Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Zeff.
Hi Joel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started my career as a newspaper journalist. My first job out of school was with the Saginaw News in Saginaw, Michigan. I covered the police beat: crime, fire, murder, death, accidents, and destruction. The Dallas Times Herald recruited me to come work for their newspaper in 1991. I moved to Dallas, and 6 months later the other paper in town bought out the Herald and closed it down. It is just a coincidence the paper closed six months after I arrived, and I promise it wasn’t my fault.
I always say the day I lost my job at the newspaper was one of the best days of my life. That day started me on the path I am on today. I tell a story sometimes in my keynote about the day I lost my job and a magic harmonica. When I left my one-bedroom apartment with little furniture to clean out my desk on the last day of the newspaper, I grabbed my magic harmonica. I arrived at the newspaper and everyone had a range of emotions: sadness, anger, confusion, defeat. To me, it felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders. I saw this day as opportunity and a new beginning.
For some reason, I found myself on the back loading dock where the media covering the paper’s demise had assembled. I took out my magic harmonica and started poorly playing a blues note. The lyrics went something like this: “I lost my job. I got no money …” Well, I ended up on two local television newscasts, my photo in the Fort Worth Star Telegram and the story of me playing the harmonica was picked up nationally. True story. I chose my attitude. I chose how I reacted to change and disruption.
That magic harmonica (which I still have) taught me to embrace change and disruption. It taught me fun and whimsy are part of my life. It taught me to stay in the game and create opportunity. Soon after the Herald closed, I started doing stand up and improvisational comedy. I joined a comedy troupe. That led me to speaking, which led me to this interview. All because of a magic harmonica.
After the Herald closed, I freelanced as a writer and journalist. Some of the highlights included covering Mickey Mantle’s funeral for Newsday; almost getting hired at America’s Most Wanted; and interviewing the Easter Bunny in a mall for the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
At some point, I figured I needed a regular job. I opened the Yellow Pages and looked up public relations agencies. I sent my resume to the four biggest advertisements. Soon after, Edelman Public Relations called and hired me as an account executive. Texas Instruments was my primary client. I was then recruited by J. Walter Thompson and worked there for about a year.
In 1994, I started my own business, working as a writer, media relations consultant, and creative communications consultant. I did a little bit of everything. I was performing comedy on the weekends. My business transitioned to full time keynote speaker around 1999-2000.
In the mid Nineties, when I worked for an advertising agency. I also performed with an improvisational comedy troupe on the weekends. One of my clients, Texas Instruments, knew I performed comedy and asked me to speak at their executive retreat. With no hesitation, I agreed. I asked another performer to join me. We didn’t have a plan. There was no message. We just played improvisation games with the audience members and had fun. The attendees loved the interactive and engaging performance. The light bulb started flashing, and I knew I could offer the same experience to other clients.
I didn’t think speaking was going to be my business. I just thought speaking was something else I could offer my clients. Like anything, you do a great job, people will pass around your name.
I loved speaking. I loved sharing my passion for improvisation and what lessons the art form taught me. I also realized audiences were thirsty for something fresh. They wanted to laugh. They wanted a unique perspective. They wanted to be engaged. Back when I started, many of my clients didn’t even know about improvisation. I had to explain the concept. Today improvisation is everywhere.
There are many great speakers with a great message. There are fewer with a great message and are funny. There are even fewer that have a great message, are funny and are interactive with the audience. I filled that niche.
I love every moment as a keynote speaker and emcee. Everyone needs to laugh. And most people don’t have the opportunity to just play. My presentations create that opportunity. Every client tells me their people are stressed or had a tough year or quarter. They always say everyone is working hard. I come in and make them laugh and let them embrace the silliness. I can’t believe I get paid for this.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I started as a keynote speaker, I really didn’t know much about the business. I didn’t even know speaking was a business. I just followed my passion and what I loved to do. Sometimes people wait until they are ready. You will never be ready. You just have to try. If you fail, you stay in the game. I am sure I didn’t do everything right. I just worked on my business every day.
I always say, “figure out what you would do for free.” I love making people laugh, creating energy, bringing people together, and telling people what I think. When I started speaking, I often spoke for free or I would get a leather portfolio, Chili’s gift card and a t-shirt. And I was thrilled. If you love what you do, you don’t watch the clock. You aren’t worried about mistakes and failures. You are focused and passionate, and that overcomes all challenges.
