0:00:16.849,0:00:17.864
Thanks, man.

0:00:17.865,0:00:20.654
I'm excited about being here.[br]We're going to have some fun.

0:00:20.655,0:00:21.934
My name is Michael Jr.

0:00:21.935,0:00:23.784
I'm going to do some jokes.

0:00:23.785,0:00:25.968
(Laughter)

0:00:25.969,0:00:28.149
(Applause)

0:00:28.417,0:00:32.686
Yet, at the same time,[br]I’d like to explain to you how life

0:00:32.686,0:00:35.292
well, how comedy works.

0:00:35.541,0:00:36.987
So let's stop right here.

0:00:36.988,0:00:39.878
I actually like the city of Reno a lot.

0:00:40.491,0:00:41.665
I was here once...

0:00:41.666,0:00:43.121
(Applause)

0:00:43.122,0:00:44.237
I was here once;

0:00:44.238,0:00:47.010
I was keynote speaking for a corporation

0:00:47.011,0:00:50.013
and something really kind of strange[br]happened when I was here.

0:00:50.014,0:00:53.103
Normally, I'm the type of person[br]I like to be on a stage alone.

0:00:53.104,0:00:54.853
I don't need any help or anybody...

0:00:54.854,0:00:58.823
So this CEO of this large company[br]introduces me, and he has the microphone,

0:00:58.824,0:01:03.123
and normally, we have two different mics,[br]and he leaves, and then, I'm there.

0:01:03.124,0:01:04.382
That's the plan.

0:01:04.384,0:01:05.993
Dude stays there.

0:01:05.994,0:01:07.572
(Laughter)

0:01:07.573,0:01:10.303
I'm standing right next to him[br]with no mic.

0:01:10.304,0:01:11.573
(Laughter)

0:01:11.574,0:01:15.574
And then he looks at the audience,[br]and I'm standing there, and he says...

0:01:16.075,0:01:17.535
First, let me explain this.

0:01:17.543,0:01:20.598
I'm the type of comedian,[br]like, I'm observational.

0:01:20.599,0:01:22.838
I pay attention to things[br]like college students.

0:01:22.839,0:01:24.668
Take someone who goes to a nice school

0:01:24.669,0:01:26.743
like the University[br]of Southern California.

0:01:26.744,0:01:29.663
Ask them what school they go to,[br]you get a nice quick answer,

0:01:29.664,0:01:31.294
- "What school you go to?"[br]- "USC."

0:01:31.304,0:01:33.673
New York University -[br]you get a nice quick answer,

0:01:33.674,0:01:35.323
- "What school you go to?"[br]- "NYU."

0:01:35.324,0:01:37.353
Ask somebody who goes[br]to community college.

0:01:37.354,0:01:39.633
You get a much longer[br]response, don't you?

0:01:39.634,0:01:40.726
(Laughter)

0:01:40.727,0:01:41.975
"What school you go to?"

0:01:41.976,0:01:46.465
"Well, see, right now, what I'm doing,[br]I'm gonna get a couple credits, right?

0:01:46.466,0:01:48.925
Then my financial aid[br]is supposed to come through.

0:01:48.926,0:01:50.555
Then I'm gonna transfer, man.

0:01:50.556,0:01:52.843
They say school kills creativity anyway.

0:01:52.844,0:01:55.453
Man, I feel vulnerable.[br]Is Brené Brown around?

0:01:55.454,0:01:57.528
Man, I feel very vulnerable right now."

0:01:57.529,0:01:59.079
(Laughter)

0:02:02.266,0:02:04.155
Let me tell you a little more about me.

0:02:04.156,0:02:05.385
I love being a dad.

0:02:05.386,0:02:07.255
And I have five kids, yeah.

0:02:07.256,0:02:09.455
And I travel a lot

0:02:09.455,0:02:10.930
so I can see them all.

0:02:10.931,0:02:12.291
(Laughter)

0:02:15.602,0:02:18.512
Ha, ha! I'm just playing.[br]I don't see them, I don't see them.

0:02:18.513,0:02:20.182
(Laughter)

0:02:20.183,0:02:22.692
No, I do. I have five kids.[br]They're all with me.

0:02:22.693,0:02:24.073
I live in Dallas now.

0:02:24.076,0:02:25.545
My kids are awesome.

0:02:25.546,0:02:27.432
The thing about having a big family is

0:02:27.433,0:02:29.762
you always have[br]to figure out ways to save money.

0:02:29.763,0:02:31.842
We wanted to get[br]our family pictures taken,

0:02:31.843,0:02:33.291
and that stuff was expensive.

0:02:33.292,0:02:37.186
So what we did to save money was[br]we all got in the front seat of the car,

0:02:37.187,0:02:39.293
looked both ways, and ran a red light.

