How To Be As Good As Jerry Seinfeld (By Bill Stainton)

Are you better today than you were yesterday?

I don't mean physically. We all catch colds, we all have occasional aches and pains-particularly as we get older. No, I mean are you better at what you do? Are you better at your job? Are you better with your customers? Are you better with your team? Are you a better leader?

And, by the way, if you're already a superstar-if you're already at the top of your game-well, sorry. You can't hide behind that.

See, I used to think that once you got to be the best, you could take it easy-at least for a little while. And then I met Jerry Seinfeld.

I used to produce a comedy TV show, and Jerry was a guest on our show multiple times. The last time he was on our show, he did a routine that I'd seen him do in the clubs-but it was better this time. I couldn't quite figure out what was different, so after the show I asked Jerry about it.

"Yeah, I've been tweaking that one," Jerry said. "Here's what happened. I had a show a couple of months ago, and I had a friend videotape it. I was watching the tape back, and I just wasn't happy with that routine. It was working, but I knew I could make it better."

The conversation went on for a few minutes, but notice what he said: "It was working, but I knew I could make it better." Think about that. This is Jerry Seinfeld we're talking about. At the time, he was the hottest comedian in the country. He was making millions of dollars a year. He was selling out theaters and nightclubs. His TV show was heading into the stratosphere. And, as he said, that routine was already working! In fact, it was killing in the clubs!

And Jerry Seinfeld was still trying to make it better.

So here's my question to you: If Jerry Seinfeld, at the top of his game, is still trying to improve, then what's your excuse?

Every time Jerry Seinfeld gets on stage, he wants to be better than he was yesterday, and then better tomorrow than he was today. That's why he's Jerry Seinfeld, while thousands of others are just comedians.

What if that were your mantra as well? To be better today than you were yesterday, and even better tomorrow than you are today? What would you do differently? What would it look like?

I'm a keynote speaker. I speak on leadership and strategic creativity. A fellow speaker once told me, "You should be improving continuously, so that today's audience is cheated by tomorrow's performance."

This week I gave one of the best keynotes I've ever given. I've got another one coming up in a few days. And I want it to be better.

How about you? Do you want to be better tomorrow than you are today? Are you willing to do what it takes to get there? Are you committed to continuous improvement?

In other words: are you willing to be as good as Jerry Seinfeld?

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5 Tips for Students Who Are Struggling To Improve Their Concentration

With increased competition and too many activities to juggle with, students these days lack concentration and attention. Distraction is present in every corner, ready to upset their routine, which ultimately affects their final grades. For all who have been suffering hard to pay attention, here are a few helpful tips.

Tip #1: Make a schedule

One of the most effective ways to improve concentration is to have set goals. When a schedule is prepared, the brain works to fulfill it. This automatically increases the chances of meeting the objectives. With clear goals, it is almost as easy to concentrate on one particular thing at one time, thus, helping increase attentiveness.

Tip #2: Switch off all electronic gadgets

According to studies and experts, one of the biggest causes of distraction today is social media and electronic gadgets. It is easily accessible and available to everyone, even the youngsters, and teenagers. Their affinity to spend more time on social media has hampered their abilities to concentrate. If they gadgets are taken out of reach during their study sessions, it might slightly increase their attention span.

Tip #3: Write down what you are learning

This is a great method followed by hundreds of students around the world and is considered to be effective. The senses are believed to work together. Reading out loudly, and then writing it down triggers all the motor senses of the brain, triggering the concentration power. Thus, every student should apply this method of studying to improve their concentration level and score well.

Tip #4: Take breaks

Again a very important process in increasing concentration is taking breaks. It is basic science. When the human brain is exerted, it stops processing information and returns only blanks. This means that studying for 5 hours with unaltered concentration is equal to studying for 2 hours with higher attentiveness. Thus, taking 5 minutes break after every 30 minutes increases productivity and concentration significantly.

