My husband and I went to a local comedy club this evening. During one of the routines, the comedian totally screwed up his joke.... imagine, you're on a stage, in front of a crowd of people all staring at you, awaiting their next laugh, which you have seconds to make, and you realize that you said the opposite of what was intended! Everything that comes after that moment in time is no longer funny, because you screwed up the set up..... What do you do????
Well, what this comic did was brilliant! He paused and admitted it! He turned to a colleague of his and said: "Did I just say 'fat?' "I totally f......... d up the joke!" He turned to the crowd and repeated his error.... and then said "we're going to reset the joke and go on....." And, what was the reaction?? People laughed and applauded!
What allowed him to do this? As I was driving home, it dawned on me that what allowed him to use that moment--- that second in time, to recover and build his error into the routine, was being in the moment.... being present (which is what I so admire about great comedians), and non-judgment!
How many of us would have gone to our heads and started saying all sorts of negative self-talk vs. being in the moment, saying "oh well, " and then move on? How often does life present us with those opportunities and we choose to go to judgment, vs. going with the flow, and coming back even better?
So, the next time you screw up and make a mistake on whatever your platform may be, I challenge you to learn from comedians and go to non-judgment...... say "oh well," and come back even stronger! And, then pause and notice all those applauding your spontaneity and presence!
Well, what this comic did was brilliant! He paused and admitted it! He turned to a colleague of his and said: "Did I just say 'fat?' "I totally f......... d up the joke!" He turned to the crowd and repeated his error.... and then said "we're going to reset the joke and go on....." And, what was the reaction?? People laughed and applauded!
What allowed him to do this? As I was driving home, it dawned on me that what allowed him to use that moment--- that second in time, to recover and build his error into the routine, was being in the moment.... being present (which is what I so admire about great comedians), and non-judgment!
How many of us would have gone to our heads and started saying all sorts of negative self-talk vs. being in the moment, saying "oh well, " and then move on? How often does life present us with those opportunities and we choose to go to judgment, vs. going with the flow, and coming back even better?
So, the next time you screw up and make a mistake on whatever your platform may be, I challenge you to learn from comedians and go to non-judgment...... say "oh well," and come back even stronger! And, then pause and notice all those applauding your spontaneity and presence!
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