DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY

Hello there 👋

I’m writing you from Penang, Malaysia this week

It’s my first time visiting here and it’s quite nice

It’s giving paradise vibes 🏝️

For my friends back in the States who are shoveling out from the massive storm, be safe!

I’ve been thinking a bit about craft

When I say craft, I’m thinking of makers, artist, designers, potters, painters, surfboard shapers, illustrators, creators

Anything where the craft is rooted in the mind and creativity of the maker

A while back, Harvard Business Review interviewed comedian Jerry Seinfeld

The Seinfeld show ended after a storied nine-year run

Jerry and co-creator Larry David were the masterminds behind the entire series

The Seinfeld show was unconventional in that it operated without a writer’s room

It was just Jerry and Larry who framed out and scripted each episode

It was one of the reasons the show ended

They wanted to end on a high note, but Jerry and Larry were also getting burned out

HBR wanted to know from Jerry if they could have done it differently in a way that might have extended the life of the show

HBR: Why didn’t you try to come up with a more efficient, more sustainable way to make the show? What would McKinsey have said if they came in and said, you know, there’s really a better way to do this, guys?

JERRY SEINFELD: Who’s McKinsey?

HBR: McKinsey’s a big consulting firm.

JERRY SEINFELD: Are they funny?

HBR: They are not funny. They help people–

JERRY SEINFELD: OK, then I don’t need them.

HBR: No interest in efficiency or–

JERRY SEINFELD: No. No. In fact, if you’re efficient, you’re doing it the wrong way. The right way is the hard way. The efficient way is the wrong way.The show was successful because I micromanaged it—every word, every line, every take, every edit, every casting. That’s my way of life.

There are 3 things that I really appreciate about this

1. I like this story because it’s very telling about the process of creation

Creating is nonlinear

You can build a process that fosters creativity. In fact, it’s essential for creation

Writing daily. Painting daily. Singing, sculpting, designing consistently, whatever your craft

The process improves your skill because you are practicing

The process enables the spark, the magic to occur

2. I also like this story because it highlights that there are no shortcuts

As a creator, you have to do the work to get the results

You have to focus on the details

You can’t outsource creativity

It comes from your efforts

The work transforms your idea into something that you can share with the world

3. Jerry Seinfeld is a wealthy man, possibly a billionaire. And yet, every single day he writes comedy

So too are Taylor Swift, Stephen King, Jeff Koons, and Rick Owens. All very rich

These are masters of their craft

The obsession with their work drives them

It’s not about the money

When you are a master of your craft, it’s just what you do

Craft can be one of the hardest things for business people understand, as the HBR interview clearly shows

Business people obsess over repetition, doing more of what works, scaling, making money, eliminating inefficiency

But craft is a different kind of obsession, one that thrives in uncertainty, inefficiency, and exploration

They are not the same

But they need each other

Craft and creativity are necessary for innovation

Businesses die without innovation

The most successful businesses foster the kind of environment where creativity can thrive

CHAD’S ROUND-UP

📚 What I read: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E Frankl- An incredible story of discovering what’s important in life. The writer is a Holocaust survivor and gives a first-person account of what he endured, how it has impacted his life, and driven his life’s work as a neurologist and psychlogist.

🎧 What I heard: Prof G Podcast with Mel Robbins- Scott Galloway interviews the self-help guru about her concept of “Let Them”. It’s another way of saying Just Do It, don’t let other people’s opinions stop you from living the life that you want to lead. A good listen.

🕵🏻‍♂️ An interesting discovery: This one is a refreshing distraction from your work. Go ahead, take a few minutes and call Dial-A-Poem. It features works from dozens of legendary poets including Allen Ginsburg, William S Burroughs, and Charles Bukowski, read by the poets themselves. Every call gets you a different poem. It’s so analog, it’s beautiful, and it’s free. (917)994-8949

*Disclaimer- I have no affiliation or relationship with any of these things. I’m just sharing what I find interesting

That’s all for today.

I’m rooting for you!

Chad

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