Tip #5: Seek help from experts

To easily get over the pangs of studying and increase concentration, one can hire a professional tutor for homework help for the exam. These tutors are helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. They not only help finish the work but also take the mammoth responsibility of preparing notes for exams and clearing the concepts. They sit through the sessions, which help you finish the work with not having the attentiveness hampered.

A student is faced with the pressure of performing well. Dealing it the right way and guiding them can help them be confident. Parents and tutors can assist them with completing their projects and homework. Online portals are also accessible which provides students with dissertation writing help and content writing. They charge a nominal fee and can actively contribute towards their growth and vitality.

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Live Like A Hero

Ever notice the first words invariably spoken when we recognize a hero publicly? "I never felt like a hero, I'm no hero," these words are the mantra of heroes. Regardless of the nature of their actions being hailed as heroic, they saw nothing unusual in their response. What is the difference in these people and those who stare in admiration at their acts? They have always lived like a hero; one day they were called on to act like a hero.

Heroes spend a lifetime following a creed of honor and respect for others. What traits are normally found in them?

1) They act responsibly in every situation.

2) They live compassionately, tending to look beyond weakness in others as they seek to find and focus on their strengths.

3) Reliability is their creed. They take pride in establishing relationships where they expect others to know they will be there for them. And they are.

4) They stand strong in the face of adversity.

5) They take the time to know themselves, to recognize and improve on their weaknesses while maintaining their strengths.

6) They avoid idle chatter, preferring to shoot straight and seek solutions rather than criticizing others efforts that may be failing.

7) They have an innate ability to understand that life is a series of head-on collisions; they wear a mental helmet of faith, hope and integrity. They live expecting the best possible outcome.

8) They rarely have a plan B. They understand that you get what you prepare for; they always prepare for what they may be called to act upon.

9) Injustice in any form ignites a passionate response in them; for them it is intolerable.

10) They are intuitive, seeming to know when and how to act and react to situations.

These are good old-fashioned traits that many parents continue to build and embrace in raising their family to be productive members of society. Look closely behind the hero and you will likely find parents or some adult or affiliation that embraced character building.

Heroes are not born; they are raised to embrace standards that encompass empathy, compassion, respect for self and others, to act responsibly and to embrace faith in their life. If you weren't raised that way you can still embrace the traits that create the best possible response to every situation. Even if you are never recognized publicly, you can be sure you will face the time when you are called on to be a hero allowing you to touch another person in a life altering situation. You may never know that you were their hero, but they will. It begins with choosing to live like a hero; if you do, you will always be prepared to act like one.

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Life's Three Critical Choices

You might think life has more than just three choices and you would be right, but the three I want to share are simply some of the biggest ones we will ever make. They are - change it, accept it or leave. Let me explain.

Whether it's a career position, a business, a client, a boss, a relationship or circumstances often we tolerate people or circumstances longer than we should or are even necessary. There are numerous reasons why we put up with these kinds of situations or people, but in the end the price we pay for staying too long can have a negative impact on our attitudes, self-esteem, life outlook and future opportunities.

Let's say you have a supervisor who invalidates you, doesn't respect you and is always criticizing you unnecessarily - got the picture? You have three choices when it comes to this person - change them, accept their behavior or leave.

Now I'm not suggesting that you throw in the towel quickly or easily but in the end is staying in this situation longer than necessary hoping they will change or improve or would your future and life be better served to just accept that they are who they are and you will just have to deal with them.

However, if you can't change them and you can't bring yourself to accept their behavior as it is wearing you down and having a negative impact on other areas of your life or relationships - well the only other option is to leave.

Personally I have put up with bad bosses on a few occasions in my life and just decided I would rather go broke working for myself than get wealthy working for someone else. Again I am by no means suggesting that you should do the same as I have done as each of us has our tolerance levels for other's poor behavior but when you are staying longer than you know you should for the wrong reasons - you know it in your heart.

