In business and life, a sense of humor helps

HARVEY MACKAY

There is an Apache legend that the creator gave humans the ability to talk, to run and to look at things. But in addition, the legend says he was not satisfied until he also gave them the ability to laugh. After giving humans this ability, the creator said, "Now you are fit to live."

A good sense of humor helps to overlook the unbecoming, understand the unconventional, tolerate the unpleasant, overcome the unexpected and outlast the unbearable.

Life is too short to be serious all the time. How dull our existence would be without the potential to see the lighter side of situations. And how hopeless, too! Humor often represents hope, the idea that the worst is behind us and better things are coming.

True, not all things are funny. Knowing how and when to apply a filter is critical. And it's usually better when the joke is on you, so your obvious amusement signals permission to see the humor in a situation.

"If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself," said Charles Schulz, creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip.

I value a sense of humor very highly when I am hiring people. My employees know I love a good laugh. For years I started every sales meeting with a funny story or joke, and asked other managers to do the same. I wasn't looking for the next Tina Fey or Jimmy Fallon. I just wanted to loosen up the group and put them in a good mood.

Some of the funniest people I know are also the quietest. You have to listen closely to what they say, because the quips sneak out when you least expect them. For example, a woman approached President Calvin Coolidge, aptly nicknamed "Silent Cal," at a dinner and said, "Mr. President, I have a bet with my friend that I can get you to say more than two words." Coolidge replied, "You lose!"

Finding the humor in everyday life is easy if you look for it. People who take themselves too seriously are a constant source of amusement for me. Take this young job seeker, for example:

At the end of a job interview, the human resources person asked a young engineer, "And what starting salary were you looking for?"

The engineer said optimistically, "In the neighborhood of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package."

The interviewer said, "Well, what would you say to a package of five weeks' vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental, and a company car leased every two years, say, a red Corvette?"

Mackay's Moral: Life isn't always funny, but a sense of humor always helps.