an INTERVIEW with...

Daniel Pink in action

DANIEL PINK

Those that know how to laugh and play will rule the 21st Century claims Daniel Pink. Our kind of guy!

Dan, in your book “A Whole New Mind” you argue that strong right-brainers are destined to rule the future. Is this good news for lovers of comedy?

Sure.  But I like to think that loving comedy is its own reward!

You believe we’re moving from the information age to the conceptual age. What do you mean by this and what part will humour play in this new age?

To survive in the world of work today, you have to be able to do something that's hard to outsource, hard to automate, and that delivers on the growing non-material demands (for aesthetics, emotion, meaning, significance, perspective) of a very abundant age.  Play and humor pass this test in a way that many more conventional skills do not. 

Henry Ford is often lauded as a model for business success yet he said “When we are at work we ought to be at work. When we are at play we ought to be at play. There is no use trying to mix the two.” Why is HF’s advice wrong?

Because that kind of workforce was largely about getting people to do what they didn't want to do.  Today's workforce is about putting people into contexts that let them succeed in what they want to do.  The abilities that matter most today -- hard-to-outsource, hard-to-automate abilities such as design, storytelling, empathy, and so on -- are things people actually enjoy doing.  It's a fact of human existnce that laughter and playfulness are pretty good evidence of enjoyment.

Hypothetical: I’m applying for a job at a major corporation. Do I place “able to fully experience and express joy” on my resume? If so, why?

That depends on the company and the job.  It might be a good conversation starter and an intriguing differentiator.  On the other hand, the interview could think you're some kind of freak show.  The broader point is more important:   These sorts of qualities are better shown than told.   Anybody who tells me, "Hey, Dan, I'm funny," I know is not. 

Hey Dan, I'm ...moving on to my next question...

On one of your website posts you present a delightful quote from a Hilary Clinton type character on Saturday Night Live: "Knowing what we know now, that you could vote against the war and still be elected president, I would never have pretended to support it.”

You then write “Remember: comedy is often the most accurate early warning system in politics.” What warning does comedy have for us right now?

Great question.  That's something our leaders ought to explore. Most of the messages aren't all that surprising.  For instance, American comedy programs refer to the Iraq War as Mess-o-potemia.   But the jokes about Hillary Clinton are a good sign of some of the issues that will dog her during the campaign and could ultimately be her undoing.

Do you have a favourite right brain engaging gag?

Yes.  A priest, a rabbi, and an iman walk into a bar. The bartender looks at them and says "What is this?  A joke?"

What will happen when right brained humour lovers finally rule the world?

Peace, love, and harmony, of course. 

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