Good stuff man - a really nice take on the topic. I'll admit to some ambivalence here. Intellectually, I agree 100% with what you're saying, but there's still a apart of me that cautions against the "imperfectionist" mindset.
I think it stems from the general complacency and entitlement I see in a lot of folks these days, especially my students. And so while I don't want to set them up to fail (in their quest for perfection), I also worry that an early acceptance of imperfection will lead to stagnation. So, if we're going to rightly preach imperfection, wf have to balance it with extolling progress.
Thank you Evan, appreciate your insights on this. I understand that very well, although I don’t think that imperfection necessarily equates bad quality. Often times imperfect pieces of art feel quintessentially human, like a singer who sings out of tune but with so much passion that it elicits goosebumps in the listener. (Thinking of Bob Dylan)
I also think that there is much more to be learnt from putting something out — going through the complete process of finishing a thing, because the world often provides direct feedback. The hard lessons tend to stick, so to speak.
Saying that, I imagine you have a responsibility as a teacher to be able to inspire and encourage your students in a way that is authentic. How do you encourage your students to explore their own creative abilities and what do you think has made the biggest difference to their confidence in doing so?
Well you make a good point about the feedback loop in the creative process and how it braids together with the acceptance of imperfection. I suppose my point is that, for many of my students, the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Now, they're totally fine with imperfection; in fact, they're too fine with it - and that's the problem. We're aligned in that I don't want perfection to lead to paralysis, but I would prefer more of them to have the drive for perfection than to be okay settling for mediocrity.
How do I motivate? Great question - it differs with everyone, and frankly, I don't think there's one silver bullet. I just try to tap into every student's desire for individual achievement (easier said than done).
That is a solid aim for students to have, and a great way to motivate. I remember that often times the lessons I had in school would be 10x better if I had a great teacher, it sounds like you’re one of those, because I can see you’ve put a lot of thought into this. Thanks for your comment 🙏🏼
Great piece! I think there is a certain amount of presumptuousness about our own capabilities to strive to be perfect or produce anything that is “perfect”. Even the rule of nature is basically just “good enough to survive”, who do we think we are to aim for perfection? Also, the definition of perfect is highly subjective and relative. Perfect to whose standards?
Some might say perfection is unattainable, but the pursuit of it makes us better in the process. But I think you’re right in this essay, it might make us better, but it sure does make us more miserable. Because in the pursuit of perfection all that we notice are the painful imperfections glaring back at us. But that doesn’t mean handing in sloppy works with minimal effort. Pursue excellence, not perfection. I think there’s a difference between them. (You’ve just sparked an idea for another post - thanks!)
Also I fully agree to your comment on music. Sometimes when I listen to less refined performances, like classical pieces performed by students instead of world class soloists, the rawness and the intricacies of the music feel much more potent, as opposed to being polished away by mastery and technique. The imperfect playing, the ragged edges, the rougher textures somehow accentuate the perfection of the music itself instead of taking away from it.
That said, this is really some excellent writing. You’ve got an instant subscriber ;D
Thanks so much for your comment— I love what you said about pursuing excellence instead of perfection. Excellence at least can be achieved, yet perfection is a goalpost that is perpetually moved ahead as we approach it. I would LOVE to read your post about this, hope you get to write it. That’s a cool anecdote about music, hearing a piece live with imperfections in it is somehow more exhilarating than when it’s burned into a finished product. Sometimes mistakes are the best parts. Truly appreciate that and right back at you, big fan of your writing 💫🙏🏼
I find this fascinating that my thoughts have been full of this today. All the things I wish to pursue, music, writing, I've allowed to be hindered under this guise. It's funny how little I care about doing it all perfectly anymore, my more immediate care is to get it done. My art has become more of a freefall. It's quite liberating actually. You have written something significant, and I appreciate your perspective on this. It is such a common and rather debilitating struggle, erring on the side of procrastination no doubt.
Wow I’m glad it could resonate at such a timely moment. I love the way you describe it — a freefall, and can imagine it being liberating and empowering. I imagine applying this to music is especially helpful, I remember preferring the demos of some musician friends of mine, because their polished pieces lacked a raw quality of imperfection that the earlier demos captured. Thanks for your comment Julie
I would consider myself, within your description, as the self critical perfectionist. In fact, I haven’t yet finished my own projects as I constantly excuse this with: “they’re still not ready” or “they could be better”.
I do think it is good to separate the perfectionist and try to replace it with a more imperfect mindset, however, I do think this should be done in order to allow the work to flourish and not as an excuse to not create the best possible work you can, I have also found myself “lazily” finishing projects in order to just finish something.
I don’t know, there is loads to learn here.
Thank you for opening up the discussion in your substack ! Xx
Absolutely and thanks as always for your comment. I agree the line becomes fine with creating things that miss the mark, but I suppose I imagine failure to be a valuable lesson that lands more solidly than a perfect piece that never quite got finished. In that respect, perhaps your work is quite ready! And it needs only a few more tweaks before you can release it :)
Good stuff man - a really nice take on the topic. I'll admit to some ambivalence here. Intellectually, I agree 100% with what you're saying, but there's still a apart of me that cautions against the "imperfectionist" mindset.
