Ode to discipline

I think the most important quality for a stand-up comedian is discipline. Discipline is more important than talent, more important than connections, more important than luck. Neither George Carlin nor Steven Wright would ever become what they are without discipline. Discpline starts with little things, like writing a sentence a day. Then a paragraph. Then a page. Then you realize you have enough material to write a book. Some will say discipline takes away your freedom to be spontaneous or unpredictable, while others will say discipline gives you the freedom from procrastination and laziness. There's only one reason the Spartans are known as the greatest warriors that ever lived - discipline. I like to think of my favorite comedians as the Spartans of comedy.