The Hump Day Humor-Gram,  December 19, 2007    Issue Number 243

The entire team here at the world headquarters of the Hump Day 
wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday season full
of laughter. We will be taking our usual Christmas break and 
will return in 2008, where, you’ll be ecstatic to know, all our
messages will include a scratch n’ sniff option. Happy Holidays!  
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1. Humor Sells 

A study by humor researcher Dr. Paul McGhee found that when a 
a sales person used more humor, the buyer was willing to pay a 
higher price. The study suggests that humor is great at breaking
down initial objections the buyer may have, and at creating an 
emotional bond with the seller, product or idea. Humor also helps
to keep the buyer’s attention, and can help give your company
a more likeable image. (Of course, those of you in the throes of
gift shopping may want to see if the reverse is true: can tapping
into your sense of humor help get you a better deal?)
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2. Mike's Fun at Work Tip  

In lieu of people paying tickets with moola, several communities
this holiday season are allowing violators to pay their fines
with a toy donation. A great reminder that this holiday season,
one of the best ways to de-stress at the office, bond as a team 
and have a few laughs is to take a break with your team and give 
something back to the community (especially, you know, if
you stole something from the community, I mean, that’s
just common courtesy). 
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3. Quote of the Week 

“Every year at Christmas I’m faced with the same tough financial 
decision: Continue putting my child through university. . . 
or buy a Christmas tree.”
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4. It's a Wacky, Wacky, World

As you open your gifts this holiday season, be sure to read
the labels carefully, or you might miss out on some great 
Ho Ho’s, are at least, a few Ha Ha’s. The winners of the 
11th Annual Wacky Warning Labels (sponsored by Michigan 
Lawsuit Abuse Watch) were just announced, and so without
further ado, the winners are: 1st place went to a warning label
on a small tractor: “DANGER: AVOID DEATH”; 2nd place was taken 
by a label on an iron-on t-shirt: “Do not iron while wearing
shirt”; and 3rd place went to a label on a baby stroller 
featuring a small storage pouch: “Do not put child in bag.”       

Happy Hump Day one and all. And as the folks at the tax office 
say on their Christmas cards: Many happy returns! 
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Copyright Michael Kerr, 2007. mike@mikekerr.com  www.mikekerr.com