Last time, Charlotte challenged Janelle, who used to perform improv comedy in her spare time, to tell us her best joke. Let’s see what she’s got.

Currently, my best joke comes from my ten-year-old nephew: Why did the boy eat his homework? Because the teacher told him it was a piece of cake!

A perfect joke, no notes. We’ve got word play and dessert wrapped into one. For all of my future comedic endeavors, I’m going to consult him first.

I am challenging myself to learn Italian.‍

In the past year, I’ve taken a handful of classes and listened to lots of audio lessons on walks and long drives. One of my faves is this bite-sized podcast that covers the basics while helping you sound like a local (a girl can dream!). But sadly, I’ve fallen out of the habit and I miss it.

Learning a new language opens up my brain and my world, making me think about grammar and sentence structure in different ways and helping me connect with people when I travel. My plan is to get back to it on a daily basis. Andiamo!

I am challenging my colleagues to wear a different pair of shoes.‍

This is an improv trick that one of my teachers shared. He said if you ever feel like you’re getting into a rut onstage, doing the same bits and characters over and over again, wear a different pair of shoes next time. They’ll change your posture, how you stand, how you walk and feel and move around the stage. It’s an easy way to shake things up and get out of your head.

I’ve found that this trick works in all walks of life. If you’re ever feeling stuck on a project or in need of a creative breakthrough, swap in a rarely worn pair of sneakers or flats. They’ll offer a quick shift in perspective, fresh energy and a dash of different style to boot. 

I am challenging my clients to have fun with us.‍

I hope – and think – many of them already do, and I love that! I want all our clients to know that we welcome it. The brainstorming, the collaboration, the sharing of big ideas and seeing where they take us.

What our clients do is serious work, and we take their success seriously too. But sometimes the best ideas come from those moments when we prioritise a bit of play and leap into the unexpected with an open mind. I want their workshops with us to not only be productive and illuminating, but a highlight of their day because the work was just plain fun.

I am challenging the industry to bring back the jingle.‍

I love jingles, even the ones that get stuck in your head. Jingles offer a unique challenge to brands: define your key messages in a short amount of time and put it to a tune, one that reflects your brand’s personality.

Is your brand bouncy and upbeat? Moody and thoughtful? Calm and warm? Music offers another dimension of brand exploration that can lead to rich places, perhaps especially for B2B brands that have yet to really go down this road. A sonic logo is fine, but a jingle – now that tells a story.

I am challenging you to strike up a conversation with a stranger.‍

It feels like so much of life is lived online now, even in public spaces. I include myself in this when I say it’s easy to stick to your bubble and pull out your phone to pass the time.

So next time you’re at a coffee shop or pub, taking the train or waiting in line for a show, keep your phone in your pocket. Resist putting it between yourself and the people around you, and see what happens. It doesn’t have to be anything big, just a quick exchange that reminds us that we’re here and we’re human.

I am challenging James, whose level-headed wisdom guides our team at The Frameworks every day, to share his top three pieces of advice for someone just entering the industry.

How about it, James?