Stand-up comedy is not just about making people laugh. It is about creating a connection with a group of strangers to evoke an emotional response and influence them; something critical to leaders at every level and in any organization. Comedian and Author Selena Coppock, is the artist behind Seen Better Days, a comedy album that hit #1 on the iTunes Comedy chart.

She is ranked one of the 8 funniest feminists on Twitter and joins host Fran Racioppi to unpack the leadership characteristics required to stand up in front of total strangers and make them like you. 

She showed the differences between improv and a team's ability to hide your flaws vs stand-up, where there is no one but yourself to blame for failure. She explained how you pick yourself up off the floor, forget about the times the audience threw tomatoes, and grab the mic for another round. 

Selena also highlighted her book, The New Rules for Blondes, where she and Fran challenged stereotypes about women, their place in society, and how we all can learn to shine if we believe in ourselves first. 

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.

Highlights:

-The characteristics needed to build a career as a comedian when competition is fierce and options are endless.

-Subjective vs objective results in performance.

-The team aspect of Improv comedy and how the team can hide an individual’s flaws.

-Stand-up comedy as an individual’s need to perform in the moment based on detailed preparation and planning.

-New York City as the epicenter of the comedy industry.

-How you present yourself to an audience matters in how they interpret what you are saying.

-How to approach difficult and controversial topics with care, but also in a way that resonates with the audience; off limit topics; what makes a good joke.

-Building an audience and following that resonates with you, your brand and your message.

-Rejection of the negative connotations associated with blonde women.

-Feminism and the need to focus on becoming good people.

-Men’s need to break out of the stereotypical characteristics society has placed on male behavior. 

Quotes:

-“I am a firm believer that the universe will open up to you if you are on the right path.”

-“You don’t really take things personally because it’s so subjective.”

-“If you have an audience of 100 people, you can’t somehow not offend someone.”

-“You can’t please everyone, but you can be mindful of your position on things.”

-“It’s not fun or enjoyable to punch down.”

-“I had a bad set Tuesday. Oh well...I have another one Wednesday.”

-“The best jokes are self-effacing.”

-“If you're a blonde, cute woman, people don’t take you seriously.”

-“I am who I am without apologies”

-“Some people are going to like you. Some people are not going to like you. It’s ok to just do your thing.”

-“The goal of feminism is to get rid of these rigid notions of what is man and what is women.”

-“The first step is finding your voice.”

-“The most wonderful feeling in life is feeling understood.”

-“Comedy is earned 10 minutes at a time over decades.”

Selena’s three daily foundations of success:

-Make your bed everyday

-Go outside everyday

-Be upbeat, positive and be aware of what is coming into your life (especially on social media)