Jerry Seinfeld: Daily Routine

A splash of water, a legal pad, and an unbroken chain of red Xs — Jerry Seinfeld’s daily routine is all about structure, stamina, and staying sharp.

At its peak, Seinfeld was the most popular show on TV. Seasons six and nine, in particular were the number one shows on Nielsen at the time, with the finale being viewed by 76 million people. For its creator and eponymous leading star, the show earned him $267 million in 1998, alone.

At the top of his game and popularity, Jerry Seinfeld decided to pull the plug and end the show. While the desire to go out on top was one of the reasons the show stopped, in an interview with Harvard Business Review, Seinfeld also admitted he was burnt out from handling every aspect of the show.

“If you’re efficient, you’re doing it the wrong way. The right way is the hard way,” Seinfeld told HBR. “The show was successful because I micromanaged it—every word, every line, every take, every edit, every casting. That’s my way of life.”