap on and be observant. It’s what I call observing and developing your humor insights. It simply means observe the funny stuff that is around you. Observe your kids. Watch how they grow up to be just like you. Read more

Change What You Think Is What You Get

Let me make this perfectly clear my friends, change is inevitable in the workplace today!!! Right nowwe are all experiencing very challenging times in regards to an uncertain and shaky economy. The result; companies are going out of business, people are getting laid off, and many are being forced to change their lifestyles. Regardless of the changes that take place in your life, you must know without a doubt that it’s not the change in and of itself that determines your fate, but rather it’s the thoughts you have about the change that really makes the difference. So, stop whining about it and think about what you’re thinking! In fact, your thoughts are the key factor as to whether you embrace the change and move forward with optimism or allow the changes to propel you in to a state of hopelessness.

I often speak to groups on how to embrace change in the workplace. Many times, within each audience the members pretty much have the same educational background, the same job description, and the same or similar responsibilities. Everyone is experiencing the changes that are taking place and yet I know for a fact even after they’ve heard my program that some, will move forward with enthusiasm and positive energy. They will also achieve great success and enjoy themselves during the process. Others will merely go through the motions because they have to, they will complain along the way and have great difficulty making their lives work. And some will become emotionally mentally paralyzed and unable to escape the grasp of fear.
Read more

Laughter And Extreme Adversity by Steve Rizzo

Years ago, I attended the wake and funeral services of a friend who was killed in a car crash. He was loved by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. I have been to many wakes, viewings, funeral services and memorials throughout the course of my life, but there was something special about this one in particular. An awareness came over me that caused me to view the losses in my life from a different perspective.

When the funeral service was over, a group of us met at a relative’s house. As you can imagine, people were wiping away tears and consoling one another. Some were understandably having difficulty accepting the unfair twist of fate that life had thrust upon him. We all were.

From across the room, I overheard an acquaintance telling part of a story that I was familiar with about our friend when he was in high school. I noticed that a few people were laughing along with it. Then someone else joined in on the conversation and offered an anecdote about the dearly departed’s affinity for football. Before long, everyone in the room was laughing and reminiscing about the good times they had. In the midst of all the laughter, I had a strange, uplifting feeling come to me. Read more

Turn the Other Cheek by Steve Rizzo

In every experience you face, there is always a moment when all problems start out as merely seed possibilities. It is your responsibility to make sure that they don’t blossom into emotional havoc. Every spiritually evolved person that I have read about alludes to a principle that states that there is always a peaceful part of us that we can turn to and react from when times are tough. Buddha, Confucius, Gandhi, Jesus, and many others have embraced this philosophy. Jesus said, “Turn the other cheek.”

What does it mean to “turn the other cheek?” Well, first of all it doesn’t mean that we should lie down and allow people who have offended us to continue to walk all over us. It doesn’t mean that we should give life’s circumstances permission to repeatedly take advantage of us. Whenever we find ourselves in turmoil over a situation or something someone has said or done, our turmoil is an indication that we have been in the wrong state of consciousness. When we react to whatever upsets us in the same state of mind we only compound the problem. “Turning the other cheek” is an opportunity for you to shift perspective and respond from the Higher part of yourself – the other side of you. Read more

Unleash the Power of Your Humor Being by Steve Rizzo

We’re living in a world that’s moving incredibly fast. On top of our personal problems and everyday pressures, we read the newspapers and watch the evening newscasts to learn that corporations are being forced to downsize and massive technological advancements in the workplace are causing people to drastically change their lives. Cell phones, Blackberry’s, e-mails, text messages, and even micro-communication applications like Twitter are clogging our minds with an overwhelming amount of information, leaving us with little or no time to relax, unwind, and focus our attention on the big picture.

To compound this, political unrest, crime, disease, prejudice, and violence are running rampant, as they have done for decades on end. The divorce rate is at an all time high and war seems to be the only answer to remedy differences between nations. It’s really no wonder why so many of us have to be medicated in some way or another in order to cope with the madness we have created! Read more

It’s All In How You View It by Steve Rizzo

Years ago; I was waiting for what I considered to be a very important phone call from my agent. He had left a message the night before stating that three shows that had been booked were now canceled, and a television special I was in the running for, now looked bleak.

I immediately called him the next morning. His secretary said he was in a meeting. She assured me he would call me as soon as the meeting was over. Three hours went by, and still no call. I decided to call again. This time his secretary said he was out to lunch. I hung up the phone. I was very angry. All kinds of negative thoughts were going through my head. When thoughts go through my head – negative or positive – I have a tendency to repeat them out loud as I pace back and forth.
A few more hours went by and I had actually convinced myself that my agent didn’t care about my needs or my career. Read more

Way Beyond Comedy

Quite often people come up to me and say, Steve (because that’s my name), what’s one of the main characteristics that separates a comedian from everyone else? I simply respond, that it’s the way a comedian looks at life. A comedian views life and all of its obstacles, absurdities, tragedies, mistakes, incomprehensibility’s, and embarrassing moments from a humorous perspective. When comedians look at life this way, they’re not negating the seriousness of the subject matter, they’re just looking at life from a different perspective – it’s a healthier perspective – it’s the humor perspective.

Let me share with you how I discovered the power of my Humor Being, which was one of the key factors that motivated me to leave stand-up comedy and move on to the speaking forum.  Following a comedy performance I would feel this surge of positive energy flow through my body. This energy surge gave me the confidence that I could achieve and accomplish anything I set my mind to do. Sometimes I would go back to my hotel room and write in my journal or write new material. It seemed that my creative juices flowed from me, into the pen, and onto the paper. Other times I would go out with a group of people, have wonderful conversations, laugh and have fun. The point is, whatever I did I was totally void of all negative thoughts. My problems – whatever they were at the time – somehow seemed manageable. I was living in the moment and enjoying every minute of it. Read more