When More Money is Too Much
Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips From a Comedian
Release Date: 01/03/2025
The Elements of Frustration in Comedy
Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips From a Comedian
There are lots of frustrating elements in comedy, and we're used to them . .. things like drunks or bad set ups. But sometimes there are things that mess up your performance that you couldn't even think up! Here's a quick story about a few times things have thrown me for a loop! Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker, comedian, and funny motivational speaker who helps organizations use humor to handle change, build resilience, and strengthen leadership skills. With her laugh-out-loud stories and practical tips, Jan shows audiences how humor isn’t just entertainment—it’s...
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The Day I Regretted Saying "yes!"
Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips From a Comedian
If I could take back agreeing to this idea, I would, because I regretted saying yes to this one. Here's a quick story about why you should stick up for yourself when someone has an idea that you don't think will work. I was too new to comedy and too naive to speak up. Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker, comedian, and funny motivational speaker who helps organizations use humor to handle change, build resilience, and strengthen leadership skills. With her laugh-out-loud stories and practical tips, Jan shows audiences how humor isn’t just entertainment—it’s a business...
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A Bombshell Announcement (that turned into a great show!)
Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips From a Comedian
You’d think being a comedian prepares you for anything — hecklers, bad lighting, even a buffet line louder than your mic. But there’s one thing no amount of punchlines can fix, and I found myself walking straight into it one afternoon. I was hired to entertain a room full of employees… who had just been given some BAD news. Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker, comedian, and funny motivational speaker who helps organizations use humor to handle change, build resilience, and strengthen leadership skills. With her laugh-out-loud stories and practical tips, Jan shows...
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The Heckle I'll Never Forget
Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips From a Comedian
On stage with family in the audience, the pressure was on—and things went sideways fast. In this episode, keynote speaker and comedian Jan McInnis takes you inside one unforgettable night in her comedy career. It’s a hilarious, cringe-worthy story packed with lessons on resilience, risk-taking, and finding the funny when everything goes wrong. Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker, comedian, and funny motivational speaker who helps organizations use humor to handle change, build resilience, and strengthen leadership skills. With her laugh-out-loud stories and...
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Opening for a Superstar: Expectations vs. Reality
Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips From a Comedian
Opening for a superstar sounds like every comedian’s dream gig—but is it really? In this episode of Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips from a Comedian, Jan McInnis shares the chaos, comedy, and leadership lessons from opening for Julio Iglesias. From being ignored backstage to having her friend escorted out by security, Jan shows how resilience and humor can turn setbacks into unforgettable stories. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at comedy, leadership, and finding the funny when things don’t go as planned. Here’s a polished version of your standard Libsyn podcast...
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Walking Away From Your Dream Job
Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips From a Comedian
A lot of people have a dream job that they really want to do. Many people don't pursue it. There are lots of reasons for staying where you are instead of taking the leap into the unknown. Some of the reasons, like money or location, are valid. But some of the reasons, like the one given in this episode aren't really barriers. Listen to my short humor story about how to walk away from your dream job. Jan McInnis is a top conference keynote speaker, comedian, Master of Ceremonies, and comedy writer. She has written for Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show monologues as well as many other...
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Cruise Ship Fiasco
Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips From a Comedian
Working on cruise ships as an entertainer can get weird, and I'm not talking about hecklers. Just getting to the ship in another country is a journey in itself. Here's a quick story about a cruise ship fiasco that could have turned out very badly! Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker and comedian. She uses short funny stories to emphasize her tips on how businesses can use humor to handle change. Jan is a top conference keynote speaker, comedian, Master of Ceremonies, and comedy writer. She has written for Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show monologues as well as many other...
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When Your Gig Comes with a Warning Label
Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips From a Comedian
Working around sketchy entertainers is, thankfully, not usual, but it happens. Here's a quick story about one of the times I had to work with someone who really wasn't that safe for women. Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker and comedian. She uses short funny stories to emphasize her tips on how businesses can use humor to handle change. Jan is a top conference keynote speaker, comedian, Master of Ceremonies, and comedy writer. She has written for Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show monologues as well as many other people, places, and groups—radio, TV, syndicated cartoon...
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How NOT to get a referral
Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips From a Comedian
Referrals are a big part of most freelancer's business, especially comedians and keynote speakers! Here's a quick story about the right and wrong way to go about asking for a referral. Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker and comedian. She uses short funny stories to emphasize her tips on how businesses can use humor to handle change. Jan is a top conference keynote speaker, comedian, Master of Ceremonies, and comedy writer. She has written for Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show monologues as well as many other people, places, and groups—radio, TV, syndicated...
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The Wordrobe Choice that Backfired
Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips From a Comedian
What you wear onstage is important. This is a quick story about what NOT to wear. I got to work with someone who wore an odd outfit and her wordrobe choice backfired on her. Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker and comedian. She uses short funny stories to emphasize her tips on how businesses can use humor to handle change. Jan is a top conference keynote speaker, comedian, Master of Ceremonies, and comedy writer. She has written for Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show monologues as well as many other people, places, and groups—radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips,...
info_outlinehttps://www.TheWorkLady.com Money matters can bring out the best and the worst in any industry, but in the unpredictable world of comedy, payment stories often take on a life of their own. While underpayment and non-payment are hot topics, few talk about the unexpected twist of overpayment. What would you do if you were paid more than you earned—keep it, or come clean? In this episode I share how I handled things.
Jan McInnis is a top change management keynote speaker and comedian. She uses short funny stories to emphasize her tips on how businesses can use humor to handle change. Jan is a top conference keynote speaker, comedian, Master of Ceremonies, and comedy writer. She has written for Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show monologues as well as many other people, places, and groups—radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, guests on The Jerry Springer Show (her parents are proud). For over 25 years, she’s traveled the country as a keynote speaker and comedian, sharing her unique and practical tips on how to use humor in business (yes, it’s a business skill!). She's been featured in The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post for her clean humor, and she's the author of two books: Finding the Funny Fast – How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers, and Crowds, and Convention Comedian: Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs. She also has a popular podcast titled Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes. In her former life, she was a marketing executive in Washington, D.C. for national non-profits, and she received the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives “Excellence in Education” Award. Jan’s been featured at thousands of events from the Federal Reserve Banks to the Mayo Clinic.
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