Weekend Funny Business: Hello boss? I can't come to work today...

If it is all the same to you I won't be coming in to work.
The voices in my head told me to clean all my guns today.

When I got up this morning I took two Ex-Lax in addition to my Prozac.
I can't get off the john, but I feel good about it.

I set half the clocks in my house ahead an hour and the other half back an hour Saturday and spent 18 hours in some kind of space-time continuum loop, reliving Sunday (right up until the explosion). I was able to exit the loop only by reversing the polarity of the power source on exactly e*log(pi) clocks in the house while simultaneously rapping my dog on the snout with a rolled up Times. Accordingly, I will be in late, or early.


Constipation has made me a walking time bomb.


I can't come in to work today because I'll be stalking my previous
boss, who fired me for not showing up for work. OK?

_________________________________________________________________

All Is Fair In Business

A shopkeeper was dismayed when a brand new business much like his own
opened up next door and erected a huge sign which read 'BEST DEALS.'

He was horrified when another competitor opened up on his right, and
announced its arrival with an even larger sign, reading 'LOWEST PRICES.'

The shopkeeper panicked, until he got an idea. He put the biggest sign
of all over his own shop. It read: 'MAIN ENTRANCE'


The Requirements Of This Job 

Employer: "In this job we need someone who is responsible."

Applicant: "I'm the one you want. On my last job, every time anything went wrong, they said I was responsible."

Running a Business Can Kill You!

You need a vacation when….

1) You find yourself thinking of reasons why you need a vacation.

2) You start thinking of early death from job stress as a comfort.

3) You start hallucinating tropical fish in the company water cooler.

Norman Vincent Peale tells the story of a man that told his physician that work was feeling like a wave covering over and drowning him. He said that every night he fills his briefcase full of work to do at home. When the physician asked “Why” the man replied “I have to get it done.” He fumed, “I am the only one who can do it!” “Everything depends upon me!”

“If I write you a prescription, will you follow it?” Asked the doctor.

Thinking it was some kind of medication the man said “Yes.”

The doctor wrote out these words on a piece of paper. “Take one hour a day off to go for a walk. Take one day off a week and use half the day in a cemetery.”

Astonished the patient demanded, “Why should I spend a half day in a cemetery?”

“Because” answered the doctor, “I want you to wonder around and look at the gravestones of men who are there permanently. Meditate on the fact that many of them are there because they thought like you do, that the world rested on their shoulders. Sit there and think about how the world will go on without you just as it’s done without them.

Wooow! Pretty sobering thought, hu!

Maybe you can relate to this business man. Running a business can KILL you! Overworked, under-appreciated, no time for yourself or family. STOP! Get help!

There’s lots of ways to cut your work load: You can delegate the work load. But then again you might not have staff talented or experienced enough to do what’s needed.

You could spend lots of time and money hiring new in-house people to do your staff training or you could deligate it and have a little laugh vacation too!

Here is some help:

If you’re looking to re-energize your Staff, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through interactive "Improv games" is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT:Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com

Can Making Fun of Yourself, be Good for Business?

Our society does find self-deprecating humor endearing, we enjoy when others reveal their life failures, especially if it’s relatable to our own. It might even be good for us to laugh at ourselves once in a while! Yet, can making fun of your Business have benefits?

We’re thinking that to a limited extent, it can. Sure, you don’t normally want to make fun of your employees, product or services. But then again, you just might want to!

Try this one out, for a restaurant: “We have the slowest service in town!” WITH THE TAG LINE: “That’s because we make each order individually with loving care!” This is a fun way to explain to your customers that you care about the food you serve and teaches them that excellent food takes time. Course, it could also be used to cover-up your poor service management! LOL

Or

How about this one for a Rock Band: “Don’t come out to hear us tonight!” WITH THE TAG LINE: “Cuz we turn the volume up way to LOUD!” This might really discourage some attendees, but will energies others. Most likely, those “energetic” ones, knowing what to expect, are the ones that will make a special effort to come out, enjoy your show, and give you the best reviews!

Now, what would it be like if a City used self-deprecating humor about itself? Let’s say a City like the one I live in, Flint, Michigan. Most all of you have heard of my city of Flint; “Murder capital of the country.” “But, we are hoping to get the world ranking soon!” “The most dangerous city in the country, flax vest await you at our border!”” When we say, built Flint Tough, we’re not talking about the cars!” “All our sports teams are named the “Flames,” cause they really are on FIRE!” “Come to Flint, if you’re looking for a job! Everyone else is too!”

Okay, okay, I could go on and on, and although this kind of humor does point a negative spotlight on my city, could it also be used to promote the City?

Could negative promotion create positive results? This might be a dangerous idea in promoting a city, especial, one that has been working so hard to destroy its own negative self-image.

Let’s think about it. Could promoting our bad boy image to the country be used as cover while we actually improve our city?!  Could someday, the very people that laughed at our city actually begin to see that it is becoming a safe, honorable place to live?

Could exploiting our negative image allow us to laugh all the way to the bank? Could marketing our City’s “toughness”, be made profitable? Sad to say, I believe it could. Sad, because our country thrives on the “bad boy” image, the western “shot’em up” mentality, gansta want-ta-be’s, and we could use that craze to make a profit!

I already regret writing this! Some of you will believe I’ve hit on a brilliant idea and actually go about implementing it. This is not what I want my City’s image to be. Not even for a PROFIT! NOT even if it cured our un-employment, not even if it put public services back on our streets.

