Today we get a virtually interview between NY and Struer DK. My guest for this show is Andrew Tarvin the humour engineer, motivational speaker. A real Nerd, Yes a nerd in all, math, computer, SW, Star Wars & Star Treck and a stand-up comedian.
He describes himself this way:
- Humor Engineer. The combinations of Stand-up Comedy for 15+ Years and Engineering
- Computer Scientist, Creating Programms and PM
- Uses Humor to solve problems at the work space
- Nerd. Yes all of it. Computer, Math, Dr. Who, Star Was & Star Treck
Why Star Wars? It looks cool, the have light sabres and it is good traditional storytelling
Color: An Orange-peel Orange colour. Was always his favourite color since childhood.
Colour Research shows that the humans, favourite color is Blue (33%) - then Green,… eventually Orange comes at the end of the scale.
Fun fact: Frank Sinatra also loved orange.
Secret: Plays Spider Solitaire to the extreme. He enjoys the logic problem solving and uses it as a distraction like a meditation to help him refilling his energy.
Else he is using walking mindfulness to be fully present in the moment.
We got to talk about being an Introvert vs. Extrovert. It’s about how they think and recharge.
Andrew is an introvert that loves to speak and give in person coaching. Yet he needs to recharge by being alone.
Introverts think a lot and then give the full answer. Whereabout extroverts think while talking and then come to a solution.
Introverts recharge mostly when alone and extroverts while being social.
“We are not our personality assessment. By taking action we can change.“
What is creativity:
Traditionally drawing, painting etc.
Some people are great in just starting to draw, write something where others need to know what to do.
For Andrew the first sketch, stand up draft, draft of a book is rarely the thing. He does iterate from the first idea to the final product. Taking step by step.
- Creativity is solving problems.
- Building unique connections from 2 or more ideas.
- Mostly to express feelings and emotions
As an example of creativity Andrew share the story about how Dyson was able to solve his “how to improve the vacuum cleaner” problem.
Humor and Creativity:
- Both are used to find unique connections
- Looking at the world in a unique way
- Andrew has humour workshops that teaches how to structure humour. The concept is taken from his different experiences from Improv classes and especially from the musical improv classes he took in NY.
- “Structure makes it easier to be creative”
He learned many tools. Here are two:
- 10 by 10 List:
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- You create a List of 10 things about a subject. And then another one on another subject
e.g. Leadership: Leading, Direction, Learning, They think they are not bad at it etc. Then Car driving: GPS, direction, We think we are not bad at it etc…
Now you combine two lists and start associate different points on the lists. => Association creates humour or saying it in another way.
- Comic Triple:
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- List 3 things and the 3rd thing is unexpected. It fits but is provocative
Paradox of choice:
We get paralysed by too many choices. We need to learn that the 1st draft is not perfect. Being ok with it being pure crap.
Skill improves over time. What you output doesn’t macht with what is in your head but you have a good taste. Work on the execution not on your vision. It is great not to be able to deliver what you have envisioned because you know where you want to go.
We do not see the unseen hours, the hours of practice to get to the master piece or performance.
2 Ways to do Stand-Up
- Do a recorded special and never do it again. Come up with a completely new set a year or so later
- Evolve the material over time. Replace parts or rearrange them. After one year you have a new show too.
Andrew needs a certain pressure a date to be accountable to being productive. For example for his TED talk he had 4 months to prepare. He rearranged his plans and booked shows to test his material and iterate it. This way he was productive and had his material done by the due date.
You can also ask friends or test your material in front of other small groups.
Failure is just data. Don’t take it personal that you are not creative, funny or else.
A study on humour showed:
Using humour successfully & appropriate makes people see you as more confident and competent.
Using humour and fail and use it inappropriate and you are still seen as confident.
As long as you use humour you are seen as confident.
TIPS:
Test jokes to test the audience and the type of humour they respond too.
Advice:
1. Better beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. This means take ownership. Don’t sit around and wait for something to happen. If you want to be funny be it.
2. If someone read a book about your life. Would anyone read it? Would you read it? What makes it a cooler story?
This perspective helps to take better decisions.
Imagine you tried many things and failed then you have stories to share. Sitting in front of the TV does not make a great story.
Reach out:
Send him a short message on social media under @DrewTarvin.
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