The Legacy of Jerry Seinfeld

Most of you are likely familiar with the sitcom "Seinfeld." Jerry Seinfeld, co-creator and co-writer of the show, is celebrated as one of Comedy Central's "Top 100 Comedians of All Time." At the peak of his career in 1998, he earned a staggering $267 million in just one year! Such success made him a household name, to the point where NBC was willing to offer him $5 million per episode to continue the show.

While I can hardly fathom earning such a sum, I realize it's tied to the immense dedication required to achieve such heights. What sets Jerry apart is not merely his talent but his extraordinary consistency—a trait we can all cultivate in our own lives.

Contemplating Our Current Situation

If you're reading this, you're seeking change. The first step is to conduct an internal audit—not by looking in a mirror but by reflecting on your aspirations. Picture your goals and consider the type of person who would accomplish them.

For instance, I aspire to be fit and lose weight, and I know that a fit individual prioritizes exercise, maintains a healthy diet, stays active, and demonstrates consistency and patience. Are you doing what it takes to reach your objectives? It’s easy to come up with excuses, but the question remains: Are you genuinely putting in the effort?

We all desire to create, yet we often find ourselves hindered by procrastination. I spent a year and a half waiting for the "perfect moment" to resume my writing. If I hadn't come to the realization that such a moment may never exist, I wouldn't be penning this article now—I would be mired in regret over wasted time.

The Turning Point

I reached a point of self-loathing, frustrated with my inability to carve out even half an hour each day to write. I neglected my health, dreams, and goals, wasting precious moments on television and fiction, all while feeling unhappy and depressed.

That realization was the catalyst for change, and over the past eight months, I've taken significant steps:

• Reading books to enhance my writing and self-esteem.
• Establishing a writing routine.
• Exploring new avenues for growth.
• Engaging in daily physical activity.
• Spending time in quiet reflection.
• Limiting my phone usage to under thirty minutes per day.

Tracking my progress became essential, as I developed plans and held myself accountable for following through.

Introducing the Seinfeld Strategy

This journey began with Brad Isaac, a budding comedian who sought advice from Jerry Seinfeld during a club performance. Seinfeld's advice was clear: to become a better comic, you need to write better jokes, and to write better jokes, you must write every day.

He recommended getting a large wall calendar for the year and marking each day with a big red "X" for every day you complete your writing task. "After a few days, you'll create a chain. Keep going, and the chain will grow longer. Your only job is to avoid breaking that chain."

Defeating Procrastination

In January, I stumbled upon this method, not realizing it had a name. I purchased a calendar (though not the year-at-a-glance type) and began marking the days I completed my tasks. My primary goal was to keep the chain intact.

March proved to be my most productive month, totaling 152 hours of work across my job and personal projects without missing a day. I adjusted my criteria for a successful day to include exercise, reading, writing, and meditation.

To maintain focus, I committed to writing at least 1,000 words daily, exercising for a minimum of 15 minutes, meditating—even if just for one minute—and recording a video for my YouTube channel. Since starting the 66write challenge by Eve Arnold on Twitter, I've aimed to read ten pages a day.

The key is not to quit. Even if I can only manage to write a couple of paragraphs on a tough day, that counts. However, if I have the opportunity to write and don’t, that day doesn't count.

Understanding the Method's Efficacy

To succeed in any field, you must show up consistently, putting forth your best effort. Many people around you may not do this, preferring instead to remain stagnant. Distractions will always arise, and there will never be an ideal moment to start. Thus, it's crucial to visualize your future and take actionable steps toward it.

Initially, the challenge for me was not beginning but rather persisting. Like many, I often lost motivation after a setback. But high achievers bounce back quickly, refocusing on their goals the next day.

This approach works because it emphasizes the process over the outcome. It matters less how poorly I write or how many views my videos receive; what truly counts is that I engage in the practice every day.

Consistency Above All

Start small. Initially, my goal was to write for just 15 minutes daily. Over time, I gradually increased this to a target based on word count. This is especially useful on days when motivation wanes. When I sit down to work, I often find myself continuing beyond my daily quota.

Choose tasks that are simple enough to maintain yet meaningful enough to yield results. Writing alone won't suffice; I must also edit and publish my work. I learned this the hard way when I neglected to publish my writing, resulting in stagnant progress.

Remember, taking action—even in small doses—can lead to significant changes if you share your work with the world. Similarly, if improving my health is the goal, reading about it won't suffice without actual effort. The task must be to exercise.