In an interview with Jerry Seinfeld on The Howard Stern Show (June 26, 2013) a discussion about the work it takes to be a successful comedian took place. Jerry takes a measure of that effort and lays out a brief philosophy of life. A short transcript of that moment follows. The context of the discussion is the continual effort that is required to hone comedic material, and how some individuals may be unwilling to put in that effort.
A lot of guys, Howard, they don’t want to lift those weights. It’s like going into the gym every day. You know how you walk in every day, and you go, “oh geez, I’ve gotta do this again.” A lot of guys don’t want to do it. It’s brutal.
It sounds like a tortured life, and you say it’s not, but...
It is, it is, but you know what, your blessing in life is when you find the torture you’re comfortable with.
Oh my goodness.
What, is that too rough, Robin?
That was pretty profound. Find the torture you’re comfortable with. That’s life.
Yes, and that’s marriage, it’s kids, it’s work, it’s exercise, it’s not eating the food you want to eat. Find the torture your comfortable with and you’ll do well.
I can’t argue with that because, even radio, it’s torture for me.
Of course it is!
And yet I have to do it.
It’s no different than when you’re 30 minutes into your workout, you’re ok; like, you’re ok now. You don’t want to get your ass out of bed, you don’t want to sit in that awful chair again, but once you get going… that’s life. You master that, you’ve mastered life.