Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to meet Luke Null, an SNL alum and Eagle Scout, during the Peterloon campout. Luke was the headliner for the closing arena show, but before he took the stage, there was a meet-and-greet scheduled with him in Field 3 at 6:30. I was camped next door in Field 2, and the thought crossed my mind: It would be great to talk to him.
But then, the chickens started squawking.
“There will be too many scouts there, don’t bother him,” one said. “He probably won’t even be there; something must have changed,” another one clucked when campers were told to start heading to the arena at 6:30.
This wasn’t my first time at a 3,000-person campout, and I know all too well how plans can get tangled. So, I thought, Maybe he is still there. Maybe the crowd won’t be too big. I grabbed my son Tom (also an Eagle Scout) and we headed over to Field 3.
Sure enough, Luke was there. And to my surprise, no one was in line to meet him.
So, we walked up and started chatting. Naturally, I asked him about doing stand-up comedy and how he deals with overcoming stage fright with humor. He laughed and admitted, “Well, I had some earlier this week because a lot of my material isn’t scout-appropriate!” (I’d checked out some of his routines before the event, and let’s just say, they are definitely not for a scout crowd—but hilarious nonetheless!)
Luke and I agreed on one thing: once we’re on stage, the chickens disappear. All that fear and doubt gets left behind as soon as we’re in the spotlight, doing what we love. For both of us, overcoming stage fright with humor makes the difference. After our chat, I handed him a rubber chicken (because of course I did), and we both had a good laugh.
By the way, his show that night was both scout-appropriate and incredibly funny.
Lesson Learned: Ignore the Chickens and Go For It
The takeaway from my conversation with Luke Null? Ignore those chickens. Sometimes fear stops us before we even start, but pushing through can lead to amazing experiences—like meeting an SNL comedian and having a great conversation. Overcoming stage fright with humor is possible, and once you get started, you might just find you love it. What “chicken” is holding you back? Maybe it’s time to fry it and see where it takes you.
What’s Next?
I’m gearing up for my next speaking engagement at Project Summit / Business Analyst World in Boston, October 21–23. It’s not too late to register — use the code PHIL when signing up for 25% off! I’ll be sharing how humor can be a powerful tool in leadership and stress management, and I’d love to see you there.
Also, keep an eye out for my upcoming book, Fry Your Chickens! Seven Ways to Get Those Chickens Inside You to Shut the Cluck Up—more details and giveaways soon!