0:02:39.294,0:02:41.183
That's what we did.[br]That's what we did.

0:02:41.184,0:02:43.224
(Laughter)

0:02:43.344,0:02:45.492
Two weeks later,[br]the picture came in the mail.

0:02:45.493,0:02:46.813
(Laughter)

0:02:48.013,0:02:49.217
But my son blinked

0:02:49.218,0:02:51.477
so we had to do it again,[br]we had to do it again.

0:02:51.478,0:02:52.607
This stuff is crazy.

0:02:52.608,0:02:54.727
(Laughter)

0:02:54.728,0:02:57.068
I was doing that joke in prison recently.

0:02:57.948,0:03:00.617
I wasn't in prison,[br]like, "Hey, I'm funny. Get off me!"

0:03:00.618,0:03:01.947
It wasn't like that.

0:03:01.948,0:03:03.283
(Laughter)

0:03:03.833,0:03:07.592
Whenever we're doing a big live event[br]- like we're doing one tonight in Reno -

0:03:07.593,0:03:10.502
whenever we do a large ticketed event,[br]a concert, in a city,

0:03:10.503,0:03:14.186
we always look for a homeless shelter,[br]a prison, an abused children's facility

0:03:14.187,0:03:16.026
to go to during the day to do comedy.

0:03:16.027,0:03:18.036
So I'm so I'm doing a prison this time...

0:03:18.037,0:03:19.056
(Applause)

0:03:19.057,0:03:21.176
It's a TEDx talk,[br]I don't got that much time.

0:03:21.177,0:03:22.678
You don't got to clap, it's OK.

0:03:22.679,0:03:24.159
(Laughter)

0:03:25.929,0:03:29.138
So we're doing this prison,[br]and I do the joke about the red light,

0:03:29.139,0:03:31.148
and 75% of the prisoners laughed;

0:03:31.149,0:03:33.319
the rest of them... nothing.

0:03:33.829,0:03:35.498
Then I realized what was going on.

0:03:35.499,0:03:37.898
Some of them had been locked up so long,

0:03:37.899,0:03:40.229
the dude next to them[br]had to explain the joke.

0:03:40.667,0:03:43.286
He was like, "See, nowadays,[br]when you run a red light,

0:03:43.287,0:03:45.606
they send a picture[br]with the ticket in the mail."

0:03:45.607,0:03:47.646
Then he looked at the dude next to him,

0:03:47.647,0:03:50.985
"A red light is what they use for traffic[br]when you go down the road."

0:03:50.986,0:03:52.325
(Laughter)

0:03:52.326,0:03:54.875
And then he said,[br]"A road is what they use..."

0:03:54.876,0:03:55.960
(Laughter)

0:03:55.961,0:03:57.100
Wow!

0:03:57.101,0:03:58.941
Where am I at right now, man?

0:04:00.133,0:04:02.382
So I'd like to explain to you[br]how comedy works.

0:04:02.383,0:04:05.652
This is how comedy works;[br]really all comedy.

0:04:05.653,0:04:09.136
Any time you laugh, this formula[br]is taking place in one way or another,

0:04:09.137,0:04:12.826
but specifically, with regards[br]to stand-up, this is how it works as well.

0:04:12.827,0:04:16.298
First, there's a setup,[br]and then, there's a punchline.

0:04:16.298,0:04:17.620
Let me explain.

0:04:17.620,0:04:20.764
The setup is when a comedian[br]will use his talents and resources

0:04:20.765,0:04:22.064
to seize any opportunity

0:04:22.065,0:04:26.495
to ensure that you, the audience,[br]are moving in the same direction.

0:04:26.756,0:04:29.185
The punchline occurs[br]when he changes that direction

0:04:29.186,0:04:30.619
in a way you're not expecting.

0:04:30.620,0:04:33.719
When you catch on to this change,[br]you've received the punchline.

0:04:33.720,0:04:38.164
The results are revelation, fulfillment,[br]and joy expressed through laughter.

0:04:38.165,0:04:39.314
(Laughter)

0:04:39.315,0:04:40.715
Let me give you an example.

0:04:42.264,0:04:46.435
A few summers ago, I took my family[br]on vacation to Mexico.

0:04:47.285,0:04:48.844
The first two days were rough

0:04:48.845,0:04:51.844
because the people there[br]kept calling me a "Negro."

0:04:51.845,0:04:54.421
The third day, I realized[br]they were saying "amigo,"

0:04:54.422,0:04:56.471
and it was all cool; that was cool, so...

0:04:56.472,0:04:58.089
(Laughter)

0:05:01.296,0:05:03.728
Did you see what just happened[br]right there?

