Innovation Ideas From Jerry Seinfeld
“What’s the deal with innovation?”
Jerry Seinfeld might be an odd choice to discuss business innovation, but the comic behind the eponymous 90s classic sitcom has some pretty smart ideas.
In an interview with Harvard Business Review, the funnyman, who just inked a new deal with Netflix, dropped some serious wisdom.
On being disruptive:
It’s very important to know what you don’t like. A big part of innovation is saying, “You know what I’m really sick of?” For me, that was talk shows where music plays, somebody walks out to a desk, shakes hands with the host, and sits down. “How are you?” “You look great.” I’m also sick of people who are really there to sell their show or product. “What am I really sick of?” is where innovation begins.
On sweating the small stuff.
If you’re efficient, you’re doing it the wrong way. The right way is the hard way. The show was successful because I micromanaged it—every word, every line, every take, every edit, every casting. That’s my way of life.
On why humour is a secret weapon:
Being funny is one of the ultimate weapons a person can have in human society. It might even compete with being really good-looking.