Sometime the right way of doing things is the toughest way. “WE ARE FLINT, AND WE ARE DANGEROUS!”

Check out some positively dangerous Flint sites!

Facebook:

               “Positively Flint” “Bring Two to Flint” “Flint Home Buying”

Websites:

               “Carriage Town Media” “Damascus Road Church, Flint”

Blogs:

               “Funny Business” “The Way You Should Live”

Flint Photos:

               “Fine Art American/Positively Flint Gallery” Marketplace on Facebook “Positively    

                 Michigan”

Learn more marketing ideas from:
ctmediaflint@gmail.com

Carriage Town Media Social Media Management Starting @ $50.00 per Month. We don't control your site, we just improve it! We can post on all your social media sites! Let us post the information that your customers/friends need to know! Timely and Correctly! This months special: We can TOTALLY run your sites! $150.00 per month! LEARN MORE, CLICK HERE! . https://sites.google.com/site/carragetownmedia/ Email: ctmediaflint@gmail.com

An Irish Business Song?!

No, Nay, never, No, nay never no more. Will I play the wild rover, No, Nay, never, no more ...Irish Folk song

Negative thinking stops the flow:

I’ve worked as a professional improvisational comic and improv instructor for many years and I have personally seen many instances relating to the stories of Malcolm Gladwell, from his book “Blink”. He uses as an analogy that I can relates to in how negative words can stop the flow towards a goal. He tells about how while he was sitting in on a improv class, he watched first hand how the word “no” can stop the flow of a scene and how the that stoppage of flow was relatable to our everyday lives. In his story he describes a group improvising a scene that went something like this.

A: I’m having trouble with my leg.
B: I’m afraid I’ll have to amputate.
A: You can’t do that, doctor.
B: Why not?
A: Because I’m rather attached to it.
B: Come on, man.
A: I’ve got this growth on my arm too, Doctor.

The trouble with the scene was that by using a negative “You can’t do that, Doctor.” it gave his partner no were to go. It stopped the flow. The B player had nothing to build on, nothing to work with in creating a new thought. One of the very first things I teach my students is to “Never say NO! Never deny, always be accepting and always be building.”

If the player hadn’t used the stopping word “Can’t” the scene may have moved along and flowed something like this:

A: I’m having trouble with my leg.
B: I’m afraid I’ll have to amputate.
A: But it’s the one you amputated last week.
B: So you’re having problems with your wooden leg?
A: Yes, it’s hurts.
B: Let me take a look. Sure enough you have termites.
A: Termites! Is that bad.
B: It’s not good.
A: Can you fix it?
B: Sure, comeback on Wednesday, on Wednesdays I do wood work!

See how words can stop the thinking flow in others as well as ourselves? Did you see how using open words, allowed his partner to open his mind to the flow of creating?

How to stop a negative: By using a double negative against it? NO, NEVER!

I can hear what you are thinking right now. Your thinking: “I want to stop my negative thoughts so I will just say no to negative thinking!” Oops, using a negative to fight a negative is not going to work. But replacing a negative with a positive will. Don’t worry about the math, that’s for someone else to figure out. In removing negatives from our vocabulary and our thinking, you will be leaving a void that will have to be refilled with something. So we need to fill that void with something else. That something else is positive speaking and positive thinking.

Today’s Assignment: You are going to be conscious of how many times you use negative words. Right now, just say to yourself that this is what you’re going to do today. “I am going to be conscious of how many times the words no, nay, never, no more, are used in my vocabulary and thoughts”. (Okay, so you won’t use the word "nay" too much).

This doesn’t mean you can’t say the word no. Later we will even discuss when it is imperative to say no. Common sense will dictate your use of the word, but watch how many times you use the negative form of the verb. Then try to think about how you could have restated or to have inverted the sentence to a positive.

Example: “No Johnny you can’t do that.” USE: “Johnny instead of doing that, how about you doing this.
Example: “I can’t get this work done on time.” USE: “I can get this work done on time, but let’s take a moment to figure out how.”
Example: “I don’t have the money to fix this” USE: “So I need how much? Okay let’s find the money”
Example: I will not drink (Insert anything you don’t want to do) any more.” USE an alterative statement, “I am going to start “exercising” (Insert what you do want to do) more.”

Remember words are incredibly powerful. The uses of words affect our thought process and our bodies. The words you use can create a bad day or a fantastic, fulfilling, abundant day.

So go out and have a fantastic day! Remember; we're all in this together!

P.S. The Irish Folk song “No, Nay, never, No, nay never no more.” was written by a Irishman that was about to be married. He used the negative words as a means to contemplate and keep his marital vows, which actually worked against him, as the negative thinking turned into reality. Not the positive outcome he imagined. He went on to later to pen a song for Brittney Spears named: “Opps, I did it again”

P.S.S Just kidding! Stephen James



Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com

Moe Howard of the “Three Stooges”, displayed incredible leadership abilities and now you can too!

[After a prolonged fight in the dark where everyone keeps hitting the wrong people before finally knocking out the bad guys]

Moe Howard: “I knew you'd get the right ones if you kept on swinging. You knuckleheads”!

I’ve read countless books on leadership and how to be a better leader. But finding stuff written about how a person can become a real leader and not just one in appearance are few and far between.

Here’s some hints and tip on leadership that have been given: Let just say they’re from the Moe Howard School of Leadership.