0:05:03.729,0:05:04.859
(Laughter)

0:05:07.781,0:05:11.350
So when I was a child, I used[br]to struggle with my reading.

0:05:11.351,0:05:13.860
I used to really have a hard time reading.

0:05:13.861,0:05:16.012
I don't know, I just struggled with it.

0:05:16.013,0:05:17.482
I read now just fine;

0:05:17.483,0:05:20.823
like the signs over the door[br]that say 'exite, ' I can read that stuff.

0:05:20.824,0:05:22.693
(Laughter)

0:05:22.694,0:05:25.393
But when I was a kid,[br]I used to struggle with my reading.

0:05:25.394,0:05:28.353
I couldn't sound a word out[br]phonetically, it just didn't work.

0:05:28.354,0:05:32.743
So now, looking back at it, I realize[br]I developed seven different ways

0:05:32.744,0:05:35.113
to look at a word[br]to determine what the word was.

0:05:35.114,0:05:37.803
And I just started noticing this[br]really in junior high.

0:05:37.804,0:05:40.713
So I would look at the font size,[br]the color, the positioning,

0:05:40.714,0:05:43.913
what's in front of it, what's behind it,[br]how people responded to it.

0:05:43.914,0:05:46.263
I got really good at[br]looking at words differently

0:05:46.264,0:05:49.643
to the point in high school,[br]people didn't know I wasn't really reading

0:05:49.644,0:05:51.843
I was just working it out[br]really, really fast.

0:05:51.844,0:05:53.553
Now as an adult, I read just fine,

0:05:53.554,0:05:57.473
but I still have this ability to look[br]at words, and people, and situations

0:05:57.474,0:05:59.483
seven different ways almost immediately.

0:05:59.484,0:06:03.074
In fact, it's the primary place[br]where I pull my comedy from.

0:06:03.386,0:06:06.625
So that very thing from my past[br]that looked like it was a setback,

0:06:06.626,0:06:08.825
looked like it was some sort of handicap,

0:06:09.035,0:06:13.715
turns out I'm actually able to use it[br]for what I'm called to do now.

0:06:14.184,0:06:17.093
So just like you, you've probably[br]had some sort of setbacks,

0:06:17.394,0:06:19.533
but if you, in a way, would embrace it,

0:06:19.534,0:06:22.343
you'll probably find there's[br]more opportunities out there.

0:06:22.344,0:06:24.236
Now I find comedy all over the place.

0:06:24.237,0:06:25.246
At the airport today:

0:06:25.247,0:06:27.946
little white kid walked up to me,[br]asked for an autograph.

0:06:27.947,0:06:31.036
I was like, "Hey buddy, what's your name?"[br]He said, "I'm Tanner."

0:06:31.037,0:06:33.093
I looked at him, I said, "No, you're not."

0:06:33.094,0:06:34.544
(Laughter)

0:06:39.302,0:06:40.571
His mom was cracking up.

0:06:40.572,0:06:41.901
He was like, "I am Tanner!"

0:06:41.902,0:06:43.537
(Laughter)

0:06:43.538,0:06:45.607
"No. Trust me. You're not."

0:06:45.608,0:06:46.688
(Laughter)

0:06:49.601,0:06:52.510
Or I'll notice stuff; I saw this dude[br]with a muscle shirt on.

0:06:52.511,0:06:55.450
You ever see a dude[br]with a muscle shirt, like a white tank,

0:06:55.451,0:06:57.000
but he ain't got no muscles?

0:06:57.001,0:06:58.051
(Laughter)

0:06:58.052,0:07:00.111
What is that? A wife threatener?

0:07:00.112,0:07:01.302
(Laughter)

0:07:04.065,0:07:06.314
Depending on[br]where you're from in the country,

0:07:06.315,0:07:08.054
you'll understand that joke better.

0:07:08.055,0:07:09.920
(Laughter)

0:07:09.921,0:07:11.880
And his friend had on a shirt that said,

0:07:11.881,0:07:14.540
"If you don't speak English,[br]leave the country."

0:07:14.541,0:07:18.370
Hmm... but it was written[br]in English. So...

0:07:18.371,0:07:19.701
(Laughter)

0:07:24.730,0:07:27.079
So I walked up to him,[br]and I said, "You're dumb!"

0:07:27.080,0:07:28.212
(Laughter)

0:07:28.213,0:07:30.922
But I said it in Spanish though[br]so he wouldn't know...

0:07:30.923,0:07:32.373
(Laughter)

0:07:34.141,0:07:36.810
So I'm able to find comedy[br]in a bunch of different places

0:07:36.811,0:07:40.380
as a result of embracing what seemed[br]like it was a handicap from my past.

0:07:40.381,0:07:42.320
I notice even what people say sometimes.

