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Chicago IL Based |
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Todd Hunt
“Communication Lessons Wrapped in Laughter”
"Loved Todd Hunt - entertaining, very informative." - Association Forum
Funnier than a business speaker; more informative than a comedian, Todd Hunt is a Recovering Anal Retentive Professional (RARP), who finally learned to lighten up! Now he speaks for organizations that want to add fun to their meetings and send members home smiling, with tips to improve communication and success.
Will your group laugh?
Yes. After a keynote at a funeral directors convention (true), a woman came up to him, grinning from ear to ear. “You are so FUNNY! I haven’t laughed that hard in my entire life. You should be on Jay Leno! Have you ever tried out for the Jay Leno show?” (Todd didn’t have the heart to tell her he was out of
town when the Jay Leno tryouts breezed through.)
Will your group learn?
Yes. At the same convention, another woman shook his hand warmly and purred, “I REALLY enjoyed your seminar.” One thought it was a comedy show, the other thought it was a seminar. Both heard something of value, and both were happy.
In fact, audiences have so much fun they often don’t realize they’re learning. The “correct” way to order pizza?? It’s a hilarious routine, but there’s an important communication lesson wrapped in that laughter -- one that makes life easier (not to mention more productive) at work and at home.
Murmurs of “I can’t believe that” ripple through the crowd during Todd’s discourse on customer disservice. And people invariably fly back to their offices to change their voice mail greetings, lest they show up as a nutty example in his next speech!
As an executive at Ogilvy & Mather, one of the world’s largest advertising agencies, Todd learned the inner workings of communication and how we all mess up every day. Then he opened his own marketing agency in Chicago. Years later, he discovered that people would pay to hear his funny, true stories about sales, customer service, leadership and change, that he garnered during his years in business.
There’s so much humor around us that he doesn’t need to create jokes. The humor keeps people’s attention, while the examples demonstrate how we can all communicate better with customers and coworkers to become more successful and make more money.
Todd has written two books: “Does Anal Retentive Have a Hyphen?” and “Pardon Me, But That’s a Really Stupid Sign!” His humor column, “Communication Bleeps and Blunders in Business,” appears in newspapers in the United States and Canada. He’s been on television and radio talk shows, and stars on two CDs and a DVD.
About business humorist Todd Hunt
Todd Hunt looks like a pleasant, buttoned-up corporate type. But when he opens his mouth, audiences reel with laughter. His stories and examples, delivered with the sly wit of a seasoned comedian, stick with you long after his program.
Consider a man who started a financial services company in Chicago, grew it to 400 employees in three years, then sold it and opened a bookstore in Vermont ... after appearing on NBC's Seinfeld for two seasons.
Todd Hunt did not do any of those things.
But he worked for a financial services company in Chicago ... shopped at a bookstore in Vermont ... and watched Seinfeld on NBC every Thursday. As an executive at Ogilvy & Mather, one of the world's largest advertising agencies, Todd learned the "inner workings" of communication.
Additional jobs with an insurance administrator, direct marketing company and ad department of a major retailer confirmed what he had suspected all along -- people have to communicate every day!
In 1991, he started his own successful business, The Hunt Company, a marketing agency in Chicago.
Working with trade associations, retailers, non-profits and financial companies, Todd sold insurance, credit accounts, trade shows, seminars, theater tickets, memberships and other products and services to consumer and business audiences.
One day he discovered that people would pay him to tell funny stories about sales, customer service, leadership and change that he garnered during his years in business. So now he does! Using humor and sensibility, he demonstrates how we can all communicate better, become more successful and make more money.
"Straight 5s" in every category _...highest speaker rating" - Chicago Association of Direct Marketing
* An insightful look at improving communication with employees, customers and suppliers to win more business
... with dozens of everyday examples that will leave you chuckling in recognition.
* Discover "where your listener is coming from" and how to tailor your communication style accordingly. Delight
customers in every way imaginable.
