I’ll give you three guesses as to my MOST important Core Value

A horse walks into a bar. Bartender says ‘Why the long face?’

Funny, right? That one’s free - no extra charge.

When we start our businesses, it helps to do a bit of introspection. Figuring out our mission statement, goals and our core values. When I created Susie Moon Consulting, I didn’t have them completely defined. But through a coaching program and retreat, I allowed that introspection to occur. My core values were created and posted to my website. If you are keeping score at home, here they are:

• Curiosity - Exploring new perspectives for valuable insights

• Integrity - Wholeheartedly believing in our clients’ success

• Advocacy - Acting as your biggest fan and sharing your gifts with others

• Humor - Adding fun to business

Humor? What in the world does that have to do with business?

Wouldn’t it be better to be buttoned up? Keep it ‘business-like? How does humor make my job as Chief Connection Officer better?

I’ll tell you how.

It’s part of who I am. It is something that is so meaningful to me that I have it listed front and center so that MY clients recognize what they get with me.

It’s part of my hiring process. I require a joke from people applying to be on my team when they submit their credentials. Guess what? They don’t have to actually be funny (but sometimes they kill, for real). They do have to embrace the challenge and TRY to produce something that gives me an insight to who they are and what they want to smile about.

You may or may not know that I am also a comedy writer. And I’ve performed stand up comedy a few times, which is at once terrifying, liberating and exhilarating. Try it, you’ll see.

Humor is the Great Connector. Not everyone finds the same things funny (I, for example, find many things that middle school boys find funny, and you might not, and I’m ok with that). But, everyone loves to laugh. Smiling and laughing releases endorphins. It breaks down nervousness and fear. It connects people in a way that isn’t taught, it’s just innate.

You may not find people that share your exact brand of humor, but you WILL find people that you can laugh with about some common idea or situation, take the sting out of something heavy. It helps us let our guard down, which is a natural way to connect with each other.

How many of us quote fun, silly, dumb movie lines regularly? In casual conversation that is a connector - more people gravitate to that idea, thought, phrase and it brings back the joy of when they first heard it. At a loss for words? Well, yada yada yada, you’ll find something from a TV show or John Hughes movie (shout out to the 80’s, holla), and suddenly have common ground with a complete stranger.

Not every day with me is a laugh-until-you-leak nonstop riot. But some are. And if there is a CHANCE that you can have that kind of day while you are working, sign me up for it. We spend way too much time at work to not have laugh-riot days sometimes. Full of emojis and LOL texts.

Humor has power. It builds empathy, brings people together, relieves stress and, dare I say, creates social change. That’s why it powers Susie Moon Consulting. That’s the fuel that I use to make sure that YOU have an opportunity to be visible, create impact AND laugh while you do it.

So tell me, is this one of your core values? What’s your most important core value, one that you CANNOT take off the table?  Comment here and let me know, I’m dying to hear all about it.

I’ll leave you today with my famous last words, you may even hear me shout them out at an event or conference from time to time. Always in good fun.

That’s what she said.

Don’t forget to tip your wait staff.