The Imperfectionist

What’s the best way to delay doing creative work, and avoid criticism?
To use the excuse of perfection: it’s not ready yet.
To say “It’s not perfect yet”. 

Seth Godin explains that perfect and perfection has very little to do with each other. “Perfect” is about how the audience feels about your work; “Perfection” means paying attention to trivial and insignificant details, that virtually no else sees or cares about, just because you’re afraid you’ll be criticized for not being good enough.

Look at this wonderful piece.
At first glance, it is perfectly shaped. The beautiful, polished outer edges exemplify precision. Natural, splendid long lines almost make us want to sing along. This is what this piece “wants” us to see, but what happens when we take a closer view from the top? There, below the impeccably laid glass, a clutter is exposed.  

This is symbolic of the emotional chaos that resides in all of us. When we try to do something new and unfamiliar; When we compare ourselves to others; When we let other people tell us what we should and shouldn’t feel, instead of listening to our own hearts and souls. 

This piece is a reminder to be an “imperfectionist”: every time we give our honest and best efforts, that’s good enough – for now: as a parent, as a partner or as a leader. And next time, we’ll do better.
This daily exercise of creation, of ignoring the voices of perfectionisms, give us more of what we are here to do: Living a life of creation, not a life of perceived perfection.