#72 - Productivity 101 - Create a chain and Don’t break it

Another big issue that will plague while creating a new habit is sticking and sustaining it. I resort to the following technique. When a young comedian, who was starting out, spoke to Jerry Seinfeld on tips to shine in his career, Jerry Seinfeld told this:

“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.

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 is to not break the chain.”

Over the period of years, this technique has immensely helped me while trying to create and sustain any new habit. More importantly, it works.