0:07:42.321,0:07:43.810
Have you ever heard the phrase,

0:07:43.811,0:07:46.362
"Boy, I wish I could've been[br]a fly on the wall"?

0:07:46.363,0:07:49.167
Every time I hear that,[br]I walk up to the person, and I say,

0:07:49.168,0:07:50.457
"And then what?"

0:07:50.458,0:07:51.597
(Laughter)

0:07:51.598,0:07:52.758
No, no, no, no.

0:07:52.759,0:07:54.288
You want to be a fly on the wall

0:07:54.289,0:07:56.908
so you could hear the information[br]that was in the room.

0:07:56.909,0:07:58.348
Well, I've done the research.

0:07:58.349,0:07:59.798
Hmm... Flies don't have ears.

0:07:59.799,0:08:00.821
(Laughter)

0:08:00.822,0:08:01.841
Yeah.

0:08:01.842,0:08:04.241
You would be just as ignorant[br]as you currently are

0:08:04.242,0:08:05.462
(Laughter)

0:08:06.372,0:08:07.861
but you would be a fly.

0:08:07.862,0:08:09.141
(Laughter)

0:08:10.171,0:08:12.050
Nobody even listens to a fly.

0:08:12.051,0:08:13.093
(Laughter)

0:08:13.094,0:08:15.646
I mean, let's say you're[br]a fly that could read lips.

0:08:15.647,0:08:17.836
What are you going to do[br]with the information?

0:08:17.837,0:08:18.990
(Laughter)

0:08:18.991,0:08:20.590
And you've got two days to live.

0:08:20.591,0:08:21.790
(Laughter)

0:08:21.791,0:08:23.392
You're making bad choices.

0:08:23.393,0:08:24.713
(Laughter)

0:08:27.209,0:08:29.078
Or people will say stuff to me like,

0:08:29.079,0:08:31.129
"Michael Jr., where you from originally?"

0:08:31.130,0:08:34.659
I'm like, "Originally? Huh.[br]Well, I was conceived in Michigan."

0:08:34.660,0:08:36.039
(Laughter)

0:08:36.041,0:08:37.620
"Before that, I was in my dad."

0:08:37.621,0:08:38.711
(Laughter)

0:08:38.712,0:08:39.740
Yeah.

0:08:39.741,0:08:40.962
(Laughter)

0:08:42.062,0:08:44.350
"And then, there was[br]a swim competition," right?

0:08:44.351,0:08:45.561
(Laughter)

0:08:46.751,0:08:48.570
"And I won, which is crazy"

0:08:48.571,0:08:49.785
(Laughter)

0:08:49.786,0:08:51.776
"because currently, I don't swim at all."

0:08:51.777,0:08:53.027
(Laughter)

0:08:54.367,0:08:56.464
I used to be pretty good[br]though, apparently.

0:08:56.465,0:08:57.595
(Laughter)

0:08:58.515,0:08:59.914
I am not politically correct.

0:08:59.915,0:09:03.374
I'm just going to tell: I know[br]I do comedy, but it's just too much work.

0:09:03.375,0:09:04.474
I'm just telling you.

0:09:04.475,0:09:06.824
You have to watch the news[br]and know the language.

0:09:06.825,0:09:10.294
If you put the right stuff in your heart,[br]the right stuff will come out.

0:09:10.295,0:09:12.934
So I never tried,[br]I never try to be politically correct.

0:09:12.935,0:09:13.994
Some people work hard.

0:09:13.995,0:09:17.114
I'm at a coffee shop; a white guy[br]in front of me orders a coffee.

0:09:17.115,0:09:19.714
The lady in front of him[br]is like, "How do you want it?"

0:09:19.715,0:09:22.854
He looked back at me and was like,[br]"Um, African-American please."

0:09:22.855,0:09:24.265
(Laughter)

0:09:27.100,0:09:29.449
I was like, "Cool.[br]Let me get the Caucasian Mocha.

0:09:29.450,0:09:31.129
Let me get that if I could...

0:09:31.130,0:09:32.989
just get the Caucasian Mocha, I guess.

0:09:32.990,0:09:35.029
I'm trying to learn, I'm trying to learn."

0:09:35.030,0:09:36.340
(Laughter)

0:09:39.785,0:09:41.694
Coaches would say some stuff too.

0:09:41.695,0:09:43.697
Ever hear your coach say something like,

0:09:43.698,0:09:46.570
"The stuff I'm teaching here,[br]it's not just about this game,

0:09:46.571,0:09:48.084
You could apply it to life."

0:09:48.085,0:09:50.771
Here's the thing, people:[br]that's not true.

0:09:51.751,0:09:52.800
I thought it was true.

