Are You a Perfectionist?

Some people say “I’m a perfectionist” with pride.

But to me the pursuit of perfection is just an advanced form of procrastination. Here’s why you should stop trying to make it perfect.

You’ll never achieve it

How are you going to achieve perfection?

You won’t, it’s not possible.

So how will never being able to achieve what you’re striving for make you feel? Confidence is key to creation and your pursuit of perfection will kill it.

Perfection isn’t the same as good

Do you assume that something perfect is better than something imperfect?

Why?

Our Western ideal of beauty and perfection probably comes from the Ancient Greeks. But this isn’t the only way to think.

The Japanese aesthetic of Wabi Sabi - beauty that is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete - makes much more sense to me than any ideal of perfection.

Failure equals growth

“Success is 99% failure” - Soichiro Honda

Your endless quest for perfection has its roots in fear of failure.

But if you build your courage you’ll learn to accept and expect failure as a natural and important part of the creative process.

Fail, fail and fail again. Because when you fail you learn.

The internet

If you don’t agree with any of the above, then consider the modern world.

Soon all your work will either be promoted or distributed through the internet. The internet rewards transparency over secrecy. It also rewards quantity over quality. You might not like it, but it’s the truth.

In this world it’s better to get as much as you can finished and released than tinker and tweak attempting to achieve perfection.

A caveat

I’m not suggesting that you should immediately release a load of crap. And I’m assuming that you care about what you do and make deeply, and that you always try to be your best.

But assuming this, forget about perfection. Because it is more honest, courageous and useful to your development to get on with it, finish it, and get it out the door.

Worry whether it’s any good later.