A Proper Welcome to this Community of Funny Humans

I finally wrote the welcome email for new readers... but realized it’s something I should’ve sent to all of you.

Does anyone else have that one task they keep rescheduling week after week? The one that’s important, but never urgent, so it always gets pushed to “another day?”

Well, I’m happy to say I finally did something I’ve been meaning to do for a while.

I finally wrote a welcome email for new subscribers to The Funny Thing About That — something that explains who I am, what this whole thing is about, and why I care so much about helping people master their skill of humor.

Then I realized all that delaying means many of you have been here for a while, and I’ve never actually introduced myself properly.

So, whether you’ve been reading for months or you just joined today, here’s the welcome email I should have sent a long time ago.

Welcome to the Funny Thing About That

Hi there, and welcome to The Funny Thing About That!

First off, congratulations, you did it! You signed up for yet another newsletter!

But I promise this one is different...

It’s here to help you build your skill of humor so you can be a little funnier, a little happier, and a lot more effective at work (and probably in life, too). Think of it as your weekly reminder that a good laugh can make serious work a little easier.

And if nothing else, I guarantee at least one smile and maybe even a “blew air out of my nose more forcibly” moment in every email.

Who I Am and Why I Do This

I’m Andrew Tarvin, an engineer turned humorist on a mission to help one billion people master their skill of humor.

Why? Because I’ve seen how powerful humor can be. It transformed my career, my relationships, and honestly, my life. And I’ve watched it do the same for thousands of people and hundreds of organizations around the world.

I’ve worked with groups like Microsoft, NASA, and the FBI to help professionals use humor to communicate more clearly, lead more effectively, and enjoy their work more. Along the way, I’ve given a TEDx talk with more than fifteen million views, released a Dry Bar Comedy special, and written three books on humor and leadership.

The “funny” thing is, I’m not a naturally funny person. I have a degree in Computer Science and Engineering from The Ohio State University and started my career at Procter & Gamble as an IT Project Manager (not exactly the origin story for hilarity).

But then I started using humor. Not because I thought, “You know who’s really funny? Me.”

No, I only started doing improv and stand-up because my best friend wanted to start a comedy group, needed people, and forced me to join.

That small nudge changed everything. I discovered that humor isn’t a talent you’re born with; it’s a skill you can learn. And now I want to be that gentle nudge for you to help you unlock the same skill that changed my life.

What to Expect

Each week(ish), I’ll send you an email that mixes humor, research, and real-world lessons to help you be more effective and enjoy your work a little more.

Some weeks it’ll be breaking down how humor can help you be more effective. Other weeks it might be a story from my own adventures as an engineer turned comedian. Occasionally, I might just share something that made me laugh way too hard and pretend it’s educational.

Either way, my goal is simple: every issue should leave you thinking a little differently, laughing a little more, and feeling a little better about the work you do.

Stay Connected

One quick favor that helps make sure my emails actually reach you.

To make sure you get every issue:

1. Reply “yes” to this email. (It tells your inbox I’m a real person, which I promise I am.) While you’re at it, go ahead and tell me what brought you here.

2. If this lands in your spam or promotions folder, move it to your Primary inbox. I work hard to make my emails at least 3.7x funnier than spam.

That’s it! Doing those two things helps make sure you don’t miss the good stuff.

And Before You Go

Thanks for being here, seriously. Together, we’re going to make the world a funnier, lighter place, one email at a time.

If you haven’t already, here are two great places to start:

• Take the free Humor Competency Assessment to discover your unique humor style and see where you can grow next.

• Watch my TEDx talk, The Skill of Humor, to see why one person called it “the best TED Talk ever” (though, to be fair, another person said, “This was useless.”).

Stay funny and effective,
-Andrew Tarvin

P.S. On occasion I end these things with a pun. It’s a bit like sausage… some people relish them, others think they’re the wurst.

P.P.S. If you have that one item on your todo list that you’ve been delaying, do it today! I promise you it feels amazing to finally check it off.