The Tim Ferriss Show

#485: Jerry Seinfeld — A Comedy Legend’s Systems, Routines, and Methods for Success

Dec 8, 2020

In this engaging discussion, comedic legend Jerry Seinfeld shares his insights on the art and process of stand-up comedy. He reveals his disciplined writing routines and how personal experiences fuel his creativity. Seinfeld emphasizes the importance of structured systems for productivity, illustrating how routines can combat emotional challenges in the creative process. With reflections on resilience and the evolution of his career, he offers a fascinating look into the life of a successful comedian and the balance of creativity and performance.

01:24:57

Episode guests

Jerry Seinfeld

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Quick takeaways

Jerry Seinfeld's failure at the Comedy Store fueled his determination and ultimately led to his success.

Routine is crucial for Seinfeld, helping him manage his depression and accomplish his goals.

Seinfeld advises writers to reward themselves, systemize their writing sessions, and confront their own flaws and limitations.

Deep dives

Overcoming Failure and Finding Success

Jerry Seinfeld shares about one of his favorite failures early in his career. He moved to LA after building a good reputation in New York, but struggled to get spots at the Comedy Store, the top club in LA. Even after meeting with the owner, Mitzi Shore, she told him she would give spots to someone else. Seinfeld never worked at the Comedy Store again and had to start from scratch, performing at small venues to just a handful of people. However, this failure fueled his resentment and drive to prove himself, ultimately leading him to find success.

How Long Have You Chosen for Your Writing?

02:45

Finding the Rhythm of Performance

01:21

Embrace the Challenge and Find Balance

02:44

Master the Art of Writing to Survive

02:44

Intro

5min

Exploring Inspirations and Personal Values

3min

The Art and Process of Stand-Up Comedy

21min

Creating Effective Systems for Productivity and Creativity

5min

Mastering Creativity Through Routine and Feedback

15min

Navigating Creativity and Resilience

17min

Strength and Success: A Journey through Comedy and Fitness

16min

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

6min

Entertainment icon Jerry Seinfeld’s (@jerryseinfeld) comedy career took off after his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1981. Eight years later, he teamed up with fellow comedian Larry David to create what was to become the most successful comedy series in the history of television: Seinfeld. The show ran on NBC for nine seasons, winning numerous Emmy, Golden Globe, and People’s Choice awards, and was named the greatest television show of all time in 2009 by TV Guide and in 2012 was identified as the best sitcom ever in a 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll.

Seinfeld made his Netflix debut with the original stand-up special Jerry Before Seinfeld along with his Emmy-nominated and critically acclaimed web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, which has garnered over 100 million views, and which the New York Times describes as “impressively complex and artful” and Variety calls “a game-changer.” His latest stand-up special, 23 Hours to Kill, was released by Netflix earlier this year.

He is also the author of Is This Anything? which features his best work across five decades in comedy.

Please enjoy!

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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.