Corporate comedian and business humorist Greg Schwem attended the 2016 Masters in Augusta, Georgia. Here is his report: There are certain phrases in life one never expects to hear. Among them: “The IRS made an error in your favor.” “The Kardashians have quit social media.” “This Donald Trump rally is so peaceful.” “Welcome to the…
DetailsAs a business comedian, Greg Schwem flies over 100,000 miles per year The two women strolled down the plane’s aisle fully “babied up,” my catchphrase for anyone traveling by air with an infant. One woman held their son, who I estimated to be about three months old, while her partner carried all the trappings so…
DetailsRecently I found myself in Del Mar, a picturesque California seaside town north of San Diego and the first location mentioned in the Beach Boys classic, “Surfin USA.” You’d catch ’em surfin’ at Del Mar, Ventura County Line … I wasn’t looking for frothy waves to ride; instead I just needed gas for my rental…
DetailsI pressed the “advanced” button on the computer screen outside my health club’s cycling studio. Unable to join a live cycling class due to time constraints, I opted to try the recently installed Wexer Virtual exercise platform. I could have chosen to virtually cycle through Trossachs, Scotland, Patterdale, England or other exotic locations displayed on…
DetailsThe Facebook post began with a happy tone. At 6:30 a.m., I needed a dose of chipper to start my day. “To all our dear, dear friends…” The entry was from a California woman I had friended after a single business-related encounter in 2009, when Facebook was in its infancy and it was considered the norm…
DetailsThe big White House grandfather clock, or the iPhone depending on how President Obama keeps track of time, is ticking down on the commander-in-chief’s final year in office. And speculation abounds over the items on his to-do list. Close Guantanamo, change federal sentencing mandates, end the civil war in Syria, appoint a new Supreme Court…
DetailsLately my dog has been spending a lot of time watching CNN. This is not by choice; she is not an avid cable television news viewer, although she has been known to snarl any time Don Lemon appears onscreen. Her viewing habits consist of incessant barking whenever a commercial airs featuring a dog of any…
DetailsIt was kept hush-hush but several months ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook lay on an emergency room gurney, holding a compress to his head. The lump on his temple bore a stark reminder of that unfortunate treadmill mishap. A physician glanced at Cook’s chart before offering a slight smile. “You got very lucky, Mr. Cook,”…
DetailsGreg Schwem is a corporate comedian, humorous business speaker and professional host for the business world. This blog is one in an occasional series about his profession. Would you ever approach Jordan Spieth at the Masters and say, “Mind if I hit this drive for you?” Or knock on the cockpit door as the pilots…
DetailsGreg Schwem is a corporate comedian and syndicated humor columnist whose work appears weekly in the Chicago Tribune and the Huffington Post The personal trainer looked me up and down, mentally taking notes before deciding what my body could handle over a one-hour session, the first of three. “Not only will we be exercising but we’ll…
DetailsConfusion briefly reigned in the publishing world last week when reports surfaced that Penthouse magazine, a purveyor of sex and nudity for more than 50 years, would cease its print edition. Or would it? Penthouse officials quickly backtracked, saying accounts of its print demise had been exaggerated due to a poorly worded press release touting…
DetailsThe party was in full swing by the time my Uber driver pulled up to the non-descript Chicago supper club on West Kinzie Street, appropriately named Untitled. I shook off the sub-zero wind chill, eventually made it through the registration line and prepared to enter the cavernous open area known as the Whiskey Room, where…
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