Remind people that you are in charge. “You guys are nothing but a bunch of Knuckleheads” Moe Howard

Never linger after a meeting. Leave A.S.A.P. so others think you’re off on more important matters. “Shut up your mouth, if I want your opinion I’d give it to you!” Moe Howard

Don’t make friends with underlings. “I can’t waste my time talking to you boneheads!” Moe Howard

Being a good leader is about being more than what you appear to be. The secret is……Integrity, gentleness and empathy.

Integrity is the incorporation of outward actions from inner values. A person of integrity is the same on the outside as on the inside.

Gentleness is best defined as: Someone with the power to crush another person but doesn’t use it. If I have to explain to you what that means then you don’t have leadership abilities, but you might make a good Moe Howard.

Empathy: "The ability to share in another's emotions, thoughts or feelings." -- Webster's New World Dictionary

If you want to persuade and influence people to buy into your vision and your leadership, you must first question them to understand them. But you must also share some of your own personal dreams, aspirations and fears so that you create a bond of mutual respect.

The best workers in the world are ones that have a personal bond to the organization they work for. Don’t create a workplace of fearful, robot, yes men. Let the most important asset your company has; be unleashed to bring you their ideas and opinions that may, just turn out to be, the best idea your company ever had!


Remember! Be the leader you would want to follow. This will inspire others to emulate you and your values.

Stephen James 

Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com/

People are idiots and so am I.

"If there are any idiots in the room, will they please stand up" said the sarcastic teacher.
After a long silence, one freshman rose to his feet.
"Now then mister, why do you consider yourself an idiot?" enquired the teacher with a sneer.
"Well, actually I don't," said the student, "but I hate to see you standing up there all by yourself."

Handling difficult people:

It should come as no surprise that some people in the world are idiots. They are twisted, uncooperative, cantankerous, distorted, pains in the butt. You know the person I am talking about, we all do. They’re in the work place, in politics and throughout the community.

Idiots in action

Example: Let’s pretend you’ve just arrived into a new community and decide to join a community organization. This group of volunteers is genuinely interested in working on planting gardens, sprucing up rundown areas, and repairing or removing dilapidated buildings. One member, however, opposes every measure and idea anyone suggests. More that that, he constantly attacks the motive of the others. He makes the meeting of the group so unpleasant that attendance begins to decline.

The idiot causes so much trouble that the others band together to kick his sorry buttocks out of the group.

Question: Do you join the others in outing the idiot?

The making of an idiot!

Sigmund Freud (Yes, the sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, guy) thinks that unless a person has been shown and practices love, it sickens and dies. Love includes understanding, goodwill, and respect for others. The more love and goodwill you emanate and exude, the more comes back to you.

He must have never worked with an idiot, but then again what if he’s right? Nay, let’s kick the pain in the neck out and humiliate him even more then he has been other times in his life!

Or maybe……

The practice of empathy in human relationships:

Instead of beating the crap out of him, we bite our lip; prepare our mind before the next meeting. Think about the underlying pain in this guy’s life, surround him with positive thoughts and try our best to compliment and encourage him personally as well as publicly.

I’ll be damned, it worked!

Sure it takes some time. Results don’t happen overnight. But in time the guy comes around, starts encouraging others’ ideas (after carefully but politely examining the idea and its short comings) and becomes actively involved in creating tangible results! OH MY!

The whole idea about writing about idiot comes from my self-examination of the people I associate with and how lucky I am that they’re not idiots.

This city is full of good, respectful, loving folks. Don’t let a few “idiots” get you down.

P.S. Examining and questioning ideas and motives don’t make you and idiot. Using disrespectful comments and disparaging words without proposing a solution does!


Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com/

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE (Okay, maybe just some suggestions.)

Sometimes I sit and think about what life is all about. I think hard and as deeply as my shallow mentality will take me. I listen too and read what great minds have said or written on the subject.

I’ve compiled a list of some of their thoughts on life as well as some of my own. After rereading my list I wish I would have put more in about the search for wisdom and of love. Maybe I should add; “The wisdom of the universe can be found in the pursuit of perfect love.”

1) Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others, Responsibility for all your actions.

2) Never lose hope and if someone you know has; pass your hope onto them.

3) Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

4) No mater how much or how little you have, share it.

5) Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

6) Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.

7) Spend some time alone.

8) Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

9) Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

10) Read more books and watch less TV.

11) In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current
      situation. Don't bring up the past.

12) Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

13) Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

14) Be gentle with the earth.

15) Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

16) Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for
      each other is greater than your need for each other.

17) Read between the lines.

18) Memorize your favorite poem or psalm.

19) Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

20) When you say, "I love you", mean it.

21) When you say, "I'm sorry", mean it.

22) Believe in love at first sight but not if your married.

23) In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

24) Don't judge people by their relatives.

25) Talk slowly but think quickly.

26) When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to   know?"

27) Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

28) Call your mom.

29) Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

30) You never fail, if you remember the lesson you learned.

31) Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

32) When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.



THE INFORMATION AGE has brought about a new set of communication tools that are pushing some traditional media to the brink of extinction. You need to understand these new media and use the effectively to reach your customers. You need to know how to blend the best of traditional media with the new digital media to increase your reach. Learn more about what Carriage Town Media can do for your business or organization. https://sites.google.com/site/carriagetownmedia


Carriage Town Media Social Media Management Starting @ $50.00 per Month. We don't control your site, we just improve it! We can post on all your social media sites! Let us post the information that your customers/friends need to know! Timely and Correctly! This months special: We can TOTALLY run your sites! $150.00 per month! LEARN MORE, CLICK HERE! . https://sites.google.com/site/carragetownmedia/ Email: ctmediaflint@gmail.com

Business Jokes of the Day!

