So it's not just be funny or be funny AND work hard...it's be funny, work hard AND get lucky. Wow.... now I want to open a vein or climb the clock tower with a rifle. Thank's Orny and www.psychologytoday.com for adding another wing onto my therapist's mansion.

An article in Psych today contributed in deciding my major.

I am a very happy person, so to really get me to belly laugh is a feat.
Orny is one of the few.

I don't really believe in failure. I believe you eliminate all the useless possibilities that keep one from success
(which is very subjective) and learn to by trial and error, what it takes to get you there. I only believe in 'learning'. Failure is a negative unnecessary perception. It denotes finishing, giving up, ending. That's not Orny.

My dad was Pro athlete whose ego was very much approval oriented, and when his time came to leave the field and the accolades behind, he also left his self esteem somewhere back in the fray and took a downward slide into alcoholism as his coping mechanism of choice.

Comedy IS not only Ornys vocation but it's his coping mechanism for life's trial and travails. If you cope, to my perception of success, you are a successful human. You survive. Now time to thrive? That's coming for Orny.

As a "retired" therapist and present youth drug court coordinator, Orny Adams' insights struck me as honest and compelling. Not only do they apply to the kids I watch as they struggle to figure out their way in unusually complicated circumstances, but they relate to my life as well. After 15 years in the psych biz, I know the feeling of "I failed." I've spent many a night thinking how I failed a person, myself, or a program. I took away that continuing to put one foot in the front of the other until things break your way is the ultimate success.

Thanks Orny for a wonderful article!

You're right -- Orny's like the Van Gogh of contemporary comedians: brilliant at his art, yet still inexplicably undiscovered. (I take a guilty pride in being a fan of his, just as I was with Bukowski or Leonard Cohen or Bill Hicks before they became coffee house buzz words.)

Check him out for yourself (and yes, this is a shameless plug)on his "Path of Most Resistance" DVD.

And Mr. Adams, if you read this, thanks for making me look up the meaning of the word "laconic".

I have seen Orny perform several times in Los Angeles. I was expecting the guy from COMEDIAN, I got a nice surprise : Orny was enjoying being onstage, controlling the room and let the audience in on a world class comedy performance. Another BIG surprise : after the show, Orny was hanging out chatting with a bunch of us for over an hour. He was funny, interesting and engaging.

Thanks Orny, laughing is why we keep coming back to see you.

Jay almost has it right when he says "famous for not being famous." What he meant to say though, was "famous for not being famous yet." The "yet" is key.

Once you see Orny Adams perform live you will know what I mean!

Like some kinda boxer, taking his blows, this guy comes back better every time I see his show.

And Skip, you're funny... I hope you get lucky tonight!

In a personal correspondence with Mr. Adams earlier today, I mentioned to him that I initially expected to read a stodgy stereotypical journal style article in regard to "Orny Adams On Failure."
(Cautionsly, I thought, "Ok, I'm sure it's a publicity type thing, but I'll give the piece a once-over. After all, it IS appearing within the Psychology Today realm.")
I told Mr. Adams that I was pleasantly surprised to find an interesting, well written and insightful interview which thankfully never veered off into painful puff-piece territory.
I applaud the author, Jay Dixit for his treatment of the subject (Orny Adams) and I have more hearty applause toward Orny Adams (the subject) for being openly forthright in his responses to the author's questions.
To top it all off, Orny Adams has a remarkable "knack" for his occupation and is one of the select few working comedians I acknowledge as being actually funny.
Many thanks to both gentlemen...

Cool interview man, real honest and forthcoming, not some Hollywood B.S. that no one cares to believe.

I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. There were so many pieces that rang true. Personally, I am one of those successful/not successful people at work- at least in my own mind. I have done really well, as Orny has. I just haven't hit the level I want yet. But I am Ok with that and agree with Orny that every opportunity is not really one. Sometimes, you "win" by losing a chance. I am sending this article to my recent HS grad son and every one of his friends. Gotta go. I need to put my head back down and continue to work hard until my talent and hard work intersect with some luck.

I think that OA is a very brave and FUNNY man! I love that he is so honest, and open about his personal life. It make me respect him so much more that I already did. Great interview, and GREAT answers OA! He is one of the best comedians around!

This is a fabulous article. It was nice to read some personal items about OA. I remember after seeing OA in the movie Comedian, I thought that he was kinda dark, pessimistic, negative, and pretty much angry at life in some way. But after seeing OA in person a few times, reading his blog, and especially after he has responded to a few of my emails, I realize that he's not that way at all. I still wish that OA were HUGE because I think that he is so freakin' funny, but it's obviously just not his time yet. I still believe that it will happen for him though. OA is truly talented, and I'm not just saying that because I think he's hot. :)~ If you have never seen Orny Adams perform in person, and you love good comedy, you gotta check him out; you will not be disappointed.