WHAT'S MY STYLE
Jerry Seinfeld
 


The logical comedian:

When we think of comedians, Scintillator is generally the first style that comes to mind. Scintillators are life's performers, because they need to be liked. They don't do well in real arguments or confrontations, because they fear abandonment and often choose to leave rather than fight. Such is most certainly NOT the case with Jerry Seinfeld. "I've never had much interest in being liked," he says, "and I think people appreciate that." Seinfeld does comedy to please himself and none other, also very unScintillator.

Jerry Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld

Seinfeld is an interesting study in the world of show business. He's known, yes known, since early in his life that he would be a comedian. He would allow nothing to interfere with that vision. Obsessively driven, his reputation is that of a highly disciplined guy who'll outwork and out study everyone. When others grew weary of life on the road, Seinfeld was just getting warmed up. He loves everything about his chosen life's work, and couldn't stand to be away from it. "Four days is about my maximum without working."

He is an astute observer of the little details of life and a perfectionist in sharing those with others. Despite his success in stand-up and on the small screen, Seinfeld insists he's not much of a conversationalist. "I usually don't have much to say or much interest in what anyone else is saying." The only thing he doesn't enjoy about life on the road is sitting next to someone who wants to talk.

When a New York columnist wrote that he was "absolutely empty," Seinfeld used the criticism to grit his teeth and push onward. Leaving never crossed his mind.

"Growing up, I was your typical smart-ass wisenheimer," he says. Former classmates referred to him as a nerd and said he was far from the funniest kid in class.

His first accountant took off with $50,000 of Jerry's money. Rather than pitch a fit and dwell on it, Seinfeld simply hired a person he knew he could trust, his sister, to manage his money. She had no credentials, but he didn't care. Seinfeld and friends both said the incident was never about the money, because he knew he would make it back.

Then there's Shoshanna, his teenage paramour. Nobody will admit to knowing exactly why they broke up. Some say it was Jerry's obsession with work. Others say it was Shoshanna's inability to deal with the tabloids, something he had warned her about in suggesting she not be seen with old boyfriends. Seinfeld married Shoshanna lookalike, Jessica Sklar, in December of last year.

So what's our best guess about this Hollywood and New York celebrity? Two things seem clear to us: He Thinks Diligent and Emotes Sentinel. For Diligent, we cite his obsession with details and the logical planning and execution of his life and career. As to Sentinel, we submit his disdain for revealing vulnerabilities, placing trust above credentials, and his difficulties with Shoshanna.

The Working realm is more difficult to judge. At first glance, his work and history appear to be driven by Visionary moxie, tick-tock and focus. But missing is any form of people- betterment. Jerry Seinfeld is in it for the perfection of his work, and sounds more Idealist to us. Missing, however, are the Idealist trappings of money, flashy and fame, but his obsession to be the best is unmistakable. "When the audience applauds," he says, "it's not for me. It's for the work I've done."

Jerry Seinfeld: Diligent/Idealist/Sentinel.

Our thanks to Kathleen Tracy and her book, "Jerry Seinfeld, The Entire Domain."

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