If you see a man approaching you with the obvious intent of doing you good, you should run for your life.

If you see that there are four possible ways in which a procedure can go wrong, and circumvent these, then a fifth way, unprepared for, promptly develops.

If you stand in one place long enough, you make a line.

If you step out of a short line for a second, it becomes a long line.

If you think that OSHA is a small town in Wisconsin, you're in trouble.

If you think the problem is bad now, just wait until we've solved it.

If you throw something away, you will need it the next day.

If you try to please everybody, nobody will like it.

If you understand it, it is obsolete.

If you want to be well liked, never lie about yourself, and be careful when telling the truth about others.

It works better if you plug it in.

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan.

If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT:Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com 

Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe

But I can’t start without a GRANT

Hanging around my old home town again, for the last 9 months, I’ve been hearing the same mantra over and over again. I can’t do it till I get a GRANT!


Hmmm. So, I’m thinking about what grants are and what they do.

Government and philanthropic grants are a great way to stimulate the economy, helps create needed organizations and creates some jobs. Yet, when you think about it, government grants should only be available till the economy finds its equilibrium.

See, the trouble with grant money is, that you become dependant on it. Your job might even depend on ‘em continuing. That dependency could even influence whom you vote for politically.

Shoot, many politicians pride themselves on bring home the “bacon” and many voters rate a politician on how much of our tax money they get out of Washington and back into our hands. This might be rightly so but, it also helps to keep the grant business in business, and you have to understand it’s BIG business.

Those in charge of granting grants, especially those philanthropic groups that have been given the right to administer government grants, have a lot of power and that power can influence how our communities’ economy and governments are run. Once you start suckling on that sow's tat it’s hard to get weaned from it.

The WEANING: We’re doing a good job in Flint of getting grants for training programs, spending lot of money keeping those offices staffed, giving them paper work to be pushed and even getting some people educated along the way. But what comes next?

Entrepreneurship! Look, Flint is full of brain power. We’ve got U of M, Kettering, Mott College, Baker etc. Of course the brain power that is being produced here is being exported to other states to fill their job needs. That’s crap!

It’s simple. Flint’s number one product is BRAINS and our number one export is….. BRAINS. We’ve got to find ways to keep those BRAINS engaged here!

If anything needs a grant here in Flint it’s the start up to an entrepreneur college and programs that gets the brainiacks meeting the risk takers. Can you see what that will cause?

Smart people with technical ideas (with no business experience or want of business experience due to their going to get a job anyhow), coming together with the folks that have the drive and know how to start new businesses and enterprises, plus we already have a trained LABOR force ready to put the sweat behind the construction of physical needs.

What will happen then? Brains and Risk Takers come together, start a business. That business needs buildings built, floors swept, and office clerks etc etc. so that makes more people working, more tax dollars collected, policemen, firemen back on the job etc. etc.

But I can’t start without a GRANT!

Dear banks and lending companies, you’ve screwed up bad! The government is about to replace you with its own form of lending institute. It’s going to take your job away cuz you forgotten what you are soposta do. Take on loans for qualified applicants and help them….help them and guide them to success. You need your “lendees” to succeeded cause then you get your money back and you get to lend that extra money to lots of others so that you can keep your fat profit margins and stock holders happy!

Crap, you guys forget that “we the people” are the ones whose money you’re using and we the people are the ones living outside your very front doors. It’s not about the Chinese (Bless their hearts) or stock swap schemes or spending all your time figuring out how to create fees or loop-holes to screw over someone’s bank account or mortgage! Get back to basics.

Bottom line! I am not against grants, grant makers, or the idea of grants, just that we need to think about how dependent we can become on them.

By the way, I might be starting a new web dating site that matches Brainiacks with Entrepreneurs. Maybe I’ll call it “Job Creation for Flint!” of “Finding Flint’s Flintapreneurs”!

That is, if I can get a grant to start it.

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan.


If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT: Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe


Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com/

At What Price Freedom?

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke.

Three days of great weather in Marvelous Mid-Michigan, mmm. Cookouts, beaching, boating, biking, visiting friends and family or just sitting around relaxing, we’ve had three wonderful days with the freedom to choose what we want to do.

But at what price that freedom?

My friends at Teton Business Solutions and I want to take a moment to remember what price our freedom has cost.

Along with the fun in the sun we are enjoying this Memorial Day weekend take a moment to think about those that made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we sometimes take for granted.

The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Take time today to think about all who have served this country and that are now serving. Reflect on the families, who also serve by losing precious days, weeks and months spent without their loved ones who are off serving, preserving peace and the freedom we have in this country. Think for just a minute about the families who paid the ultimate price, who's loved ones died, or were taken captive and never returned.

Remember and be thankful for being an American: Taking nothing away from any other country, I'm just being thankful for my own. It may not be perfect--what place is?--but I love it nonetheless.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, relax, take time for family and friends and when the weekends over give Teton Business Solutions a call and let them tell you about all the services they have available for you and your business to choose from.

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ~Joseph Campbell

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan.

