My Ted(izatt) Talk: Why Mr. Nobody Finally has Something to Say
I once was a top ranked Wall Street financial anal—yst. I gave credit ratings to mega billion dollar oil and gas companies and recommended investments for investors. CEO’s returned my calls and I hobnobbed with all types of seemingly successful people and wore suits that cost more than my first car. I knew the difference between a forward P/E ratio and a trailing P/E ratio, and I could talk talk talk about investment strategies.
Now?
Now I can’t even buy a pineapple without my wife’s permission. That pretty much sums up the last chapter of my life: success everywhere but the places that matter, which is why I’ve embraced the stage name Mr. Nobody. That, and the fact that whenever I check into a hotel, the clerk inevitably reads my last name—Izatt—and says, "Hello, Mr. Is It?" Yes. It is. But that’s another story for another time. This blog, my own little corner of the massive, endless, timeless internet, is my attempt to be somebody who finally gets his name right, starting with the biggest question: Why comedy?
Why Comedy Matters
My time on Wall Street wasn't just about bonds and bankruptcies; it was a masterclass in hubris. When dealing with wealthy companies that have cool logos and eat dinners with fancy people that seem so in control of the world around them, you feel invincible. But when that world collapses—when the suits and the titles and the supposed control vanish—you learn one profound truth: we are all Mr. Nobody.
That realization was the moment my comedy was born. I thought I had successfully figured life out, but then I realized that I face the same challenges and struggles as everyone else. My comedy has a universal appeal because despite our successes we all must contend with the harsh realities of everyday life.
I have gradually come to understand that the things that truly matter, like getting a pineapple without asking my wife’s permission, are where the real, universal humor lies. I use the stage not to complain, but to connect. My routines about my corporate failures, domestic frustrations or unique observations of day to day life are simply a reminder that we are all figuring this chaotic life out. The failures, the unpronounceable name—they are my tools.
Comedy is humanity’s collective survival mechanism. When I share those humbling, ridiculous moments with an audience, the laughter is the moment we realize we're not alone in our absurd struggles. We're all Nobodies, and that’s the most unifying, hilarious thing about being human.
The Ted(izatt) Talk Mission
On stage, my goal is simple: to make you laugh and to be uplifted by looking at the world in different ways. But I don't always have the time or the space to deliver the bigger message that I truly believe: Comedy is essential because it's a tool for hope.
This Ted(izatt) Talk space is different. This is where we’ll take the absurd observations from my comedy—the frustrating customer service calls, the baffling question of whether or not sunscreen actually helps and the endless pineapple negotiations—and connect them to the bigger, more hopeful picture. We will talk about life in a humorous, enjoyable, and always uplifting way, using all my ridiculous experiences as the roadmap.
Expect random, funny, and insightful posts about everything I encounter, filtered through the eyes of a former Wall Street analyst who learned the hard way that a sense of humor is far more valuable than a P/E ratio.
Join the Conversation
Thank you for reading my very first official "Ted(izatt) Talk." I'm genuinely excited to build this space with you and share the humorous, hopeful perspective I've gained on this ridiculous journey from Wall Street analyst to professional Mr. Nobody.
If I’m going to use this blog to explore the absurdities of life and why comedy is so vital, let’s start together. I want to hear your stories!
What is the most ridiculous, 'Mr. Nobody' moment you’ve experienced recently? Did you fail at something simple? Did someone totally butcher your name? Let me know in the comments below.
P.S. We’re all somebody here, which is why Mr. Nobody doesn't accept anonymous comments. I look forward to reading your stories along with your name so we can get to know each other.
