Sometimes LinkedIn surprises me! To get the obvious question out of the way, I’m not getting paid to report any of what I am about to say here.
In the interest of growing my “LinkedIn presence,” in quotes because for sure seven years ago I would have only said that in a mocking tone, I’ve come to appreciate the value of a business community of like-minded hustlers.
In fact, I’ve been posting more recently and the LinkedIn universe has grown on me. I like that there’s no pretense. Unlike other social media options, there’s no bait and switch going on. There’s no “look at me vacationing!” Those ubiquitous ones where all the tantrums, disappointments and flat-tires-on-the-freeway-in-the-Lyft-on-the-way-to-hotel shots edited out. LinkedIn is consistent. Here's me, here’s what I care about, hire me.
And recently I even experienced the element of surprise there! Like this comment from Holley Cameron, who was working at Accenture and had booked us during our inaugural corporate holiday season November 2020.
"Unsolicited testimonial! I have hired Laughter on Call not once, but twice. If you're looking for a wildly fun, unique & memorable way to enhance your internal engagement, there is nothing else like this. I promise, your employees will be talking about this experience for years to come!”
Yes…and Holley!
For a little context, in March of 2020, I was told Laughter On Call would have to shut down. Our mission was creating connection with shared laughter for those facing Alzheimer’s. Our clients were seniors and their families. The most vulnerable population to COVID. On impulse, we started running “Lunchtime Laughter,” daily virtual interactive laughter sessions - presumably for these folks. Quickly, perfectly lucid people showed up who needed some comic relief. Then HR leaders got wind of this, then the NY Times, and then Harvard Business School. By that November, our expansion to supporting business teams around the world was solidly in place. Our virtual holiday events, which Holley is referring to, created what is referred to as a “hockey stick,” in sales. Because they actually do exactly what Ms.Cameron says.
What is also surprising is that they still do! Cameron actually ends that quote by referencing how this type of connection - through laughter - is needed “now more than ever.” Which is also our experience out in the field.
You could argue that LinkedIn has had too big an effect on me now, because this reads like a hardcore pitch to at least consider thinking a little outside the ordinary for this year’s holiday events. I get it.
But, what I’m really talking about here is the need for all of us to break through or out of our respective silos, whether literally or figuratively depending on the configuration of your office, and connect with each other as we close out 2025. As business people, family people, married people, single people and everyone in between, we need to find our way to human connection.
And for goodness sake, and all our “sake’s” to keep our sense of humor!
If you appreciate this, and if some structured, memorable comic relief is appealing to you as a way to get there, here’s my direct e-mail. Dani@laughteroncall.com
Something you won’t find on LinkedIn.