0:09:52.801,0:09:54.190
Straight out of high school,

0:09:54.191,0:09:56.430
one of my first jobs was...[br]I used to park cars.

0:09:56.431,0:09:59.621
One of the cars was really nice[br]so I took it for a little spin.

0:09:59.812,0:10:02.291
The company found out,[br]and my boss lost the account.

0:10:02.292,0:10:04.011
He was yelling at me and screaming

0:10:04.012,0:10:05.611
I didn't know what to say or do.

0:10:05.612,0:10:07.933
I thought back[br]to my high school football coach.

0:10:07.934,0:10:11.314
I looked at my boss, and I was like,[br]"You know what, man?

0:10:12.161,0:10:14.055
You win some, you lose some, man."

0:10:14.056,0:10:15.546
(Laughter)

0:10:16.516,0:10:18.725
"You can't let this one loss[br]get you down."

0:10:18.726,0:10:19.998
(Laughter)

0:10:19.999,0:10:22.908
"The important thing is[br]I went out there, and I had fun.”

0:10:22.909,0:10:24.709
(Laughter)

0:10:25.560,0:10:26.950
(Applause)

0:10:28.072,0:10:30.401
Then I got fired, man.[br]I got fired right away.

0:10:30.402,0:10:31.592
(Laughter)

0:10:33.629,0:10:35.678
Actually, I do play some basketball.

0:10:35.679,0:10:38.252
I didn't want to perpetuate[br]stereotypes, but it's true.

0:10:38.253,0:10:39.752
(Laughter)

0:10:39.753,0:10:42.142
But in basketball,[br]you're supposed to run and jump.

0:10:42.143,0:10:44.432
I don't really feel like[br]doing both all the time.

0:10:44.433,0:10:46.883
So some friends recently[br]took me ball hunting.

0:10:47.782,0:10:49.921
Some people call it golf or whatever.

0:10:49.922,0:10:51.142
(Laughter)

0:10:55.359,0:10:56.518
I shot a 121.

0:10:56.519,0:10:58.178
That’s what I shot, a 121;

0:10:58.179,0:10:59.248
and then we had lunch.

0:10:59.249,0:11:02.328
And it was like, "Hey. We're gonna do[br]the other nine holes now."

0:11:02.329,0:11:04.228
(Laughter)

0:11:04.229,0:11:07.258
I said, "I'm not going back[br]out there, I'm not going."

0:11:07.259,0:11:08.998
Because they lied to get me to go.

0:11:08.999,0:11:10.938
They’re like, "The greens are awesome.”

0:11:10.939,0:11:13.408
I was like, "Cool,"[br]I showed up with some cornbread.

0:11:13.409,0:11:14.708
I was like, "All right ..."

0:11:14.709,0:11:16.017
(Laughter)

0:11:16.817,0:11:18.966
I don’t know how to say[br]cornbread in German.

0:11:18.967,0:11:19.967
I'm sorry.

0:11:20.556,0:11:22.227
I just did that just for Germany.

0:11:22.328,0:11:24.048
I've never really been there before.

0:11:25.068,0:11:26.797
I do think working out is important.

0:11:26.798,0:11:28.718
I was at the gym the other month.

0:11:30.187,0:11:32.086
I was going to do some cardio, right?

0:11:32.087,0:11:33.446
But they moved it upstairs.

0:11:33.447,0:11:35.206
I ain't going up there, man, please.

0:11:35.207,0:11:36.806
(Laughter)

0:11:36.807,0:11:39.153
And I get recognized at the gym.[br]I got recognized.

0:11:39.154,0:11:41.553
I'm working out,[br]this lady was like: (Gasping).

0:11:41.554,0:11:42.703
I said, "How you doing?"

0:11:42.704,0:11:46.223
She said, "You don't understand[br]Michael Jr.! You're my favorite comedian.

0:11:46.224,0:11:48.283
Every time I see you,[br]I laugh my butt off."

0:11:48.284,0:11:49.964
I was like, "Uh... Keep laughing!"

0:11:50.731,0:11:52.190
Keep laughing."

0:11:52.191,0:11:53.411
(Laughter)

0:11:58.849,0:12:00.538
So there's a club in Los Angeles.

0:12:00.539,0:12:03.348
When I moved to Los Angeles,[br]and I was brand new in comedy,

0:12:03.349,0:12:06.579
there's a club there that it's[br]like the best club in the country.

0:12:06.629,0:12:09.618
It's called the "Comedy and Magic Club."[br]It's in Hermosa Beach.

0:12:09.619,0:12:12.268
This club is extremely hard[br]for a comedian to get into.

0:12:12.269,0:12:14.099
The way I got into this club is

0:12:14.105,0:12:16.964
a guy named George Wallace[br]saw me when I lived in New York.

