2 Surprising Financial Lessons from Jerry Seinfeld," How to Avoid "Denominator Blindness," 7 Questions to Find A Fulfilling Job, and More

Adams:
“You get to a point and you’re like, ‘How much longer can I take it?’”

Seinfeld:
“Is time running out? Are you out of time?”

Adams:
“I’m getting older…I’m 29. I feel like I’ve sacrificed so much of my life. The last 3 years have been a blur.”

Seinfeld:
“Do you have something else you would rather have been doing? You got other appointments or other places you got to be?”

Adams:

“Not necessarily. I see all my friends are making a lot of money…on Wall Street.”

Seinfeld:
“What?” [increduously]

Adams:
“I just see my friends moving up, and I’m worried.”

Seinfeld:
“Are you outta your mind? This has nothing to do with your friends. This [motioning to the stage] is a special thing. This has nothing to do with ‘making it.’”

Let's say you find $750 per month in subscriptions & other expenses you no longer use.

And you begin contributing to your Employer's retirement plan to get an Employer Match of about $250/month

Let's assume 7% returns (inflation-adjusted)

How much is $1,000/month in 25 years?

That's over three-quarters of a million dollars

Not bad!

Imagine what that could be if you invest even more over time.

The lesson?

It's not too late.

You just need to get started.

“Especially if you’re a younger or less-experienced investor, a concept you need to understand is denominator blindness. That's the automatic human tendency to fixate on the top of the fraction, not the bottom. We're wired to pay more attention to changes than to levels. The magnitude of negative changes is almost impossible to ignore, whereas the total number on which those changes are based is less vivid and harder to hold in your memory for reference.

In this case, 1051.67 is the numerator: how much the Dow fell last week. The denominator is 42654.74, or where the Dow stood before last week’s drop. Only by comparing the numerator to the denominator can you tell that the Dow dropped 2.47%. That isn’t a tiny amount, but it’s well within the historical norm, and it doesn’t sound nearly as dire as MORE THAN A THOUSAND POINTS!

Imagine a chilly day when the temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Now imagine that it drops to 48.8 degrees. Would you notice? Would you care? That 2.47% decline is the exact equivalent of last week’s drop in the Dow.

If you wouldn't care about a drop in temperature from 50 to 49, you shouldn't care about a 1,000-point drop in the Dow.”

1. What made you weird as a kid?

Before life taught you to be “normal,” what were you obsessed with?

Dinosaurs? Drawing comics? Organizing your sock drawer?

Those early quirks often hold the key to what truly drives you.

2. When do you lose track of time?

Psychologists call it flow—that state when you’re so immersed, you forget yourself.

It’s not just fun. It’s a clue.

Flow = intrinsic motivation = purpose.

3. What do people thank you for?

Gratitude is feedback.

Do people thank you for your advice? Your humor? Your leadership?

That’s the world tapping you on the shoulder, saying: “You’re good at this. Do more of it.”

4. What’s your sentence?

One sentence. That’s it.

“He helped people find their voice.”

“She made science accessible.”

“They made work better for everyone.”

Distill your life into a sentence—and aim toward it.

5. Where can you make your biggest contribution?

Forget being the center of the universe.

Ask: Where am I needed?

Then match that need with your skills.

Purpose lives at the intersection of usefulness and meaning.

6. What would you do if money wasn’t a factor?

No deadlines. No bills. Just freedom.

Now, what would you choose to do?

That answer isn’t a fantasy—it’s a flashlight. It shows you what matters.

7. What will you regret when you’re 90?

The #1 regret isn’t failure.

It’s inaction.

Not starting. Not speaking up. Not taking the leap.

Picture your 90-year-old self. What would they beg you to do today?

What’s an important short-term savings goal you want to start saving for soon (vacation, wedding ring, down payment)?

How much money do you want to set aside each month so you can meet your goal? Can you open a dedicated savings account to easily see your progress to maintain motivation & build momentum?