Recently lifehacker ran a post about how they stumbled on Jerry Seinfeld’s productivity secret, the secret hack that he used to become a better writer on their website. Find it here.
He said the way to be a better comic was to create better jokes and the way to create better jokes was to write every day. But his advice was better than that. He had a gem of a leverage technique he used on himself and you can use it to motivate yourself - even when you don’t feel like it.
He then revealed a unique calendar system he was using pressure himself to write.
Here’s how it worked.
He told me to get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker.
He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. “After a few days you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain.”
“Don’t break the chain.” He said again for emphasis.
The moment I finished reading it, I was stunned how Jerry Seinfeld, a great comic had a method to the brilliant madness that he creates. The concept grabbed me and probably a million others.
Why? For the following reasons:
- Its utterly simple. No rocket science.
Easy to follow.
Immediate results/feedback. (you didnt do well, when you didnt see that big red X)
I have decided to use it in 2 fronts of my life.
Blogging and Running (more about that in the next post).
Blogging: I am going to try and write 1 post every day. Whenever I write a post, I will put that big red X. I am going to use the Calendar on the right as my guide. If you see the calendar, the day there was a post, the date on the calendar will have a link. My goal is to make each date on the calendar a link. As simple as that.
Running: I am going to start running from this day on. Its a habit I am willing to inculcate. But now, my fitness levels are very low. I will be writing a series of posts where I will be tracking my running/fitness.
Are there any online tools that will help you achieve the Seinfeldian Chain? Yes.
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