Bestselling author shares bizarre motivation hack that blends a Harvard study with stand-up comedy, says it works 'especially on tough days'

Bestselling author Daniel H. Pink, known for his widely acclaimed books on motivation and behavior, has shared an unusual formula to help people stay motivated every day. In a recent social media post, Pink blended insights from a Harvard Business School study with an old-school comedy trick from Jerry Seinfeld, creating what he calls a “two-part powerhouse system” for momentum and mastery.

What Harvard Research Reveals About Motivation

Pink pointed to the work of Teresa Amabile, a Harvard researcher who studied more than 12,000 daily work diaries across eight companies. Her findings, published in the Harvard Business Review, revealed that the biggest driver of day-to-day motivation is not money, praise, or perks, but progress.

Pink explained that even small steps forward on meaningful tasks significantly boost how people feel about their work. To tap into this, he suggests adopting what he calls a “Progress Ritual”: at the end of each day, write down three small ways you made progress. This simple act, he says, helps the brain register wins that would otherwise get lost in the clutter of meetings and daily stress.


“Progress isn’t a luxury,” Pink emphasized in his post. “It’s a psychological necessity.”

A Lesson From Stand-Up Comedy

To make motivation stick, Pink adds another layer borrowed from comedian Jerry Seinfeld. As a young writer, Seinfeld committed to producing new material every day. His system was simple: every time he wrote, he marked a big red X on his calendar. Over time, those Xs formed an unbroken chain.

The rule was clear: don’t break the chain. What began as a single day of effort turned into a streak, then into identity. For Pink, this visual reminder of consistency is just as powerful today for coders, writers, athletes, or anyone chasing long-term goals.

The Two-Part Motivation System

By merging Harvard science with comedy discipline, Pink offers what he calls a dual-action motivation plan:

• From Harvard: Record three ways you made progress each day.
• From Seinfeld: Mark an X for every day you show up, and never break the chain.

“Progress fuels purpose. Consistency fuels confidence,” Pink wrote, adding that this combination can transform not just your days, but your weeks, months, and ultimately, your life.

Daniel H. Pink, born in 1964, has authored seven New York Times bestsellers, including Drive, When, and The Power of Regret. He also delivered one of the most-watched TED Talks, The Puzzle of Motivation, and served as host and co-executive producer of a National Geographic Channel series on social science.