• You and Larry David wrote Seinfeld together, without a traditional writers’ room, and burnout was one reason you stopped. Was there a more sustainable way to do it? Could McKinsey or someone have helped you find a better model?
• Who’s McKinsey?
• It’s a consulting firm.
• Are they funny?
• No.
• Then I don’t need them. If you’re efficient, you’re doing it the wrong way.
• Who’s McKinsey?
• It’s a consulting firm.
• Are they funny?
• No.
• Then I don’t need them. If you’re efficient, you’re doing it the wrong way.
Interview to Jerry Seinfeld – Harvard Business Review
While “better” means for the interviewer a way to keep the show sustainable, for Seinfeld “better” meant funnier, not “more efficient”.
Here’s the thing
If you’re not on the same page, field and mind space to help your client with what they want, they won’t want you.
It won’t matter if you’re McKinsey, EY or whatever big brand’s name is on the door.
If trying to make things efficient is your thing, and being funny their thing, the match won’t happen.
If you’re funny, know how to make things funny, and they’re trying to make funny things, it’ll be a match made in heaven.
It’s not about what they need. It’s about what they (deeply, really) want.