If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT: Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe

Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com/

Your face shows us what your Business is saying!

RIDDLE: “It costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

Smile—Everyone Is Watching!

Think back to all the miserable faces you see on the way to school or work each day. Yet, when smiled at, these same people will most often smile in return.

Check out the following facts about smiling:

72% of people think of those who smile frequently as being more confident and successful.

86% of people say that they are more likely to strike up conversations with strangers if they are smiling.

Bosses are 12% more likely to promote people who smile a lot.

Research shows that 65% of communication is non-verbal (many claim an even higher percentage).

The effects of a smile are so powerful that even a smile on the telephone produces positive results.

When someone comes into a room, people are automatically drawn to their face, and a smile provides a warm greeting.

Research shows that when two people in conversation use the same kind of body movements and gestures (such as smiling), they will experience greater empathy for each other, which they may not even consciously notice.

The Value of a Smile: Increased sales!!!

Does the uniform your employees wear include a smile?

We all have walked into a business only to have the person working the counter stare at us with the “What the heck do you want?” look.

It doesn’t make you comfortable and deep inside it makes you just want to get what you came for and get out.

I once moved to a city just because every 7-11 store (I’m a Slurpee junkie) I went into all had sales folks that smiled at me. Really, no kidding! I had been living in Miami and was feeling bad about how everyone there seemed to be so grouchy. The friendly service I found made me believe that everyone in that town was happy. And by god they were (for the most part)!

So what do your employees’ faces say to your customers?

Do you want to make increase sales, add on’s and impulse buys? Do you want customers returning to your business? Do you want the people that come into your business talk to their friends about how nice your place is?

Teach your employees to smile!

TIPS:
Smile at your employees and they’ll smile too.
Teach your employee the importance of the “first impression”.
Have a short training time with your employees about appearance and its effect on customers.

OR

Talk to the folks at Teton Business Solutions about creating a training workshop for your employees.

Teton Business Solutions is in the business of helping your business succeed. Be it hiring, training, payroll, tax consulting and other services that will help your business stay ahead of the competition.

Pop in on the folks at Teton Business Solutions in downtown Flint, Michigan or click here to see their website: Teton Business Solutions.

You’ll be smiling all the way to the bank!

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan.

If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT: Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe

Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com/

Doing Same ole, Same ole Business as usual.

As Tom Sumner (Flint resident and radio host) so pointedly explains in his story “Would I have the blues?” that there are two kinds of people. Those that think the glass is half full (Positive thinkers) and those that think the glass is half empty (Negative thinkers). He submits that there’s a third group of people, those that say, “Hey can we get some more water in this glass over here?!”

The Positive Thinkers, or the doers, are always doing their best with what they have and the “Negtivos”, are those that complain about what they do have, both have one thing in common, limited resources.

Aren’t “resources” the number one need of any business? Be it tangible resources like products to sell or intangible resources like ideas for a new product to sell. Business is about “resource availability”.

Crap, even a genius like Einstein had limited resources. He might have understood the math but could he host a radio show like Tom Sumner does, or create an advertising campaign like The Spencer Agency can? Could Einstein make a delicious sandwich like Tracy Whipley of the Lunch Studio can make? I don’t think so. (Okay, so maybe Einstein could make a great sandwich, but resource data is limited on the subject!)

That’s why growing a business or keeping a business open is about gathering resources.

What resource is your company missing?

Maybe you need a spoke person for your business, maybe a new advertising campaign to boost sales, maybe new recipes for the menu, maybe someone to do your employee hiring and training.

STOP!

I got the last “maybe” covered! Teton Business Solutions. Yup, these folks can bring both tangible and intangible resources to your business. Need employees, they have the resources. Need staff training, covered. Want to cut tax costs, save time, money and receive consulting on ways to increase or make your business more efficient, they have the resources to do this!

Teton Business Solutions, experienced, creative, cutting edge resource that can CARRY THE WATER AND FILL THE GLASS for your business!

See more at Teton Business Solution.

Stop doing business the “same ole, same ole” way!

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan.

If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT:

email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe






Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com

Sweep Down, Down Town Flint and a whole lot more!

Goody Excuse goes to see her supervisor in the front office. "Boss," she says, "We're doing a Sweep Down, Down Town with our neighborhood association, Flint DNA this weekend and I’m going to need Saturday May 8th off.

"We're short-handed, Goody" the boss replies. "I can't give you the day off."

"Thanks, boss," says Goody Excuse "I knew I could count on you!"

Sweep Down, Down Town
Saturday May 8th
Time: 9am -12:00pm
Meeting Place: Flat Lot parking

This is your chance as Downtown, Flint residents to show our support for our city.

Project goals:
Sweep Down, Down Town
Trash pick-up
Rake out trash
Painting of iron rails along Saginaw Street Bridge
Noting further clean up or areas in need of repair

But wait, did you also know that the Annual Flint River and Community Cleanup Celebration is set for 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 8 and that later in the day there’s a free concert at Good Beans Café!

Start getting your excuses ready for not taking part in this good excuse for meeting your neighbors, having some laughs, shaping your body for summer swim-wear by doing deep knee bends while picking up trash, enjoying a free concert and helping to clean-up our city’s streets.

Try some of these on for size

I have amnesia from when my two year old hit me over the head with his toy dinosaur... wait I don't have a two year old.....do I?

I can't come to help today, my head hurts and it only hurts when I work!

