The Umbrella, the Trikes, and the Secret to Using Humor in Presentations

A few weeks ago, my brother Victor drove from New York to Chicago to visit us. Along the way, he stopped at a supermarket for a few supplies. As he was about to leave the store—boom—the heavens opened. A heavy downpour.

At the entrance, he noticed two elderly ladies sitting on those motorized supermarket scooters, waiting for the rain to stop. With a twinkle in his eye, Victor walked over and said:

“Ladies, my car is parked on the far side of the parking lot. Would you mind driving your little vehicles over to my car, grabbing my umbrella, and bringing it back?”

They looked at him, puzzled at first—then burst out laughing. One of the women said, “Oh, that’s very funny. I must write that down.”

Why This Matters: Capture the Funny

That moment perfectly sums up one of my key principles when coaching people on how to add humor to their presentations:

When something funny happens—write it down.

You don’t know when or if you’ll use it. But if you don’t write it down, chances are you’ll forget it—and one great humor moment will be lost.

• 📌 See something funny? Write it down.
• 👂 Hear something funny? Write it down.
• 📚 Read something funny? Capture it.

The more you collect, the stronger your “humor library” becomes. You’ll find it easier to sprinkle in stories, quips, and lines that bring a smile to your audience’s face.

The Science Behind the Smile

Here’s the real payoff: When you put a smile on your audience’s face, you’re not just entertaining. You’re triggering a cocktail of brain chemicals—dopamine, endorphins, oxytocin—that build connection, trust, and engagement.

Humor isn’t about laughs—it’s about creating a moment of chemistry with your audience.

So the next time something makes you chuckle, take 10 seconds and write it down. Your future self—and your future audience—will thank you.

With a smile,
Conor Cunneen
IrishmanSpeaks