Jerry Seinfeld and Going 'All In'

Jerry Seinfeld was talking to a fellow comedian who was struggling to get his career off the ground.

The comic couldn't seem to land quality shows or find fan traction — and the struggles had led him to wonder whether he should just abandon his dreams.

Seinfeld laughed out loud when the up-and-coming comedian asked about what he should tell his parents. Then, he shared a story about the Glen Miller band and what determines who rises to fame and whose dreams simply die on the vine. 

On a cold snowy night in the Midwest, the band was flying to its next gig, but a storm had made it impossible to land. So, they decided to touch down in the middle of an open pasture. 

Once the plane was safely on the ground, the members — dressed in tuxedos — gathered their instruments to walk to their show.

Along the way, snow continued to fall, and the slush on the ground made their trek increasingly treacherous. They spotted a house nearby, and decide to make a stop to perhaps call a cab.

Looking into the windows of the home, they saw a scene perfectly set for a Norman Rockwell painting. A roaring fire and a family gathered around the dinner table enjoying a wonderfully-cooked homemade meal. Every member of the family seemed to be smiling, enjoying the solitude of the indoors while a powerful storm surged outside.

As he observed the scene, one band member turned to another and said:  

"How do people live like that?"

To this bandmate, normal family life wasn't for him. He was determined to go "all-in" and live his dream life with no regrets.

"All-In” entered the mainstream lexicon thanks to the poker boom of the early 2000s. The phrase is now regularly used in modern U.S. culture.

What "all in" means in our everyday life is to be fully involved, not allowing anything to deter our success. It means there are no roadblocks, only hurdles, that might at times seem too tall to cross. But because of our mindset, we will find a way.

If we have to land in a cornfield to make the show, the bumpy open space becomes the landing strip. If we have to walk through the cold wind and snow to get to the gig, we start walking — not caring about anything but the job.

All that matters is the work — because being "all in" is about loving what you do more than any other part of your life. It's not a job, it's a mentality. And when you see normal, you simply can't identify.  

Seinfeld understood the comedian's way of life wasn't for everyone. So when someone would complain about the pathway of his/her life, his age, and his biological clock as it relates to his current status, he instantly understood they were not "all in." 

It's O.K. to not be "all-in."

But don't complain if you don't arrive at your dream destination.