My foot is stuck in the toilet and there is no one home to help me get it out.

I need to stay home to sit in front of my computer to post discouraging commits on Mlive, Flint Talk and any other blog that see’s good things happening in Flint!

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan

If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT: Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe

Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com/

Finding Flint's Funniest People!

On Saturday May 1st @ 1- 3 p.m. (Email: findingflintsfunniest@gmail.com for Downtown Flint location.)

You’ll be meeting representatives from the top bookers, promoter, entertainers and producers in Genesee County.

You’ll be meeting representatives from The Stephen James Comedy Troupe, Eclectic Entertainment, Key 2 The City Promotions, Comedy On Tap, Manifest (Film) Productions, Flint Talk Radio and entertainers; Rusty Thomas, Mark Bonto, Stephen James, Key Mitchell, Jeff Swerdan and Tom Sumner.

Email: findingflintsfunniest@gmail.com to RSVP your seat.

See more at our facebook fan page “Finding Flint’s Funniest”.

“Finding Flint’s Funniest People!”

Do I have to live in Flint to be involved?
No, but you should at least live in Genesee County because that is the area you will be working in.

What do you mean working?
“Finding Flint’s Funniest” is not just about your chance to win prize money during the next three upcoming “Finding Flint’s Funniest” contests, but to also gives producers, bookers and agents a chance to see your stuff and set you up for gigs around the County.

You mean paying gigs?
That’s right. At this very moment there are 4 venues, 4 events, 3 corporate gigs, 1 corporate training program, 1 radio program, 1 TV program, 2 radio commercials and 3 movies looking for talented, funny people to fill upcoming spots.

What talent?
“Finding Flint’s Funniest People” is open to any kind of funny; be it stand-up comedian, comedy skit writer, comic songster, improv group, story teller, sketch player. You don’t have to have professional experience but it will help you land a gig quicker.

What if I know I can do the funny but I’ve not done work on stage or if I’ve done funny without pay or if am not with any working group now. What can I do to be part of this?
Write us and join us May 1st we have comedy groups and productions already formed that can use your talents and we have profession entertainers to help introduce you and guide you through the process.

Professionals?
On Saturday May 1st @ 1-3pm (Rowe Building, across from Blackstone’s email us for furter details)

You’ll be meeting representatives from The Stephen James Comedy Troupe, Ecliptic Entertainment, Key 2 The City Promotions, Comedy On Tap, Manifest (Film) Productions, Flint Talk Radio and entertainers; Rusty Thomas, Mark Bonto, Stephen James, Key Mitchell, Jeff Swerdan and Tom Sumner.

Each will explain to you the opportunities they have available for you to become involved in.

This is your once in a lifetime opportunity, if you don’t make this meeting to learn more about what the future of entertainment in Flint holds, I promise you’ll never see another chance like this again. You can bank on it.

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan.

If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT: Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe

Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com

Flint, Michigan Friday! Nothing to Hide.

I’ve decided to write a novel. It’s much easier to deal with fictional problems than real ones.

I had the television on in the background today while I was working at the computer. Somehow the program that was on caught my attention, a show called “All My Children”. I later learned that these kinds of shows are called “Soap Operas”. By god, why hasn’t anyone told me about these shows before! They’re a fantastic cross between reality and fantasy. They have the incredible ability of distorting the truth and cause me to want things that are not possible and to think thoughts that are harmful to my mental well-being. I need to watch more of this stuff!

We had to take one of M’s cats to the vet today. I am a dog man myself; I prefer a good hunting dog like Labrador Retrievers or Weimaraners. I owned a female Weimaraner for many years; my sister and parents both have had one. The Weimaraner is a very smart and friendly dog. I taught mine to go to the mail box, open the lid and retrieve the mail. I also taught her to lift her leg to pee. Guess back then I had too much time on my hands.

M has cats. They’re nice enough animals and I get along with them for the most part. The one cat (Fenway) will fetch a rubber ball and bring it back to you. It’s very dog-like and I have an affection for him because of it. The other cat (Sullivan) likes to climb on stuff and knock things over. He also has the uncanny and irritating ability of getting between you and whatever you’re doing. But it was while sitting in the Vet’s office that the thought came to me;”Just what is being a Veterinarian all about”. After pondering this notion for almost thirty-seven minutes, I came to this conclusion. They’re a person that spends lots of years and lots of money, studying not only human biology but beastialogy too.

I went to the Crim Race, here in Flint, Michigan. It was originally started in 1977 by a man named Bobby Crim. He was one of the first people to begin the activity called “Jogging”. Even back then he had a concern about the lack of physical fitness with the people in the community and was all about finding ways to help prevent illness due to lack of physical conditioning. Many of us just called him a “Meddler” and that jogging was nothing more than bicycling without the bicycle. Others call people like him a “Politician”.

I was living in Flint back then (Now back again after 25 years) and remember thinking “Why the hell would anyone run just for the sake of running” we lived in Flint Michigan, home of the world’s larges car manufacturer. We didn’t need to run; we have huge eight cylinder, gas guzzling automobiles sitting in our driveways that could take us the two blocks down to the store. But now years later “The Crim” is one of the larges “Running” festivals in the country. That weekend the streets of Downtown were jammed packed with thousands of people, some to walk the course, some to run and others to stroll with their families on a short course created just for them. Also, some of the top runners in the world show up here to show off their long, skinny, muscular running legs. If you’ve ever eaten frog’s legs you will have a better idea of how these runners’ legs are shaped, cept without the flippers.