I think it stems from the general complacency and entitlement I see in a lot of folks these days, especially my students. And so while I don't want to set them up to fail (in their quest for perfection), I also worry that an early acceptance of imperfection will lead to stagnation. So, if we're going to rightly preach imperfection, wf have to balance it with extolling progress.
Thank you Evan, appreciate your insights on this. I understand that very well, although I don’t think that imperfection necessarily equates bad quality. Often times imperfect pieces of art feel quintessentially human, like a singer who sings out of tune but with so much passion that it elicits goosebumps in the listener. (Thinking of Bob Dylan)
I also think that there is much more to be learnt from putting something out — going through the complete process of finishing a thing, because the world often provides direct feedback. The hard lessons tend to stick, so to speak.
Saying that, I imagine you have a responsibility as a teacher to be able to inspire and encourage your students in a way that is authentic. How do you encourage your students to explore their own creative abilities and what do you think has made the biggest difference to their confidence in doing so?
Well you make a good point about the feedback loop in the creative process and how it braids together with the acceptance of imperfection. I suppose my point is that, for many of my students, the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Now, they're totally fine with imperfection; in fact, they're too fine with it - and that's the problem. We're aligned in that I don't want perfection to lead to paralysis, but I would prefer more of them to have the drive for perfection than to be okay settling for mediocrity.
How do I motivate? Great question - it differs with everyone, and frankly, I don't think there's one silver bullet. I just try to tap into every student's desire for individual achievement (easier said than done).
That is a solid aim for students to have, and a great way to motivate. I remember that often times the lessons I had in school would be 10x better if I had a great teacher, it sounds like you’re one of those, because I can see you’ve put a lot of thought into this. Thanks for your comment 🙏🏼
Great piece! I think there is a certain amount of presumptuousness about our own capabilities to strive to be perfect or produce anything that is “perfect”. Even the rule of nature is basically just “good enough to survive”, who do we think we are to aim for perfection? Also, the definition of perfect is highly subjective and relative. Perfect to whose standards?
Some might say perfection is unattainable, but the pursuit of it makes us better in the process. But I think you’re right in this essay, it might make us better, but it sure does make us more miserable. Because in the pursuit of perfection all that we notice are the painful imperfections glaring back at us. But that doesn’t mean handing in sloppy works with minimal effort. Pursue excellence, not perfection. I think there’s a difference between them. (You’ve just sparked an idea for another post - thanks!)
Also I fully agree to your comment on music. Sometimes when I listen to less refined performances, like classical pieces performed by students instead of world class soloists, the rawness and the intricacies of the music feel much more potent, as opposed to being polished away by mastery and technique. The imperfect playing, the ragged edges, the rougher textures somehow accentuate the perfection of the music itself instead of taking away from it.
That said, this is really some excellent writing. You’ve got an instant subscriber ;D
Thanks so much for your comment— I love what you said about pursuing excellence instead of perfection. Excellence at least can be achieved, yet perfection is a goalpost that is perpetually moved ahead as we approach it. I would LOVE to read your post about this, hope you get to write it. That’s a cool anecdote about music, hearing a piece live with imperfections in it is somehow more exhilarating than when it’s burned into a finished product. Sometimes mistakes are the best parts. Truly appreciate that and right back at you, big fan of your writing 💫🙏🏼
I find this fascinating that my thoughts have been full of this today. All the things I wish to pursue, music, writing, I've allowed to be hindered under this guise. It's funny how little I care about doing it all perfectly anymore, my more immediate care is to get it done. My art has become more of a freefall. It's quite liberating actually. You have written something significant, and I appreciate your perspective on this. It is such a common and rather debilitating struggle, erring on the side of procrastination no doubt.
Wow I’m glad it could resonate at such a timely moment. I love the way you describe it — a freefall, and can imagine it being liberating and empowering. I imagine applying this to music is especially helpful, I remember preferring the demos of some musician friends of mine, because their polished pieces lacked a raw quality of imperfection that the earlier demos captured. Thanks for your comment Julie
So glad you are doing this!
Thank you bro! 🤍🙏🏼
I really like your input on this topic!
I would consider myself, within your description, as the self critical perfectionist. In fact, I haven’t yet finished my own projects as I constantly excuse this with: “they’re still not ready” or “they could be better”.
I do think it is good to separate the perfectionist and try to replace it with a more imperfect mindset, however, I do think this should be done in order to allow the work to flourish and not as an excuse to not create the best possible work you can, I have also found myself “lazily” finishing projects in order to just finish something.
I don’t know, there is loads to learn here.
Thank you for opening up the discussion in your substack ! Xx
Absolutely and thanks as always for your comment. I agree the line becomes fine with creating things that miss the mark, but I suppose I imagine failure to be a valuable lesson that lands more solidly than a perfect piece that never quite got finished. In that respect, perhaps your work is quite ready! And it needs only a few more tweaks before you can release it :)