Funny business: Why humor is the unsung hero of real estate survival

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Look, sometimes this market, this business, even, can mess with your head. One minute, you’re riding high on multiple offers. The next, you’re refreshing your CRM like it owes you money. Add in economic uncertainty, client curveballs and an inbox full of “just checking ins,” and you’ve got a recipe for burnout with a side of self-doubt.

That’s where your most underrated (and underutilized) business tool comes in: humor.

Not sarcasm. Not fake-it-‘til-you-make-it platitudes. I’m talking about real, gut-level, perspective-resetting, endorphin-releasing laughter. The kind that reminds you you’re human, your clients are human, and not every obstacle requires an Advil and a spreadsheet.

If I sound passionate about this, it’s because I am. Before I ever became a real estate coach or speaker, I trained as a professional actor and stand-up comic. I’ve spent decades studying the science of smiling, humor and human connection — not just because it’s fun, but because it’s healing. It works.

In fact, I wrote a whole book on it: How to Design a Life Worth Smiling About. Because I truly believe that a life worth smiling about starts with choosing to find joy — even in the chaos. Especially in the chaos.

So, let’s talk about how humor isn’t just a mood booster — it’s a business booster, especially when the market gets lean.

Humor is stress relief with a punchline

Real estate is a roller coaster — and not the fun kind with cotton candy at the end. It’s more like the rickety wooden one that makes your knees buckle and your lunch questionable. Humor is what helps you hang on. It lowers cortisol, resets your nervous system, and creates space between you and your stress. That space? That’s where your best thinking lives.

Happy agents = magnetic agents

No one wants to work with an agent who’s wound tighter than a listing agreement. Your energy sets the tone for your client’s experience — and humor makes you relatable, trustworthy, and unforgettable. It helps people feel safe, even in the middle of a bidding war or a blown appraisal.

It’s the best icebreaker (and business-saver)

Whether you’re meeting a new client, calming a nervous seller or navigating the awkward “Why is there a stuffed raccoon in this living room?” moment — humor is your best bet. It’s disarming. It’s real. And it builds trust faster than any scripted pitch ever will.

Laughter fights burnout (and wins)

Let’s talk numbers: 89 percent of workers reported burnout in the past year. Agents? We’re probably at 110 percent. This business will chew up your enthusiasm if you’re not actively protecting it. Laughing isn’t frivolous — it’s fuel. It’s how you stay in the game without losing your mind.

Perspective is everything

When a transaction falls through or your buyer ghosts you for the fifth time, it’s easy to spiral. Humor helps you zoom out. It keeps you from making it personal, keeps you grounded and reminds you that this moment — no matter how frustrating — isn’t forever.

Humor is a communication superpower

Tension during negotiations? Humor helps you redirect it. Clients second-guessing your advice? A little levity can help them breathe. Used with care (and always appropriately), humor shows leadership, humanity, and confidence. It’s what turns you from “just another agent” into their agent.

Laughing unlocks creative problem-solving

Humor and creativity live in the same part of the brain. When you’re laughing, you’re accessing more innovative thinking. That next-level listing strategy? That “why didn’t I think of that sooner” solution? It’s probably waiting on the other side of a good laugh.

So, how do you stay funny when nothing’s funny?

Good question. Here’s how I coach agents through it:

1. Reconnect with your WHY: You didn’t get into this business to be stressed 24/7. Whether it was to help people, build wealth or prove something to yourself — get back in touch with that mission.
2. Collect the comedy: Keep a “laugh file.” Funny showing stories. Awkward listing moments. Bizarre client questions. Share them with your team. Your future self will thank you.
3. Take yourself a little less seriously: Yes, this is serious work — but you’re allowed to smile through it. When you drop the keys, forget a lockbox code or trip over a welcome mat … laugh. Clients won’t remember the fumble — they’ll remember how you handled it.
4. Create a fun-first culture: Whether it’s your team, your brokerage or your social feed — surround yourself with people (and posts) that bring joy. Positivity is a business asset. Make sure you’ve got plenty of it.

The punchline

When I say, “design a life worth smiling about,” I don’t mean slap on a fake grin and power through. I mean, choose joy where you can. Choosing to be the kind of person who lightens a room — not just with expertise, but with empathy and a little humor, too.

This market is tough. Clients are on edge. Your energy, your presence and your ability to find the funny matters.

So go ahead — crack an (appropriate) joke. Share the story. Let the smile show up in your conversations. Because when the market gets lean, the agents who keep laughing? They’re the ones who stay standing.