Laugh, Lead, Repeat: The Jester Wisdom That Changed My Grumpy Morning (Over Coffee & a Smile)

This morning (16th Apr 2025) was one of those mornings. You know — the ones where traffic turns into a lifestyle, not just a delay. Thanks to the arrival of the President of China in Malaysia, the roads were practically doing a nationwide parade. A colleague of mine told me she was trapped for 2.5 hours. I nodded... me too, sis. Southern Selangor aka Putrajaya was jammed beyond belief, and my mood? Let’s just say it was dangerously close to “permanent scowl mode.”

Halfway through my journey, I gave up, parked my car, and hopped on public transport. My grumpy morning needed a serious reset. And that's when something unexpected — and kind of beautiful — happened.

I ran into a professional I’ve worked with before — someone I deeply respect. Not just a casual acquaintance, but someone I see as a mentor. We bumped into each other (literally), and instead of giving each other the typical “ugh, traffic kan…” face, he bought me coffee. COFFEE. That simple gesture flipped a switch. We chatted all the way to the MRT, and even inside it — and what started as small talk turned into a mind-opening ride. And yes, I was smiling the entire time—no scowl mode here!

He introduced me to a concept I won’t forget: The Court Jester.

Nope, not just the medieval clown with bells on his hat. The real Court Jester is someone powerful. Someone who can say what others won’t. They make people laugh — but within the laughter lies truth, bravery, and boldness. They challenge norms with charm. They’re witty, but also real. They’re leaders who don’t need a podium — just their voice, and maybe a little "selamba" swagger.

It’s that authenticity—the kind you can’t fake—that naturally draws people to them.That was another meaningful insight we explored together. A thoughtful one, as always.

In fact, they become magnetic. They make us laugh, think, reflect, and feel seen. Even in politics, court jester-like figures speak what’s unspeakable. Sometimes people laugh at them… until they realize — oops — the jester just changed the whole game with a “silly” truth bomb.

But here’s the catch — even the boldest jester needs a good partner-in-crime. Someone who can help bring out their best, who supports without controlling, and who challenges without crushing. It’s a two-way thing. Imagine if your doubts were swapped with confidence, and your weaknesses met with someone else’s strength. Suddenly, you’re becoming someone stronger, bolder — someone you never imagined you could be.

History agrees. Think of Will Sommers, the jester who stuck by King Henry VIII. Another one is Stańczyk, he was a 16th-century Polish court jester known not just for humor, but for his sharp political insight. Serving King Sigismund I, he used wit and satire to speak truth to power, often addressing serious matters disguised as jokes. Far from a simple fool, he became a symbol of wisdom in disguise—like a “truth police” in a jester’s hat. He remains a cultural icon representing how humor can reveal deep truths and challenge authority. They were truth-tellers, mentors in disguise.

It made me reflect on my own role — as a Project Manager and Team Manager.

Sure, some may call me a little “clannish.” But here’s the truth: when I find a great team, I’ll fight to work with them again and again. Because I know — with a solid, trusted project team, 60% of the job is already DONE. The rest? It’s just execution, coffee, and deadlines.

The Court Jester is also a servant leader. They don’t just lead from the front — they serve, they listen, they create alongside others. And when you have that kind of energy in your team — honest, selamba, sincere — you don’t just deliver projects. You create impact. You build legacies. You bring real value to the people and the society around you.

So here’s to embracing a little Court Jester Energy.

i. To being brave, being funny, being yourself.

ii. To being less grumpy, more selamba.

iii. To letting your coffee come with a side of wisdom and a mentor’s smile.

iv. To building empires with your team, your people, your community.

And to my mentor — thank you. Your words were exactly what I needed this morning. A coffee with a side of clarity.

He totally made my day. 💥

Somewhere in our conversation, I casually asked if I could share a little bit of what we talked about in my next write-up. His reaction? Pure surprise—"Eh, you write??" 😲

Yep—dia tak sangka I’m the one who’s always scribbling thoughts, turning random moments into stories, and putting them out there for the world to read. That little twist caught him off guard in the best way.

But then, just as I was about to mentally cast him as the main character in my next piece, he said (politely but firmly): "Please don’t feature me in your newsletter." 😂

And I totally respected that. I always ask first, consent and kindness go hand-in-hand in storytelling. But now he knows… the quiet ones? We write.

And I negotiated to share the story, especially for me to remember, and he said, Don't quote my name in there. But please write and share, this is also the "pahala jariah" for both of us. LOL!

At the end, as we hope the path will cross again, we keep laughing as we promise to, leading, and delivering — even if we sometimes wear bells on our hats. #CourtJesterEnergy

#LeadershipWithHeart

#SelambaWithPurpose

#ProjectPeoplePower

#CoffeeAndClarity

#SHHwrites #Storytellingtime