Comments on: The Steve Martin Method: A Master Comedian’s Advice for Becoming Famous

By: Barbara Saunders

Barbara Saunders — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:25:07 +0000

The trickster thing about a quest is that a quest is not a track. Staying on the quest might look to outsiders, and even to oneself, like doing a bunch of unrelated things. This is basically what Joseph Campbell said about following your bliss and doors opening that wouldn’t have opened there for anyone else.

By: Study Hacks

Study Hacks — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:51:48 +0000

Be willing to have bad banjo jokes on the way to the good ones.

A profound axiom if I’ve ever heard one!

By: marnie webb

marnie webb — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:48:03 +0000

I just want to pile on with the terrific post comments. Really. Terrific post.

I particularly like the idea of intellectualizing. So often it feels like we’ve made a cult of the amateur. People think that you have to be a natural, that many people have equal expertise. But I think this is dead on: To innovate, one really must understand and break things down in parts. And be willing to have bad banjo jokes on the way to the good ones.

By: It’s Okay To Take Career Advice From Steve Martin | Educated Nation | Higher Education Blog

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:02:08 +0000

[…] by how well the book works as advice on more than just becoming a comedian. You should read the excellent post he has about how to become famous using ‘the Steve Martin method,’ which he outlines perfectly […]

By: alexa

alexa — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:42:59 +0000

You’re welcome. And I apologize for my two typos–although, I’m sure they’re killing me more than they’re affecting you. Here are the correction so I can sleep tonight:

“…as a guiding principle…”
“…is a brilliant idea.”

By: Study Hacks

Study Hacks — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:18:17 +0000

Using Steve Martin’s comedic process as a guiding principe for making it big in any other field is a brilliant. Great post.

Thanks Alexa. Since I wrote this post, I’ve been surprised how relevant it continues to prove to my life…

By: alexa

alexa — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:06:37 +0000

I recently read Martin’s book and was impressed far beyond my already high expectations; he worked so hard at being funny that he managed to take it to a whole new intellectual level. I love his comedy, I love his fiction, and I love that he drew such a perfect picture of his career and his process in Born Standing Up.

Using Steve Martin’s comedic process as a guiding principe for making it big in any other field is a brilliant. Great post.

By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Tasty Ingredients in my Productivity Secret Sauce

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:31:16 +0000

[…] The Steve Martin Method As a corollary to Dr. Einstein, I have become obsessed, recently, with Steve Martin’s idea that the key to “success” is “being so good they can’t ignore you.” A big result from this mindset: I spend less time looking for my “big break.” Instead, I try to fix myself in a venue where skill will be rewarded, and then keep producing until my skill level gets to that point. (More on this later…) […]

By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » Q & A: Complicated Study Systems, Complicated Productivity Software, and Complicated Achievements

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:34:06 +0000

[…] noticed recently that you’ve been emphasizing the idea of focusing on a single activity/goal/project in order to accomplish something significant. I have a question on the exception to the rule: Polymaths. Do you think your philosophy applies to […]

By: Jake

Jake — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:09:14 +0000

Brilliant productivity example. Martin has always had a supreme grasp on doing things his own way, and doing them masterfully. He made it look easy to be a ‘wild an crazy guy,’