What a Study Break Taught Me About Statistics and Humor
That Time I Tried Stand Up and Laughed More Than Anyone Else
Balancing my Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification with diving into my MBA program, I've been immersed in study materials lately. After tackling numerous statistical problems, I needed a break.
So, I turned what I was studying into a series of contextually relevant jokes that I’ll loosely call my stand-up routine.
The Toughest Critics
We still have teenagers at home. They’re always good for a quick test of an idea, especially when it comes to judging what is funny.
They’d heard me talk through Pareto Charts, Histograms, Gage R&R, Process Control, Design of Experiments, Regression Analysis, etc. I’m an external processor, so speaking ideas out loud is how I reinforce and improve concepts and ideas in my head. (If you live or work with me, lucky you!)
Now, it was time to take a different approach—to relieve a little stress and maybe… just maybe… get a smile out of them.
Here is a Sample of My Routine
[Attempt 1]
Why did the analyst break up with the interpolation forecast?
Because every time they tried to predict the future, the relationship was always a bit too… extrapolated! 😄
[Attempt 2]
Why did the Six Sigma team throw a party for the binomial distribution?
Because it had the perfect blend of success and failure—just like their project outcomes!” 🎉
[Attempt 3]
Why did the mean, median, and mode go to the party together?
Because they wanted to make sure the party was perfectly centered, but when they arrived, the mean got all the attention, the median just couldn’t quite fit in, and the mode, well, it just kept repeating itself! 😁
Time for a Root Cause Analysis
It’s safe to say I found it more amusing than they did.
After conducting a thorough root cause analysis to identify the underlying issues, I decided to refine my material and make necessary adjustments before attempting the task again.
(Note: I'm keeping my day job.)
Sometimes We Need to Laugh—Even When It’s Serious
Although I failed to make anyone but myself laugh, it was a good reminder that life and business often require a serious approach, particularly regarding change, leadership, and growth. Why not draw inspiration from my stand-up experience and add a touch of humor to your next meeting or presentation?
Laughter is not only good for the soul but can also spark fresh perspectives and enhance collaboration among your team. Remember, even in leadership, a well-timed joke or a humorous anecdote can work wonders in breaking the ice and fostering a more engaging atmosphere.
Nonetheless, I can confirm that humor is not best measured by standard deviations from the mean.