0:12:16.965,0:12:18.439
He knew I was funny and clean

0:12:18.440,0:12:21.849
so when I moved to Los Angeles,[br]he took me to the Comedy and Magic Club.

0:12:21.850,0:12:25.129
Now he couldn't get me on stage,[br]it's way too prestigious of a club.

0:12:25.130,0:12:26.609
They have to know who you are.

0:12:26.610,0:12:28.396
So he got me into the green room.

0:12:28.564,0:12:31.443
I'm in the green room[br]and suddenly, brand new in town,

0:12:31.444,0:12:34.413
and I find myself in a green room[br]with some soldiers in comedy.

0:12:34.414,0:12:37.673
There's George Wallace,[br]Garry Shandling, Jay Leno.

0:12:37.674,0:12:39.113
I'm brand new in town.

0:12:39.114,0:12:42.429
And at the time, a football player[br]got hit in the eye with a flag,

0:12:42.430,0:12:44.229
and he lost his vision in one eye,

0:12:44.230,0:12:46.729
and he was suing the league[br]for 400 million dollars.

0:12:46.730,0:12:49.629
Now, all of these guys are helping[br]Leno on that joke subject

0:12:49.630,0:12:52.096
for the monologue[br]for "The Tonight Show" on NBC.

0:12:52.097,0:12:54.016
I ain't saying nothing.

0:12:54.017,0:12:57.764
I'm just happy to be in the room[br]sharing french fries with these dudes.

0:12:58.320,0:13:00.280
But your gift will make room for you.

0:13:00.293,0:13:02.682
So then, they got quiet,[br]and they all looked at me,

0:13:02.683,0:13:04.582
and I'm thinking, "Oh, snap!

0:13:04.583,0:13:06.103
This is an opportunity."

0:13:06.104,0:13:08.053
I said, "Let's see if I got this right.

0:13:08.054,0:13:11.103
He got hit in the eye with a flag,[br]he lost his vision in one eye,

0:13:11.104,0:13:13.604
and he's suing the league[br]for 400 million dollars.

0:13:14.462,0:13:16.392
He’s not gonna see half of it."

0:13:16.402,0:13:17.682
(Laughter)

0:13:24.713,0:13:25.713
Like, for real.

0:13:25.714,0:13:26.755
(Laughter)

0:13:27.485,0:13:28.555
So here's the thing:

0:13:28.556,0:13:31.514
how did I get that joke that fast[br]under that much pressure?

0:13:31.515,0:13:34.323
The truth is it wasn't[br]as much pressure as you might think

0:13:34.324,0:13:36.613
because I'd been practicing[br]since I was a child

0:13:36.614,0:13:39.323
in the form of a kid[br]who was having a hard time reading.

0:13:39.324,0:13:41.663
I was practicing just like[br]you've been practicing;

0:13:41.664,0:13:43.703
you just didn't know you were practicing.

0:13:43.704,0:13:45.963
I'm here to let you know[br]you've been practicing.

0:13:45.964,0:13:47.964
And for a lot of you, guys,[br]it's game time.

0:13:48.313,0:13:49.832
It's game time.

0:13:49.833,0:13:53.649
So now, I'm in the club;[br]and I'm performing there.

0:13:53.915,0:13:56.244
This is probably[br]like seven, eight years ago.

0:13:56.245,0:13:57.614
I'm headlining at the club,

0:13:57.615,0:13:59.174
and right before I got on stage,

0:13:59.175,0:14:01.274
I had a change in mindset about comedy.

0:14:01.275,0:14:03.475
Most of the time[br]when a comedian gets onstage,

0:14:03.492,0:14:05.197
he wants to get laughs from people.

0:14:05.198,0:14:06.927
And I felt a shift take place:

0:14:06.928,0:14:09.497
Instead of going up there[br]to get laughs from people,

0:14:09.498,0:14:12.537
I felt like I was supposed[br]to give them an opportunity to laugh.

0:14:12.538,0:14:14.727
I did a little prayer,[br]and I clearly felt like

0:14:14.728,0:14:16.969
I was supposed to give[br]an opportunity to laugh.

0:14:16.970,0:14:18.229
This changed everything.

0:14:18.230,0:14:19.989
Because now I'm not looking to take;

0:14:19.990,0:14:22.169
I'm simply looking for[br]an opportunity to give.

0:14:22.170,0:14:24.829
This is why we go to homeless shelters[br]and these places.

0:14:24.830,0:14:27.149
In fact, that very night[br]when I leave the stage,

0:14:27.150,0:14:28.939
I'm outside, people want autographs,

0:14:28.940,0:14:30.859
we're hanging out taking pictures,

0:14:30.860,0:14:34.199
and I look across the street,[br]and I saw a homeless guy.