Here’s the site for more information about “The Crim”. http://www.crim.org/

P.S. I also discovered a new TV program called the NEWS. Its all about people telling me stuff that is supposta be important to me, but they seem to “Report” the facts using they’re own personal viewpoint, supporting they’re own personal agendas and they’re own possible financial gain. It works just like a soap opera; distorting reality and causing me to want things that are not possible and are harmful to my mental well-being. I am thinking of subscribing to the “All Nude News Channel”. At least those people have nothing to hide.

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint,
Michigan
 
If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT: Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe
 
Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com

It’s as simple as that!

Tech Support: ``What does the screen say now.''

Person: ``It says, `Hit ENTER when ready'.''

Tech Support:``Well?''

Person: ``How do I know when it's ready?''

The other day I was stopped on the street by a camera man and a local news reporter in downtown Flint, Michigan who asked me what we should do about the city lying off firemen. I told them in my Michigan via Florida way; “We could stand around talking about how bad it is that the city has laid off 43 firemen, we can discuss to death the finer points of the Mayor’s decision making process or we can just get to the root of the problem. We need to create jobs that can start people paying city taxes so we can hire back those fire fighters! Oh, and don’t look to the government to create those jobs, that’s just spending tax money we don’t have anyways, we need the local business community to create local jobs, for local working people. It’s as simple as that!”

BUT THAT’S NOT SIMPLE!!!!

OH, YES IT IS!!!

NOW (April 8th 2010) IS THE TIME TO START HIRING NEW EMPLOYEES!!!

Here’s why; there is money available to businesses to help in hiring new staff. Sometime this money can be directly deposited into your business account or other programs create tax breaks for your business.

They pay you to hire people?
Yes, but! You need to want to grow your business! Seem to me too many businesses in town are all sitting around doing nothing but being happy that their doors are still open. They don’t want to take a chance in increasing revenue by spending some cash now for fantastic future opportunities. Those kinds of folks are willing to let the status quo wash over them and soon drown them! It’s the businesses that are stepping up now that is going to get the big returns. It’s as simple as that!

BUT WHERE DO I GO TO FIND THIS MONEY? TETON BUSINESS SOLUTIONS.

What! And miss all the wasted time standing in line at government offices or not getting my phone calls returned?

That’s right! Call, write, email or go to the website of Teton Business Solutions and ask how your company can benefit from their experience in hiring, staff training, finding tax breaks, pay roll solutions and so many other areas of business.

Of course you could just sit where you are, being happy that your doors are still open, that is open for at least a little while longer.

Just press the enter key when you’re ready!

IT’S AS SIMPLE AS THAT!

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan

If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT: Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe

Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com

Business: It’s time to Hunker Down!

"Hunker Down" is a great phrase; one that I believe was created in the U.P. of Michigan. U.P. are letters representing Upper Peninsula a designate for the land mass that jets out east from Wisconsin and splits Lake Superior and the lower mitten shaped area most people think of when they hear the word, Michigan. The term Hunker down might not really have been created in the U.P. but it’s where I first heard it used.
"Hunker Down" has a couple of definitions. One is to take safety; another is to focus on the job ahead. My favorite definition is that of the act of a group of people, normally guys, circling around a open, bare spot on the ground, squatting down or taking a bended knee as they discuss and draw out (With a stick as a writing utensil in the dirt) a plan of action. Most time I related this to guys out deer hunting. We would all hunker down and map out the areas we would be hunting being careful not to get one another caught in cross-fire.

It’s time for all of us in business to hunker down.

Gather like minded people around you, kind of like finding a group of guys that like to go hunting only find ones that are looking to hunt profits instead of white tailed deer.

Shelter: Make it a safe place to gather, an atmosphere where you all can be comfortable to talk about your dreams, hopes and ideas. Be willing to talk about your needs; don’t be afraid to talk about the weaknesses in your business.

Get help from other more experienced hunters. Man, I remember my first hunt, being all nervous, afraid of doing something wrong but feeling so much better when the more experienced guys shared information about their times out on the hunt.

Then set about a plan of action! Remember hunkering down is not about holding meetings it’s about getting out and hunting. So set about your plan simply with easy to follow directions.

Let me tell you about the group of people I hunker down with, Teton Business Solutions.

Ron Newton and the people that work for/with him at Teton Business Solutions are the kind of people you want to hunker down with. Because of the modern world we now live in, hunkering down is mostly done sitting around big office desks while we wear business suits and “DO” point presentations instead of writing out a plan of actions using a stick to scribble in the dirt, but the heart of the hunker is not lost on the people at Teton Business Solutions.

These folks create a safe place to talk about your business needs. They are experienced in a multiple of aspects of business; from payroll solutions, hiring practices, job placement, staff training to finding money or saving money for your business. It’s and incredible experience to Hunker down with a group that finds way for you to save money and to afford their services.

Incredible! They find ways to save you money and ways to pay for their services.

Again: Incredible! Teton Business Solutions find ways to save you money and ways that even pay for their services!

Call, write or see the website of the hunker down folks at Teton Business Solutions!

Think I’ll call’em and see if they got time to go out hunt’in.

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan

If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to “Rattle the Cage!”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT: Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe

Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com

3 amigos plus 2!

In my hometown of Flint, Michigan things are tough. The economy is in the crapper but then again, it’s tough all over. That’s why you need to read this.

