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10 habits and principles for sustained success.
From the legendary writer and comedian Jerry Seinfeld:
From the legendary writer and comedian Jerry Seinfeld:
1/ Systemize
"You've got to treat your brain like a new dog," Seinfeld says. "The mind is infinite in wisdom. The brain is a stupid dog that is easily trained."
The puppy brain is easy to master, he says. "You just have to confine it...through repetition and systematization."
"You've got to treat your brain like a new dog," Seinfeld says. "The mind is infinite in wisdom. The brain is a stupid dog that is easily trained."
The puppy brain is easy to master, he says. "You just have to confine it...through repetition and systematization."
2/ Confront
"If you break the human struggle down to one word," Jerry Seinfeld says, "it's CONFRONT. And so, I approach everything that way."
Confront the hardest task on your to-do list. Confront the problem you're putting off. Confront the workout. Confront the blank page.
"If you break the human struggle down to one word," Jerry Seinfeld says, "it's CONFRONT. And so, I approach everything that way."
Confront the hardest task on your to-do list. Confront the problem you're putting off. Confront the workout. Confront the blank page.
3/ Remove distractions
Seinfeld writes with Bic pens on yellow legal pads.
"When there's no distractions," Seinfeld says, "it enables the brain to feel free and flow. And that's the goal with creativity: to get your brain in a place where it feels free and can flow."
Seinfeld writes with Bic pens on yellow legal pads.
"When there's no distractions," Seinfeld says, "it enables the brain to feel free and flow. And that's the goal with creativity: to get your brain in a place where it feels free and can flow."
4/ Limit your options
"I have a writing session every day," Seinfeld said. "My writing technique is just: You can't do anything else. You don't have to write, but you can't do anything else."
When those are your only options, he said, you write just to keep from being bored.
"I have a writing session every day," Seinfeld said. "My writing technique is just: You can't do anything else. You don't have to write, but you can't do anything else."
When those are your only options, he said, you write just to keep from being bored.
5/ Predetermine the stopping point
When Seinfeld sits down to write, he knows exactly when he's going to stop writing.
Most people sit down to work with an open-ended block of time.
“That’s a ridiculous torture to put on a human being’s head,” Seinfeld said...
When Seinfeld sits down to write, he knows exactly when he's going to stop writing.
Most people sit down to work with an open-ended block of time.
“That’s a ridiculous torture to put on a human being’s head,” Seinfeld said...
“It’s like if you hire a trainer to get in shape, and you ask, ‘How long is the session?’ And he says, ‘It’s open-ended.’ Forget it. I’m not doing it."
The brain needs rewards, Seinfeld says. "And the reward is: the alarm goes off, and you’re done."
The brain needs rewards, Seinfeld says. "And the reward is: the alarm goes off, and you’re done."
6/ Put the ox in the plow
Seinfeld exercises 6 days/week, mainly for the mental benefits.
If you don't stress the body, he says, the mind is easily stressed.
To build mental resilience, "You got to put that ox in the plow, make it do stuff that it doesn’t want to do."
Seinfeld exercises 6 days/week, mainly for the mental benefits.
If you don't stress the body, he says, the mind is easily stressed.
To build mental resilience, "You got to put that ox in the plow, make it do stuff that it doesn’t want to do."
7/ Do what only you can do
Interviewer: have you considered trying dramatic acting?
Seinfeld: No.
I: Why?
S: To what end? I don't think the world needs me to do that. We've got a guy for that. But my thing—only I can do my thing.
Related:
Interviewer: have you considered trying dramatic acting?
Seinfeld: No.
I: Why?
S: To what end? I don't think the world needs me to do that. We've got a guy for that. But my thing—only I can do my thing.
Related:
8/ Accept your mediocrity
If he were to teach a writing class, Seinfeld said,
“I would teach you to learn to accept your mediocrity. You know, no one’s really that great. You know who’s great? The people that just put in a tremendous amount of hours. It’s a game of tonnage."
If he were to teach a writing class, Seinfeld said,
“I would teach you to learn to accept your mediocrity. You know, no one’s really that great. You know who’s great? The people that just put in a tremendous amount of hours. It’s a game of tonnage."
9/ Expect nothing
Before Seinfeld set out to be a comedian, he imagined he'd just be funny enough to afford bread and peanut butter.
“Without realizing it,” he writes, “this attitude is the exact right way to start out in the world of comedy. Expect nothing. Accept anything.”
Before Seinfeld set out to be a comedian, he imagined he'd just be funny enough to afford bread and peanut butter.
“Without realizing it,” he writes, “this attitude is the exact right way to start out in the world of comedy. Expect nothing. Accept anything.”
10/ Just work
When asked the secret to his success, Seinfeld quoted what @katieledecky said after winning 4 gold medals at the Rio Summer Olympics:
"The secret is there is no secret."
"There's nothing you have to know," Seinfeld said. "You just have to work and grind it out."
When asked the secret to his success, Seinfeld quoted what @katieledecky said after winning 4 gold medals at the Rio Summer Olympics:
"The secret is there is no secret."
"There's nothing you have to know," Seinfeld said. "You just have to work and grind it out."
TL;DR
Jerry Seinfeld's 10 habits and principles for sustained success:
Jerry Seinfeld's 10 habits and principles for sustained success:
For more, I recommend:
Seinfeld’s interview on @tferriss’ podcast (tim.blog)
Seinfeld’s book, Is This Anything? (amazon.com)
Seinfeld’s "Pioneers of Television" Interview (m.youtube.com)
Seinfeld’s interview on @tferriss’ podcast (tim.blog)
Seinfeld’s book, Is This Anything? (amazon.com)
Seinfeld’s "Pioneers of Television" Interview (m.youtube.com)
tim.blog/2020/12/08/jer…
Jerry Seinfeld — A Comedy Legend’s Systems, Routines, and Methods for Success (#485) – The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss
Pain is knowledge rushing in to fill a void with great speed. — Jerry Seinfeld Entertainment icon Je...
amazon.com/This-Anything-…
Is This Anything?
Is This Anything?
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