0:14:34.200,0:14:37.990
I had never seen a homeless guy[br]outside this club before ever.

0:14:38.271,0:14:40.470
But that doesn't mean[br]he wasn't there before.

0:14:40.471,0:14:44.900
That just means before,[br]my mindset was to get laughs from people,

0:14:44.901,0:14:46.461
so why would I even notice him?

0:14:46.634,0:14:49.383
But now I changed my mindset,[br]and I see this homeless guy,

0:14:49.384,0:14:51.376
and I have the thought, "What about him?

0:14:51.377,0:14:53.593
How could I give him[br]an opportunity to laugh?"

0:14:53.594,0:14:56.503
And that's when we started doing[br]homeless shelters and prisons

0:14:56.504,0:15:00.504
and making laughter commonplace[br]in non-common places.

0:15:01.389,0:15:03.869
So now, as a result of doing that,

0:15:05.553,0:15:08.393
we went to this one place,[br]we went to Montrose, Colorado.

0:15:09.261,0:15:12.928
It's an abuse facility for children[br]who were being abused by their parents.

0:15:12.929,0:15:14.678
And I'm hearing all these stories,

0:15:14.679,0:15:16.918
and this grandmother told us[br]about her grandson

0:15:16.919,0:15:20.018
who was so afraid of his mom[br]who's on drugs and been abusing him.

0:15:20.019,0:15:23.418
One of the things she's been doing[br]is she was pulling out his toenails.

0:15:23.419,0:15:24.680
So I hear this story,

0:15:24.999,0:15:27.428
and they bring all these kids inside.

0:15:27.429,0:15:29.058
And Spiderman is sitting right up.

0:15:29.059,0:15:30.988
This little boy is so afraid of his mom,

0:15:30.989,0:15:33.275
everywhere he goes,[br]he wears a Spiderman costume.

0:15:33.371,0:15:35.390
He's sitting right up front at the show.

0:15:35.391,0:15:38.109
If my mindset was still[br]to get laughs from people,

0:15:38.110,0:15:40.509
there's no way I would've been able[br]to do the show.

0:15:40.510,0:15:42.750
But my mindset changed;

0:15:43.220,0:15:45.660
so now, I have to do the show.

0:15:46.023,0:15:47.312
So I get up on stage,

0:15:47.313,0:15:49.712
and people start laughing[br]slowly but surely.

0:15:49.713,0:15:52.512
Twenty minutes in it,[br]I hear a voice come from right here,

0:15:52.513,0:15:54.672
and the voice says, "My name is Ronan.”

0:15:54.673,0:15:56.592
And this little boy pulls off his mask,

0:15:56.593,0:15:58.693
introduces himself to me.

0:15:59.363,0:16:01.653
And I can't even tell you[br]what it meant to me.

0:16:01.696,0:16:03.965
He started talking to me[br]for like nine minutes,

0:16:03.966,0:16:06.205
like I wasn't doing[br]a comedy show at the time.

0:16:06.206,0:16:07.863
(Laughter)

0:16:07.933,0:16:10.113
But it was all because I made this shift.

0:16:11.171,0:16:12.550
I made this change,

0:16:12.551,0:16:13.680
and I say it simply.

0:16:13.681,0:16:14.970
Instead of trying to get,

0:16:14.971,0:16:17.450
I'm going to see if there's[br]an opportunity to give.

0:16:17.451,0:16:19.000
If you can make this adjustment,

0:16:19.001,0:16:20.860
it will change your life for the good.

0:16:20.861,0:16:21.930
If you're a mechanic,

0:16:21.931,0:16:24.050
you may think[br]you get paid to fix vehicles.

0:16:24.051,0:16:25.540
But if you can make this shift,

0:16:25.541,0:16:29.150
you will recognize you help people[br]reach their desired destination.

0:16:29.151,0:16:32.061
That will put your alarm clock[br]out of business.

0:16:32.528,0:16:33.567
My senses are

0:16:33.568,0:16:36.668
there's a lot of people out there[br]still hitting the snooze button.

0:16:37.491,0:16:38.740
Before I bounce

0:16:38.741,0:16:40.770
- bounce means to vacate the premises -

0:16:40.771,0:16:42.010
(Laughter)

0:16:42.011,0:16:44.181
I’d like to explain to you how life works,

0:16:44.531,0:16:46.871
at least from a comedian’s perspective.

0:16:47.760,0:16:49.330
First, there's a setup,

0:16:50.285,0:16:51.944
and then there's a punchline.

0:16:51.945,0:16:55.434
Your setup is your talents,[br]your resources, and your opportunities.

0:16:55.435,0:16:57.444
And most of the time, we use our setup

0:16:57.445,0:17:02.274
to ensure that the people around us[br]are moving in a direction that serves us.