How about a personal relationship? Let's say you have been dating or married to someone for several years and you just can't deal with their pessimism, intolerance, nagging - whatever - and it's starting to affect other relationships at work, with friends or even total strangers - so you have a choice - you can try and change them - good luck. But, if you can't and putting up with their issues is wearing you down emotionally, spiritually or even physically then your next option is to just accept who they are and how they behave knowing that they will not improve or change. But, if accepting them or it is beyond your level of values, tolerance, compassion or understanding all you have left - you got it - leave. Again, I'm not suggesting that as soon as someone behaves badly or upsets you that you should walk away from the table however you have to decide the consequences of staying too long or leaving.

I might add that the biggest times of stress in your life are when you can't change something or someone but you refuse to accept them or when you can't accept them and you won't leave.

So, there you have it - change it or them or accept it or them and if you can't do either your choice is deal with it without complaining and whining or leave.

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How Peaceful Men Live

They are men who found how to live. They are men who feel alive with themselves because of who they are and what they have become. They are men of genius.

They walk around comfortable in their own shoes, love to share themselves with others and you can see that material possession, power or wealth is not of their interest. They desire family and self-development over material gain.

But if you closely examine these men in your everyday life they are secured with themselves and life in general. They have found how to co-exist with it. That is the key to their success they have found how to live together in harmony with life.

They have a strong burning passion for life. They strive to be the very best at everything and when they cannot they don't bother to get themselves over whelm, they just keep trying it's in them to learn and improve.

Something amazing radiates from these men. They radiate greatness. It's in their eyes to strive for peace. They have a hungry determination to devour the world but give back. They make the world work for them and not the other way around.

They have a unique way of walking in life, as if nothing could stop them, nothing bothers these people. They are determined to live. They have a soothing calming semblance in their face, it says peace.

Mattering

If you observe a peaceful man they feel like they matter. Their attitude is unique because they feel that their existence matters to others and themselves. They walk around with a sense of importance as if nothing will knock them down. Feeling important about themselves helps them be at peace with themselves and those around them.

But not all is happiness for these men, they will share with you their failures, cries, disappointments and pains with you if you allow yourself to be taught and listen. Really listen to them perhaps they will convince you live like them.

One important thing about a peaceful man is he has no fear. They wake up every morning and look at the big-red sun with a smile and they're ready to tackle the day despite their moods.

They love themselves.

They don't talk or blabber about being someone else when they are feeling down, no. They have no time to envy others, because they believe in themselves. The effort and time they have invested in themselves is the gift they gave themselves to appreciate life. They are not stupid to let it be another.

They sculpt and polish themselves into uniqueness. This helps them feel special. They matter. He matters to himself. He values himself.

He is full of flaws but they are men who do not fear the opinion of others. When a person is determined to create peace within they find it and strive with their every breath to keep alive.

They are true to themselves because they are not perfect and accept these flaws. They work on them.

Their biggest asset is honesty with themselves.

They change their flaws, try and try over and over again until they are satisfied with the creation. They never give up, it's not in their mind to think such things. They do not feel sorry for themselves.

A focused man finds peace because nothing in the world will take him off his tracks, he's serious about where he's heading and knows that will bring him peace. That is why he strives to make it and nothing will stop him.

Peaceful men do not have time to waste. These are true men who know how to live. Is that you?

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Dabble! You Have To Start Somewhere

"If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced." - Vincent Van Gogh

Content can take many forms. Of course it can be written, but now it can also be on video, podcasts, teleclasses, webinars, blabs, periscopes, the list goes on and on.

New platforms and new ways of creating content can be intimidating.

Saying "I can't... " is a surefire way to guarantee that you won't create something, that you won't grow, that you won't make a difference.

Even Van Gogh wasn't born being a professional painter. He had to start somewhere.

Dabble!

As adults, we often stop ourselves from trying new things because we think we won't be good at them immediately. We have high expectations right from the beginning. And that often means we never give ourselves the chance to try and to learn and to improve.

