1130: Andrew Tarvin- The World's First Humor Engineer

Sep 30, 2019

Andrew Tarvin, the world's first humor engineer, discusses the art of integrating humor into the workplace to enhance productivity and happiness. He shares his journey from IT to becoming a corporate humorist, emphasizing the importance of context in comedy. Tarvin breaks down the skill of humor into three key components and explores how humor can help navigate workplace dynamics. He also reveals insights from his experiences, including the lessons learned from 96 first dates and the significant role humor plays in society.

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ANECDOTE

First Real Job

Andrew Tarvin's first job was as an IT project manager at Procter & Gamble, despite his passion for humor.
His engineering background fueled an obsession with efficiency, even leading him to cheat in school by distributing math problems.

ANECDOTE

Humor's Impact in Meetings

Tarvin realized humor's workplace potential during a boring meeting he led.
He began incorporating images of himself as a kid into presentations, increasing audience engagement.

ANECDOTE

Email Engagement with Humor

Tarvin included puns in his weekly status emails, which unexpectedly boosted engagement.
When he forgot the jokes, colleagues emailed asking for them, proving humor's impact.

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