0:17:02.275,0:17:03.864
Which means the punchline occurs

0:17:03.865,0:17:06.904
when you change that direction[br]in a way they're not expecting.

0:17:06.905,0:17:09.834
You actually use your setup[br]for other people.

0:17:09.835,0:17:13.444
The results are the same, yet multiply:[br]revelation, fulfillment, and joy.

0:17:13.444,0:17:16.394
But it's not just for the one[br]receiving your punch line;

0:17:16.395,0:17:19.565
it is absolutely for you[br]as you deliver the punch line.

0:17:20.618,0:17:23.877
In fact, if I ask the question[br]to everyone here, everyone watching,

0:17:23.878,0:17:25.679
if I ask you this question,

0:17:26.698,0:17:29.548
"How many people here[br]know what your setup is?"

0:17:30.347,0:17:32.347
Every one of you would be able to tell me.

0:17:32.430,0:17:35.399
Because your setup is the fact[br]that you have a house, a car,

0:17:35.400,0:17:37.309
you've been married, you went to school.

0:17:37.310,0:17:39.283
Your setup is about what you've received.

0:17:39.284,0:17:43.444
But what if I asked the question,[br]"What is your punchline?”

0:17:44.314,0:17:48.203
Because your punchline is about[br]what you’re called to deliver.

0:17:48.204,0:17:50.933
And if you only know your setup[br]and not your punchline,

0:17:50.934,0:17:54.743
you'll make the mistake[br]of trying to add more setup.

0:17:54.744,0:17:56.783
"If I could just get another degree,"

0:17:56.784,0:17:58.323
"if I could just get married,"

0:17:58.324,0:17:59.823
"if I could just lose weight,"

0:17:59.824,0:18:03.294
but what you really need[br]is to know your punchline.

0:18:04.547,0:18:06.846
Because to know your setup[br]and not your punchline

0:18:06.847,0:18:08.537
is an uncomfortable place to live.

0:18:08.962,0:18:10.712
Let me give you an example.

0:18:11.059,0:18:15.209
How many people are still thinking about[br]the story of me and the CEO on stage?

0:18:17.159,0:18:19.978
The reason all you guys are[br]still thinking about that story

0:18:19.979,0:18:22.079
is because all you have is the setup;

0:18:23.115,0:18:24.984
you don't have the punchline.

0:18:24.985,0:18:26.605
Yet, we've moved on

0:18:27.035,0:18:29.695
and allowed ourselves to be entertained

0:18:30.605,0:18:33.414
like there wasn't something missing.

0:18:33.415,0:18:37.414
So we'll go to a comedy show,[br]or a football game, or a concert

0:18:37.415,0:18:40.105
even though there's something missing.

0:18:40.475,0:18:43.295
And that's just the story[br]I told you ten minutes ago.

0:18:43.745,0:18:45.635
What about your story?

0:18:46.273,0:18:50.083
You've been living it your entire life,[br]and if all you know is the setup,

0:18:50.221,0:18:51.490
and not the punchline,

0:18:51.491,0:18:53.626
you’re living in an uncomfortable place.

0:18:53.627,0:18:54.796
And please be clear.

0:18:54.797,0:18:57.226
Just like when I had[br]a hard time reading as a child,

0:18:57.227,0:18:59.496
your setbacks are part of your setup

0:18:59.497,0:19:02.301
so you can deliver the punchline[br]you’re called to deliver.

0:19:02.936,0:19:06.006
Much like a slingshot,[br]the further you've been set back,

0:19:06.489,0:19:08.699
the further you're going to reach.

0:19:09.665,0:19:11.345
But what are you going to aim for?

0:19:12.859,0:19:15.107
Everyone has a setup,

0:19:15.617,0:19:17.497
and everyone has a punchline.

0:19:18.477,0:19:20.307
You need to find your punchline

0:19:20.936,0:19:21.936
and deliver it.

0:19:22.316,0:19:23.425
I'm Michael Jr.

0:19:23.426,0:19:24.485
I love you.

0:19:24.486,0:19:25.645
(Applause)

0:19:25.646,0:19:26.755
Thank you guys.

0:19:26.756,0:19:28.007
Aw, you guys are awesome.

0:19:28.008,0:19:29.017
Standing ovation!

0:19:29.018,0:19:30.067
Thank you so much.

0:19:30.068,0:19:31.118
Thank you, thank you!

0:19:31.119,0:19:33.378
(Applause)

0:19:33.379,0:19:34.693
Get up, dude! You too!

0:19:34.694,0:19:35.750
I'm just playing.

0:19:35.751,0:19:36.773
Thank you.

0:19:36.774,0:19:38.346
(Applause)