Dale Irvin and I have been friends for 42 years. Since he's a buddy, you already know he's smart. But he's also, funny!

Dale is a speaker and comedian, who has been the opening act for Jay Leno. And he's best known as the world's only Professional Summarizer. He attends meetings, in-person or virtual, and listens to "all" of the speakers. Then, just before the meeting's conclusion, Dale delivers a "summary" of what the audience has seen in a custom-created comedy monologue.

His summaries induce big laughs, yet also reinforce a meeting's serious points. As you already sense, Dale is unique. Well, okay, maybe, he's really twisted—with his perspective on life and business. What fun!

Jeff Blackman: There's lots of serious stuff happening in the world—why now, more than ever, is it so important to laugh?

Dale Irvin: Mark Twain put it best when he said, "The secret source of humor is not joy, but sorrow." When things go bad, laughter is sometimes our only defense against going mad. I often cite the example of my mother's funeral.

When she died, the funeral director asked if there was anything I needed. I said, "A big screen TV and a video cassette player." Before mom passed away, I converted to video, family movies she and my dad made over the years, so she could watch them whenever she wanted.

During mom's wake, we played the movies non-stop in one corner of the parlor. It had an amazing effect. When visitors saw the movies, it brought lots of smiles and laughs to an otherwise somber event.

For my funeral, I plan on having a ventriloquist next to the casket so I can say my final goodbyes to folks!

JB: What's the healing power of laughter?

DI: When you laugh, positive changes happen in your body. Laughter is a form of exercise. You're exercising muscles in your face, chest, and abdomen. If you're rolling on the floor, laughing like they do in comic strips—even your arms and legs get a workout.

JB: How can people be funnier or bring more humor into their lives?

DI: Three ways:

1. Read and watch things that make you laugh. Laughter is like movement, once you start to laugh, the laughs get easier to find. Start your day by reading the comics in the newspaper before you read the headlines. On your way to work, listen to radio stations, podcasts or recordings that make you smile. At home, turn off the news and turn on the Comedy Channel.

2. Hang around funny people. When you keep company with people who make you laugh, you'll get funnier yourself. Plus, funny people are more fun to be around. Look at the next party you attend. Who gets the attention? The funny person who makes others laugh. You could be that person!

3. Subscribe to my free Friday Funnies. It'll make you laugh over 50 times a year, the bare minimum for a human being. It could keep you alive!

JB: What comedians most influenced you?

DI: Three shaped the way I look at the art form. First, Steve Allen. He had the quickest wit. Second, Johnny Carson, who had the best timing. My third influencer, George Carlin, who was creative in a whole new way.

JB: What role does humor play in professional success?

DI: A huge role. Everybody prefers to deal with someone who makes them laugh or smile. It makes them more comfortable.

JB: How does an idea that hits you, convert into a joke or story — and how can that same process be used to drive creative ideas in business or problem-solving?

DI: The process used to process comedy ideas and business ideas is essentially the same. I was in the advertising business for ten years and am proud that I came up with the slogan, "Good to the last drop." Unfortunately, it was for the Otis elevator company!

In advertising and comedy, you first conceive an idea for an ad, or a joke, or a new product. From there, you stretch and expand your thoughts. Then you begin to trim and edit until you have the perfect ad, joke, or product.

JB: What question would you like to answer that never gets asked of you?

DI: Nobody has ever asked me, if I wanted to be included in their will.

JB: For more interesting conversations, what are fun questions to ask others, without getting slapped or arrested?

DI: Simple questions like, "What's your favorite movie?" Or, "Who makes you laugh?" The answers will give you a gauge on the person's sense of humor, and it'll lead to other questions.

Another good question to ask is, "If you won the mega millions lottery, what would you do with the money?" Again, the answer gives you another insight into the person you're communicating with.

JB: Most memorable moment in your career…?

DI: Probably my third Academy Award!

In reality, it was Las Vegas, 1982. I was there for an advertising client and saw a sign at the Oriental Hotel announcing an open mic nite. I signed up. And had a great set.

After me, they brought up legendary Catskills comedian Freddie Roman to plug his midnight show at the Top the Dunes. Freddie exclaimed, "I love seeing new comedians getting started, except for that last guy who I concede, is a threat to my business."

After the show, Freddie came up to me and said, "Wanna see my show at the Dunes tonight?" Of course, I went. And in the middle of his act, he told the audience, "I saw a new comedian tonight, I think he's going to be a star. If we give him some applause, bet we could get him up here."

And with that, I was on stage at the Dunes hotel. The rocket had been lit.

JB: When performing live, have you ever bombed? How did you recover?

DI: Of course, I’m a comedian. If you bomb on stage, you need to do two things. 1. Keep going and finish your show. 2. When you get home, forget it happened. Move ahead. Prepare for your next show. If you bomb five times in a row, comedy is not for you!

JB: What’s a "comedy vitamin"?

DI:  You take vitamins daily to keep you physically healthy. A comedy vitamin is something you do once- a-day to preserve your mental health. It can range from reading a humorous article, to listening to a comedy album, or watching The Simpsons. A comedy vitamin is anything you do that makes you laugh. As adults, we laugh on average, 15 times per day. We need to double that. So take as many daily comedy vitamins as you like. You can't overdose!

Plus, look for the bizarre absurdity of everyday life. As Steve Allen once said, "Nothing is funnier than the unintended humor of reality."

For more fun stuff, please visit www.daleirvin.com to see how Dale's Friday Funnies can be an entertaining addition to your e-inbox—or how, at a future meeting, he can be your Professional Summarizer.

• • • • •