To dabble in something has a different feeling.

When we dabble, we lower our expectations. We give ourselves some space to just give it a shot.

Painting Bars

There is a great bar in Milwaukee that serves up canvases with their drinks. (They do sessions led by artists, and other cool things too).

One night, I was there with my husband during "Gallery Night." It was a public event in the area, so lots of people were out and about checking out places in the neighborhood. A couple of guys walked into this bar and ordered a beer.

One of them looked skeptically at the people who were painting, including me, and asked what was going on.

The bar tender explained how it worked and offered him a canvas and some paint. But he declined with a half smile that looked simultaneously embarrassed and "too cool."

But he kept watching other people painting. His friend encouraged him to give it a try. And finally he said, "Okay, why not?"

It was such a treat to watch him (and eventually my husband too!) dabble in the world of painting, something they had zero experience with.

And the result?

It turned out to be a lot more fun than they thought, and the end product was far better than they ever expected.

That's the magic!

Now, those men may never paint another picture again. But they can no longer say that they "can't" do it.

New Possibilities

This painting bar has grown a successful day-time business of hosting corporate groups for team-building and leadership events. It's hugely popular because when people are made to dabble in something outside their norm, new possibilities open up.

They become more vulnerable. They support each other differently. They take risks in ways they otherwise might not.

Many years ago, I thought that when I started my own business, it would be one of those "Paint Your Own Pottery" shops because I love encouraging and witnessing people dabble in new forms of creativity.

Now I do that in a different way, working with entrepreneurs on creating content. The similarities are striking.

Rather than stepping up to a blank canvas, you are stepping up to a blank computer screen or a video camera or a smart phone. In any of these cases you must be willing to put something on it and see what happens.

When you start by dabbling, you open the way toward improvement, new creations, and growth.

What is the thing you've been wanting to try for a while but haven't done it? How can you dabble in it? Get started!

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Essentials For Leadership WISDOM

Nearly everyone would agree that enhancing someone's knowledge, judgment, expertise, and wisdom, would certainly be something which positively impacted a leader's possibilities and results! However, merely stating so, or going part-way, doesn't automatically translate to arriving where one wants to be. In my over three decades of identifying, qualifying, training, developing and consulting, to more than a thousand actual, and/or potential leaders, I have consistently sought to provide these individuals, with more skills, assets and necessities, for becoming far better leaders, and achieving what best serves organizations and their stakeholders. Therefore, this article will attempt to, in a simplified way, identify, from a mnemonic perspective, some basics and/or essential components, for true leadership WISDOM.

1. Weigh alternatives; willing to improve: 

Will you merely remain within a limited comfort zone, or do you thoroughly weigh the options and alternatives, so you are in the best position possible, to determine your approach? Are you willing to actually learn, rather than merely go through the motions, and attending courses and leadership training programs? How will you use what you learn, so you improve yourself, and thus, your potential to lead?

2. Ideology; ideas; intent: 

Have you identified your ideology, and do you remain true to it, through both easy times, and more challenging ones? Will you transform speculation and rhetoric, to quality ideas, which will transform you, to being a far more effective, meaningful leader? Is your intent, to consistently provide the best leadership, and serve your organization and stakeholders, with integrity, strength, direction, relevance, and actual wisdom?

3. Sustainable system; strengths: 

Gaining greater wisdom should enhance your ability to identify your, and your organization's strengths and weaknesses! Use those strengths, and work diligently to lessen areas of weakness. Avoid the tendency to tread water, or merely look at current issues and/or concerns, but aim to improve short-term, intermediate and longer-term needs and priorities, by wisely creating and implementing a quality, sustainable system.

4. Disciplined; delve deeply: 

Stretch beyond merely examining surface and/or apparent issues/problems, but rather, take a longer look, where you delve deeply into causes and solutions (as well as alternatives and ramifications). Maintain your highest enthusiasm, but remain disciplined enough, to follow your plan, and aim to evolve your group, rather than throwing the baby out, with the bath water!

