Harvard Medical, My (eventually) faulty heart needs you to reopen
Imagine undergoing an operation and seeing not a team of medical personnel, but a lone physician staring down at you. While trying to connect to a Zoom meeting.
Greg Schwem
Greg Schwem is a corporate comedian and keynote speaker who the Chicago Tribune calls "the king of the hill in corporate comedy." After graduating from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and working as an NBC reporter, Greg switched careers in 1989 to bring clean, intelligent humor to the business world.Today, he performs for Fortune 500 companies worldwide, including Microsoft, McDonald's, AT&T, and Oracle. Greg customizes every performance by researching company culture and industry challenges, earning him the HuffPost title of "your boss's favorite comedian."He's also a nationally syndicated Chicago Tribune humor columnist, three-time bestselling author, and Telly Award-winning host of the travel series A Comedian Crashes Your Pad. His latest book, Turning Gut Punches into Punch Lines, shares how he used humor to navigate divorce and cancer.Greg's philosophy is simple: laughter isn't just entertainment, it's an essential tool for building resilience and handling life's challenges, both in and out of the workplace.
In a Post- Pandemic World, I Am your Elevator Operator From Hell
Several columns ago, I wrote about the need to, after 30 years, toss my resume into the job pool due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While I have yet to receive any employment offers, I have identified a new career path,…
We Know that Photo is From the Pandemic
The ongoing stay-at-home order has forced most of us to seek amusement by posting photos of ourselves from bygone eras to our social media accounts. “Share your high school senior picture” was trending last week; a challenge I was about…
Liam Neeson Will Help Me Find a Job
The COVID-19 crisis and the ensuing “shelter in place” order in Illinois has forced every Schwem family member to either learn new skills or revisit old ones. My oldest daughter assembles timeworn Disney puzzles while she waits to start a…
Hire A Virtual Comedian. I Can Still Hear You Laughing
For 30 years I’ve made my living as a standup comedian. I’ve stood on iconic stages including the Grand Ole Opry and the Chicago Theatre. I’ve gazed out at crowds as large as 10,000 and as small as six. We…
Face it, We Are All Living in One Giant Chipotle
My friend Sam and I recently dined at my neighborhood Chipotle, the fast-ish Mexican food chain that seems to be challenging Starbucks for supremacy in the “How long before you see one?” game. I added the “ish” because, although I…
Time Moves Very Slowly When You’re Fasting
My stomach sounds like a cross between a jackhammer and a slow draining sink. From the next room, I hear my dog chomping away on her breakfast, consisting of the same menu — brown, beef-flavored nuggets — that she consumes…
Yo Disney Mom, I Don’t Have Coronavirus
Yes, we should all take precautions, as, currently, that is the only way to avoid the virus. However, it does not mean we should, not so subtly, move far away from that guy in the hotel elevator just because a pesky nose hair caused him to sneeze between the 15th floor and the lobby.
Hey NFL: Super Bowl Party Hosts Want a Saturday Game Too!
For the past 10 years, or so, my wife and I have hosted the neighborhood for the Big Game. I usually skip church that morning, for my pot of Cincinnati chili requires eight hours of preparation. Instead of listening to my pastor, I listen to Super Bowl pregame, which, conveniently, begins about eight hours before kickoff.
Tell Me About Your Job…in the Worst Way Possible
As America trudged back to work following the 2019 Christmas and New Year’s holidays, I couldn’t help but wonder if anyone did so enthusiastically. Yes, a new year always brings with it an aura of mystery, coupled with excitement about…