We have to find new ways to cut cost and still increase production and brand exposure. That’s why I and a group of like minded individuals and companies have joined together in creating an ALLIANCE!

An alliance is more than just networking and falls short of starting a new company together.

One of my alliances is with a group of events promoters. We’ve come together to help cut costs of advertising and promotions. By doing this we have tripled our buying power and quadrupled (okay, so what’s the word you use when 5 people are involved?) our promotion strength. Each of our Alliance members’ concentrates on just one aspect of promotion thereby, letting each of us do a fantastic job on one task and when it “comes together” WOW! We got this!

I have done the same with a group out of Flint Michigan, Teton Business Solutions. They’re a HR outsourcing company, working with others doing their hiring, payroll, training and a whole lot more. But these people have the “ALLIANCE” mentality!

For them its not just about having a new company on their roster, it’s about having a new friend to help succeed! I mean it’s crazy that in this day and age that they really, really want to help me and my businesses grow! I’m not just a number; I’m part of their ALLIANCE!

Look, I could spend hours and hours working HR and doing payroll and doing training and etc and etc. Plus spend all the hours learning how best to control my HR overhead and figuring out taxes and how to best prepare my forms correctly or I can just find me a new friend that I can align with that has all the information and expertise I need to run my HR department!

It just makes good sense (Dollars and Cents) to do it!

I endorse Teton Business Solutions for your companies HR needs, no matter what size it is, two employees to two thousand, these people are the ones to align with!

Make a great decision today! Call, write, email or click on this link; Teton Business Solutions, I guarantee you’ll be forever grateful to me.

Till later, remember; We’re all in this together! Are you in Alliance?

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan

If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT: Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe

Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com/

Business Jokes and Quotes of the day:

There is one rule for industrialists and that is: make the best quality goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible. Henry Ford

Victor Hugo: There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.

Robert Half: There is something that is much more scarce, something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability.

As the economy gets better, everything else gets worse.

As they say in Beirut, Shiite happens.

Asking dumb questions is easier than correcting dumb mistakes.

Assumption is the mother of all foul-ups.

At any level of traffic, any delay is intolerable.

Automatic simply means that you can't repair it yourself.

Bad news drives good news out of the media.

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan

If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT: Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe

Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com

It’s good to see others’ accomplishments!

Flint Business, Flint People: Have you met Tom Sumner?

Sometimes, looking at others’ accomplishments will make you reflect on your own!

Have you met Tom Sumner? He’s a *Flintoid. (*Flintoid: a name given to someone who lives in the city of Flint and refuses to give up,) You might have listened to him on Off the Kuf on 94.3 FM at 7am, or on Flint Talk Radio with his Worldwide Webcast from 10am to Noon, or with his band Cidy Zoo that he’s the drummer for, or even at Comedy Improv Night at Churchill’s, or at one of the many *symposiums (*formal meeting held for the discussion of a subject, during which individual speakers may make presentations. I wrote this definition in for my Florida educated friends.) he’s hosted, but its about his book “All I Wanted was a Hair Cut” that I want to tell about.

I have just made it through the halfway point of his musings, mostly due to the placement of the book being in my “library” and I want you all to know; you got to get this book.

I found it by accidents, while stopping in to say hello to the folks that work at Page Bookstore in downtown Flint. As we were talking and my telling ‘em how I was renewing my relationship with my new/old home town when the discussion wondered to books written by local writers displayed in a special area of the store. As I perused the offering taking in the understanding that Flint had people that do write, I was amazed at the depth of the works available. Then I came across Tom’s book. Okay, from reading the cover and a couple of paragraphs in the book, one might not think that this is one of those Flintoid deep thinkers. But I was proven wrong later as I read more of it, while sitting in my “library“.

Almost as a joke, I bought the book, mostly so that I could tease Tom that I was the one that bought his only book sold.

Turns out he is a deep thinker, but he doesn’t write in that deep thinker kind of… of… how can I explain it..ah…Big word way!

Oh, Tom’s book might not be a life changer but it’s fun reading about his changes of life. Reading like a combination of the writing styles of Dave Berry, Mark Twain and my front porch sitting, upper grandpa, Tom lets you laugh in the face of his adversity, sadness and all the emotions a “guy” can have.

Tom’s book “All I Wanted was a Hair Cut” is full of insight, foresight, hindsight and laugh lines. His self- deprecating humor covers over the painful and serious moments he writes about. Plus, it’s easy to read while in the “Library”.

Thanks Tom, for sharing yourself with us. You are the kind of renaissance man this town needs and should be proud of having.

Stephen James Comedy Improv & Human Resource Training Consultant Flint, Michigan

If you’re looking to re-energize your Sales Force, inspire your Marketing Department or to encourage your Board to think “Out of the Box”, “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe Corporate Team Building” will work together with you in delivering the message you want to give! Team Building will always be a top priority for today's organizations. Building effective teamwork through leading edge corporate and organizational team building programs is one of “The Stephen James Comedy Troupe” (Corporate Team Training) greatest capabilities! And we make it so much FUN! CONTACT US AT: Email: stephenjamescomedy@gmail.com Phone: 810-618-7517 Website: http://sites.google.com/site/thestephenjamescomedytroupe

Funny Business is a humorous look at some serious issues your business or organizations have to address. http://funnybusinessbystephenjames.blogspot.com/