5. Options; opportunities: 

The better prepared, and the greater your expertise, if you transform these to actual, meaningful wisdom, you give yourself the best opportunities to be a wise, effective leader. Keep your options open, while paying keen attention to priorities, needs, concerns, relevance, and sustainability!

6. Master matters; 

make difference; measure choices; motivate: Merely because you might slide by, even if you accept marginal goals and results, unless you master things that matter, and consistently seek to make a real, essential difference, you won't lead wisely! How will you measure your results, without merely using some meaningless, rhetorical metrics? Remember that one can't lead, until and unless others listen, follow and believe, so strive to constantly motivate, not merely by your words, but rather by your example!

Many enter positions of leadership, but few become relevant, wise leaders! How will you enhance your WISDOM, so you become one of these few?

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Relevant Leaders Must Always IMPROVE

One of the most significant differences between the ordinary, versus the extraordinary individuals in positions of leadership, is whether someone merely accepts whatever results present themselves, as opposed to never settling for the status quo, or mediocre, but rather demanding their own, personal, highest degree of excellence. Great leaders realize that no one knows everything, nor always succeeds to the highest degree. Rather, it is how one adapts, improves, perceives, and proactively acts, reacts, and behaves! Regardless of one's intellect, skills, assets or abilities, if you want to be an effective leader, you must choose relevance, rather than whatever, planning rather than haphazardly proceeding, and embracing continuous training, taking it to heart and actually learning, transforming it to expertise (by combining it with meaningful experience), and then to greater wisdom, which will provide additional judgment, in order to make decisions, in a timely, well-informed manner. Therefore, if you want to be a relevant leader, you must constantly IMPROVE.

1. Integrity; ideas; interest: You can't fake it, and actually be a relevant, nor effective leader! One must maintain absolute integrity, by always behaving as if others are watching constantly, and must make that commitment his highest priority. It must be remembered that while it takes quite a while to get others to trust and believe in you, it generally takes but one mis-step to turn them off forever! Combining that behavior and mindset, with focusing on ideas which are solutions-oriented, and gain the interest of those you serve, is a necessity of effective, relevant leadership!

2. Motivate; mention: Always remember that, for most people, their favorite sound, is hearing their own name, and voice! True leaders go out of their way to acknowledge and thank everyone, by name and with sincerity, because it is not only the right thing to do, but it also creates a strong bond, between the leader and constituent. How can you motivate others if you don't constantly proceed with the highest degree of personal motivation, and that will only occur, if you feel you are making a sincere effort to improve the group?

3. Priorities; perceptions; planning: Consider alternatives carefully, and develop priorities, which will propel you, and your organization forward. Objective introspection, so you differentiate and understand the differences between perceptions and reality, must be an essential component of your planning process! How can you become better if you don't have objectives and priorities, focused on improvement?

4. Relevant; reasoning: What does relevance mean, as it relates to being an effective leader? The process begins with close examination, effective listening, and developing a better understanding of the past, present and future of your group. How effective is your reasoning ability, and how do you know? What questions do you constantly ask, in order to assure your personal best?

5. Options; opportunities: There is always more than one alternative, even if closed-minded leaders often don't recognize or consider them! Consider your options, and create and utilize opportunities!

6. Vital, vibrant vision: In order to be relevant, you must have a vital, vibrant vision, that drives both you, as well as those you serves! Seek quality, and being the best!

7. Empathy; energy; excellence; enrich: It must be about those you serve, and not merely about you. Proceed with an emphasis on empathy, use maximum energy, seek excellence and quality, and hope to enrich the experiences of your stakeholders!

You can't be a great leader unless you are relevant. However, no one can hope for excellence or relevance, without doing all he can, to constantly and consistently IMPROVE!

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