I don’t have a job. I have passion. I am fortunate that I figured out to make a living by having a passion. I encourage others to do the same. Just ask the question: What job would I do if I didn’t care whether I got paid? Now you have a road map. Take the first step. If you fail, try something else. Nobody is keeping score.
Improvisation is about finding success through constant change and disruption. The pandemic didn’t just change one thing, it changed EVERYTHING. My business went virtual. I set up a small studio space in the room above the stairs. The answer to any proposal from a client was a resounding, “YES!” One client had a platform where I was an avatar. One client wanted me to come into a studio and do three-minute motivation segments for their virtual event. I hosted virtual awards presentations, general sessions, facilitated panels, hosted games and raffles.
Improvisation teaches us to be prepared for change, open and flexible to change, and to be present and in the moment during change. I focused on the change and adapted.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When people ask me when I started speaking, I say 1997. That is when I started focusing on speaking as a major part of my business. Allstate Insurance asked me to speak at an event in Irving. I decided to have a production company record my presentation and create a demo tape. I wanted to create a demo tape, send it out, and see what happens. Again, I didn’t really have a plan other than, “Hey, I think I will make a demo tape from this event.” This is a common theme in my career.
As soon as I started sending those VHS demo tapes out, my speaking business quickly grew. I still didn’t know what I was doing. The answer was usually, “Yes! I can do that.” I remember once standing outside a ballroom about to go on stage and calling other performer friends and asking about various improvisation games I could use in my presentation.
I constantly tried news games and exercises. I would change how I executed the games. My messages evolved. I have never written down my presentation. I want each keynote to be organic. The audience wants to be surprised. They want a presentation that is unique to them.
I turned around one day, and my entire business was keynote speaking and emcee work. I always tell people the speaking business chose me. I didn’t even know it was a business.
A few years ago, a publisher called me about writing a book. I embraced the challenge and wrote, “Make the Right Choice: Creating a Positive, Productive, and Innovative Work Life.” The book discusses the messages in my keynotes and the added insight of watching thousands of audience volunteers play improvisation games with me and the choices they made.
I still perform comedy when I can, usually with members from the comedy troupe. Every once in awhile, I am cast in a commercial or other project.
My favorite commercial is one I did for the Dallas Cowboys when they opened their new stadium. I also c0-hosted a local television program called The Movie Zone.
When children are young, everything in their life is a TA DA. We celebrate when they eat a cheese sandwich, when they draw on a piece of paper, or just go to the bathroom for the first time by themselves. Everything is a celebration and positively reinforced. As we get older, we stop celebrating. Expectations take over. TA DA moments become once a year. We need to celebrate every day successes. That positive support fuels our passion and decreases our stress. We each have multiple moments each day that deserve a TA DA. Embrace the TA DA.
I am lucky. I have a job where I get a round of applause. Most people don’t have a job where they get a round of applause. Has anyone walked up to IT, accounting, HR, marketing and gave a round of applause? Again, this positive support energizes and fuels our passion. If someone is not going to give you a round of applause, then you give it to yourself. I don’t care if people look at you strange. Look right back, and give yourself a round of applause.
I bring volunteers on stage during my keynotes to play an improvisation game. The participants might be tentative or have doubt. As soon as they hear that round of applause or laughter, all of that goes away. You can see their confidence. They do more on stage. They take risks. They produce. That positive support leads to production, confidence, risk taking and success.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
This year marks my 30th anniversary of moving to Dallas. I thought I would live here for 2 years and then move on to the next city. Thirty years. My first weekend in town a friend took me to a comedy club. Before the show the DJ played, “I Got Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks. The entire crowd sang (loudly) along to the song. That was the moment I knew I moved to Texas.
I found my passion in Dallas. I started performing at that same comedy club. All of this happened because I moved to Dallas. There is an energy and entrepreneurial spirit here.
Our family loves discovering new restaurants. We love attending shows at the Dallas Symphony or Dallas Summer Musicals in Fair Park. I love any event that starts with the word “Taste” at Klyde Warren Park or the Dallas Arboretum. I also have a goal of visiting every BBQ place within a 50 mile radius.
Dallas embraces people who take risks. It is an awesome place to start a business. And if you love eating out, shopping, professional sports, comedy, the performing arts, Dallas is a first class city.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.joelzeff.com
- Instagram: https://www.espeakers.com/marketplace/profile/15037?btsc=1
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thejoelzeff
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JoelZeffCreative
- Other: https://vimeo.com/joelzeff
