From Circus Tent to Jet Fighter: How Humor Sparks Creativity

Discover How a Team of Engineers Used Humor to Build the World's Fastest Planes

In the midst of World War II, the U.S. Army's Air Tactical Service Command (ATSC) approached Lockheed Aircraft Corporation with an urgent request - they needed a jet fighter that could counter the rapidly advancing German jet technology.

The ATSC gave Lockheed a daunting challenge - deliver the fighter in just 180 days, with the requirement that it can fly at 500 mph, 100 mph faster than anything the Army Air Corps had at the time.

To make matters worse, Lockheed had no available floor space for the project, as all their facilities were operating around the clock.

Where did Kelly Johnson’s team work from? A rented circus tent.

Inspired by Al Capp's popular comic strip "Li'l Abner," where a mysterious factory called the "Skonk Works" produced a foul odor, one of the engineers humorously dubbed their workplace the "Skunk Works."

As a joke, the engineers even began answering the phone "Skunk Works!" whenever it rang. And despite initial protests from Johnson, the name stuck, and the Lockheed team delivered the XP-80 Shooting Star jet fighter in just 143 days, seven fewer than required.

As a team that had to work through several complex challenges (like developing the world’s first operational stealth aircraft) humor became a coping mechanism and a source of inspiration. For example, when faced with seemingly insurmountable problems - like invisibility - engineers would jokingly come up with outlandish, impossible solutions. This playful approach often led to unexpected, innovative ideas that could be refined and applied practically.

This technique is also known as the "Worst Possible Idea" method where participants deliberately generate the most ridiculous or impractical ideas they can think of. This approach not only alleviates pressure but also fosters creativity by allowing team members to express themselves freely without the fear of criticism.

Weird and the wacky ideas are good for work, who knew!?

Well, me. And now… you.

It is easy to read stories such as this one and feel a dose of skepticism, it feels too “out there,” too childish even. Work is supposed to be serious after all. But I want to remind you that this team developed the U-2, SR-71 Blackbird, F-117 Nighthawk, F-22 Raptor, and F-35 Lightning II, the latter being used in the air forces of several countries. These aren't just paper airplanes with cool names; they're the real deal, zipping through the skies with enough advanced technology to make your head spin. So, while humor might seem frivolous, it can also be serious business, especially seriously good for creativity.

And I understand that in today's fast-paced, high-pressure work environment, it's easy to fall into the trap of taking everything too seriously. Deadlines loom, targets seem insurmountable, and the pressure to perform can be overwhelming. But intentionally sprinkling humor throughout your day can be a game-changer, life-changer, work-changer.

If you’re ready to dive into the how, there are many ways in which you can incorporate humor at work, alongside The Funny Thing About That, I regularly post humor tips on Instagram, I’ve written a few books, launched a few courses and held a few workshops on the topic. The question isn’t so much “how to incorporate humor” but “are you ready” to do it?

It's easy to dismiss humor as unprofessional or inappropriate in a serious work setting, but incorporating humor can be a powerful tool for breaking down barriers, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, and building a resilient, cohesive team.

What about you? Have you ever used humor to solve a problem or spark creativity in your workplace? Share your funniest and most innovative moments in the comments below!