This post originally appeared onJames Clears blog.
Within a year, he had transitioned to Disneys magic shop where he learned tricks from the older employees.
He experimented with jokes and tried out simple magic routines on the visitors.
Soon, he discovered that what he loved was not performing magic, but performing in general.
The young boy set his sights on becoming a comedian.
Once he entered high school, he started performing in small clubs around Los Angeles.
The crowds were small and his act was short.
He was rarely on stage for more than five minutes.
In one case, he literally delivered his standup routine to an empty club.
It wasnt glamorous work, but there was no doubt he was getting better.
His first magic routines would only last one or two minutes.
By high school his material had expanded to include a five minute skit and then a ten minute show.
At the age of 19, he was performing weekly at clubs for twenty minutes at a time.
He spent another decade experimenting, adjusting, and practicing his act.
By the mid-1970s, he had worked his way into being a regular guest onThe Tonight ShowandSaturday Night Live.
After nearly 15 years of work, he broke through to wild success.
He toured 60 cities in 63 days.
Then 72 cities in 80 days.
Then 85 cities in 90 days.
18,695 people attended one show in Ohio.
45,000 tickets were sold for his 3-day show in New York.
He catapulted to the top of his genre and became one of the most important comedians of his time.
His name was Steve Martin.
Steve Martins Long Road to Success
I recently finished Steve Martins wonderful autobiography,Born Standing Up.
Comedy is not for the faint of heart.
And yet, Martin worked at it for 18 years.
His story offers a fascinating perspective on motivation, perseverance, and consistency.
Why do we stay motivated to reach some goals, but not others?
Why do we say we want something, but give up on it after a few days?
What is the difference between the areas where we naturally stay motivated and those where we give up?
Scientists have been studying motivation for decades.
For example, imagine you are playing tennis.
If you give a shot to play a serious match against a four-year-old, you will quickly become bored.
The match is too easy.
The match is too difficult.
Compare these experiences to playing tennis against someone who is your equal.
As the game progresses, you win a few points and you lose a few points.
You have a chance of winning the match, but only if you really try.
Your focus narrows, distractions fade away, and you find yourself fully invested in the task at hand.
The challenge you are facing is just manageable.
Victory is not guaranteed, but it is possible.
Tasks that are significantly below your current abilities are boring.
Tasks that are significantly beyond your current abilities are discouraging.
But tasks that are right on the border of success and failure are incredibly motivating to our human brains.
We want nothing more than to master a skill just beyond our current horizon.
We can call this phenomenonThe Goldilocks Rule.
Martins comedy career was a perfect example of what The Goldilocks Rule looks like in the real world.
Each year, the length of his comedy routines expanded, but only by a minute or two.
There were just enough victories to keep him motivated and just enough mistakes to keep him working hard.
It has to do with achieving that perfect blend of hard work and happiness.
Seeing yourself make progressin the momentis incredibly motivating.
Steve Martin would tell a joke and immediately know if it worked based on the laughter of the crowd.
Imagine how addicting it would be to create a roar of laughter.
In tennis, you get immediate feedback based on whether or not you win the point.
We need to be able to see our wins.
Measure your progress and receive immediate feedback whenever possible.
Wanting to improve your life is easy.
Sticking with it is a different story.
Top image bySin314(Shutterstock).
