Some of you may have heard me talk about “not breaking the chain” before. You may be wondering what I mean when I say that. It refers to a technique Jerry Seinfeld used during his early days as a stand up comedian (although it is quite possible he still uses it to this day). The technique is explained in this article, but I’ll summarize it:
In order to be good at something, you must practice daily. By setting up a calendar and marking off days that you practice something, you create a “chain”. In order to reach your goal and master your new habit, you must strive to not “break the chain” of days you have successfully marked off.
I have been using this technique over the past few weeks to help further my life. I make it a habit to read at least a chapter out of one of my books each night, use my days off work as productively as possible (no TV and minimal downtime), and work towards returning to school (right now that means reading “find a career” and self-improvement books designed to help people find their passion in life, but soon it’ll transform into more concrete actions). I also (in case you haven’t noticed) have made it a point to blog something whenever I’m on the computer doing non-work things (ie just sitting around on Facebook and wasting time), as a way of making my leisure time at least somewhat productive.
For those who wish to get involved in this, all it takes is a simple wall calendar and a pen. Alternatively, a web-based app for marking your chain can be found here: http://dontbreakthechain.com
Nothing good ever happens after 2am. NO EXCEPTIONS!
- There’s no one awake who isn’t either drunk or taking care of drunks (hospital staff, police, diner workers, etc).
- If you do find someone who isn’t in one of the above-mentioned categories, you yourself are most likely in one of those categories. If not, you’re probably so sleep-deprived, you may as well be drunk.
- The bars are all closed.
- The party almost certainly died down around midnight, and is pretty much dead now.
- The only people still at a bar or out partying are the losers that don’t want to go home.
- The motels either don’t have a vacancy, or are over-populated by thugs and lowlifes such that no respectable individual would want to stay there.
- Most respectable hotels (that I know of, at least) won’t take in anyone after midnight.
The only things left to do are:
- Hang out at Denny’s all night.
- Stay at the lame party you’re at, hoping something “legendary” will happen (it won’t; unless you count watching someone vomit “legendary”).
- Try to sleep in a cheap motel in a room next to a bunch of drunk bikers who are doing all manner of loud and rambunctious activities.
- Go home and read a book or watch a movie.
Seriously, just go home.
"A man becomes the kind of person that he surrounds himself with. A man who surrounds himself with lazy excuse makers becomes a worthless sack of manure. A man who surrounds himself with wealthy businessmen becomes, if he allows himself, a successful and generous gentleman. Your potential is the sum of your attitude, willingness to work hard, and what you let influence you."
"Remember that you spend half your life doing a job. Make sure the job you are doing is worth half your life!"
"There is no luck except where there is discipline."
— Irish Proverb
(Source: happenchance.net)
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."
— Seneca
(Source: happenchance.net)