* Review the 8 problem words that could cost you business.
* Never think about voice mail the same again!
Murmurs of "I never knew that" ripple across the room during his refresher course on "the eight words most often abused in the English language." And people invariably drive back to their offices and change their voice mail greetings, lest they sound like one of his hilarious real-life examples.
Frequently asked questions about business humorist Todd Hunt
1. Is he funny?
Yes. After a presentation for a funeral directors convention (true), a woman came up to Todd, grinning from ear to ear. "You are so FUNNY! I haven't laughed that hard in my entire life. You should be on Jay Leno! Have you ever tried out for the Jay Leno show?" (Todd didn't have the heart to tell her he was out of town when the Jay Leno tryouts came to Chicago.)
2. Is he educational?
Yes. At the same convention, another woman shook his hand warmly and purred, "I really enjoyed your seminar." The first woman said it was Jay Leno-funny. This woman said it was a seminar. Both heard something of value, and both were happy.
3. Is he really educational?
Yes. Todd's program has been used for continuing education credit for dentists, accountants, funeral directors (we're not making this up), meeting planners and other professionals.
4. And funny too?
Yes, although Todd is not a comedian. He's never performed at a comedy club (in fact, he's attended only four comedy clubs in his life as an audience member). His background is business -- marketing and advertising with Ogilvy & Mather, plus an insurance administrator, retailer and his own company for 11 years. There's so much natural humor in business that he doesn't need to create jokes. The humor keeps people's attention, while the examples teach valuable communication lessons.
5. Is his humor clean?
Yes. Since Todd doesn't depend on jokes to convey his points, everything is clean...and based on real life.
6. What, exactly, does he do?
Todd talks -- sharing funny, true examples of how we all mess up communicating with customers and co-workers, and how we can fix it to become more successful.
Funnier than a business speaker; more informative than a comedian.
7. Where would he best fit in our event?
Todd is an ideal opening session speaker, because he gets people laughing and energizes them for the meeting that follows. He also does luncheon keynotes and closing sessions. (If you're looking for a program that's pure entertainment with no message, Todd is not a fit.)
8. How long does he speak?
Todd's typical keynote is 45 minutes to an hour. Sometimes shorter, if the president's remarks run over, the new member initiation takes longer than expected,the session starts late due to construction on I-95, and so on. Continuing Education programs usually run 90 or 100 minutes. He can adapt to your schedule.
9. Does he cover other topics in addition to communication?
Todd sticks to communication because that's what he does best, and it fits nearly every meeting theme. Leadership, teamwork, sales, customer service...excellent communication is key to all these areas. And we can all improve.
Audiences are buzzing about business humorist Todd Hunt!
“We were cleverly entertained and seriously educated, which from our group is high praise indeed.” - Printing Industry of Illinois/Indiana Association
"You poked fun at yourself first, which gave us permission to laugh at the many ways we miscommunicate with teachers, students, administrators and each other. In such a fun, open atmosphere, the lessons really stuck." - Kern High School District, California
"All of our guests were laughing and agreeing with your analysis of communication blunders. It was nice hearing clean humor and learning valuable lessons at the same time." - Central Florida Auto Dealers Association
“Our members don’t usually respond well to speakers, but they do love a good laugh, which you provided in spades! I do know that, thanks to you, I went back home and immediately changed my voice mail message.” - National Closet Group
“Entertaining, informative and kept me involved.” - Illinois Association of Park Districts
“an informative and witty presentation ... your tips for improving communication in the workplace have had a lasting effect for our members” - Financial Women International
“The humor is an aspect that gets people’s attention but also makes your points stick in people’s minds -- something essential to actually changing behavior.” - National Association of QMRPs
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"You poked fun at yourself first, which gave us permission to laugh at the many ways we miscommunicate with teachers, students, administrators and each other. In such a fun, open atmosphere, the lessons really stuck." - Kern High School District, California |
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