Jerry Seinfeld’s Productivity Secret

Success in you music career depends on you staying focused on the most important tasks that need to get done. Musicians’ multi-task daily. It is easy to get off track and spend time on tasks that won't get your career going. Decide each morning what the most important tasks are for that day. Start with these tasks and don't switch tasks until they get done.

When Brad Isaac told us he had productivity advice from Jerry Seinfeld, we couldn't turn down the chance to hear more. Read on for the whole story from Brad.

Years ago when Seinfeld was a new television show, Jerry Seinfeld was still a touring comic. At the time, I was hanging around clubs doing open mic nights and trying to learn the ropes. One night I was in the club where Seinfeld was working, and before he went on stage, I saw my chance. I had to ask Seinfeld if he had any tips for a young comic. What he told me was something that would benefit me a lifetime...

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 revealed a unique calendar system he uses to pressure himself to write. Here's how it works.

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.

Over the years I've used his technique in many different areas. I've used it for exercise, to learn programming, to learn network administration, to build successful websites and build successful businesses.

It works because it isn't the one-shot pushes that get us where we want to go, it is the consistent daily action that builds extraordinary outcomes. You may have heard "inch by inch anything's a cinch." Inch by inch does work if you can move an inch every day.

Daily action builds habits. It gives you practice and will make you an expert in a short time. If you don't break the chain, you'll start to spot opportunities you otherwise wouldn't. Small improvements accumulate into large improvements rapidly because daily action provides "compounding interest."

Skipping one day makes it easier to skip the next.

I've often said I'd rather have someone who will take action—even if small—every day as opposed to someone who swings hard once or twice a week. Seinfeld understands that daily action yields greater benefits than sitting down and trying to knock out 1000 jokes in one day.

Think for a moment about what action would make the most profound impact on your life if you worked it every day. That is the action I recommend you put on your Seinfeld calendar. Start today and earn your big red X. And from here on out...

Don't break the chain!

Brad Isaac is a lead software programmer and blogger. You can read his motivational strategies every day on his goal setting blog, Achieve-IT!

Seven Minutes A Day to A More Successful Music Career

As an independent artist it is so important to run your career like a business because that’s what it is a business. At the first of every week create a working calendar that gives you a clear picture of haw you want your week to be structured. Outline the people you wish to contact and the campaigns you want to focus on list 5 things that you want to complete before lunch, then execute your plan do what you say you will do.

I read a great book that helps you put this all together so if you want to be different tomorrow than you are today… If you believe deep down that you can be thinner, richer, smarter, and more productive, more organized and in better shape… If you’re ready to accomplish major changes in your life starting right now – today – then you need to pick up a copy of The Seven Minute Difference.

In her book The Seven Minute Difference Lewis motivates readers to grow through micro-actions that can be completed in as little as seven minutes. According to Lewis, small efforts, such as making two extra sales calls, having a daily action plan, reading ten pages of a book per day, or getting up 15 minutes earlier can make the difference between mediocrity and excellence.

“Amazing changes can occur in the most surprisingly small amounts of time,” asserts Lewis. “In just seven minutes, my life changed forever. In this book, I will share exactly what happened to me and how it can happen to you. My book coaches readers to realize their full potential by focusing on four fundamental truths: Change begins to happen the moment you decide to change; you must want to change; you must expect change; you should enjoy the process of change.”

In The Seven Minute Difference, Lewis inspires readers step-by-step to:

• Define a mission and action plan that will support change
• Implement change and keep the momentum going
• Paint the canvas of your life—map out your goals
• Prioritize, organize, and simplify work and life to achieve greater productivity

Lewis’ book stands out from other motivational texts on the shelf through its simple, yet profound lessons, exercises, self assessments, and progress reports. Succinct and easy-to-read, The Seven Minute Difference delivers concrete examples, anecdotes, and sage advice that have helped thousands of executives, sales people, entrepreneurs, and managers transform their lives at work.