Perfection is the Enemy of Progress

We’re an industry caught short in the Catch 22 of perfection, the dreamy (and frankly illogical) desire for no more edits, changes, or scope-creep suggestions skirting on the reality that nothing can ever really reach the upper echelons of perfection.

The freedom to swing ideas around with reckless abandon is a nod to the importance of untempered experimentation, with the draw of the faultless first attempt instead melting into the joy of messy, unadulterated progress.

Let’s get one thing straight – perfection is a myth, and one we’re not equipped to tackle without some pretty influential divine intervention. Whilst reaching the promised land of perfection isn’t on the cards for the foreseeable, one thing we can rely on is the potential for progress. We see the drive for a faultless future as the refinement of something static that already exists – thinking “beyond” your present struggle motivates movement, shaking off the stagnant ideas stuck chasing the unattainable illusion of perfection.

🗒 Evidence your success

All too often, our desire for perfectionism is borne from insecurity. Try documenting your past successes and recognise the struggles that got you to the finishing line – be it a passing complement or a big client win, the likelihood is it wasn’t totally smooth sailing.

🌱 Replace “perfecting” with “progressing”

The way we talk about our practice has a huge impact on how we operate day-to-day. By editing our language, we begin to re-shape our connection to the words that drive us – try reframing “perfecting” as “progressing” and see how that influences your mindset.

💪 Notice your discomfort

It’s likely to feel unnatural to explore imperfection, often leading to an uneasiness that can in fact nurture real breakthroughs. Recognise your baseline disposition when it comes to chasing faultless work and try to reframe it as relief – it’s progress we’re after, not perfection.

It’s not unusual for creatives to be a little stubborn, on occasion. We are, by nature, dedicated to our ideas and have an earnest commitment to the credibility of our creative practice, but that doesn’t always work out in our favour. There’s power in starting fresh. The stress, pressure, and tension caught up in a project that just won’t budge is an all-too familiar tale, and one with a simple solution. Making the decision to start again could be the answer to your struggle – would you give it go?

🛶 The sunk cost fallacy is just that – a fallacy

It’s understandable. You’ve spent untold hours and a healthy sum of cash on a project that just isn’t getting anywhere, but it feels wrong to throw in the towel. As counterintuitive as it might sound, there’s something to be said for quitting. Don’t feel like you need to continue to invest time, money, and energy into something that just isn’t delivering.

✨ Turn fear in into excitement

Reassessing your resistance to starting fresh can help to reset your “failure” bias. Turn the fear of a new beginning into an excitement for what will come next. Something new, different, or frightening could be just the boost you need.

🌀 Abandon your ideas

Kill your darlings. Not every idea is a good idea, and even really good ideas aren’t always feasible. Be ruthless and seek out the advice of your colleagues and collaborators. Is this a good idea or just a nice idea? Try not to be too precious – this all too often stifles progress.

The alternative to perfectionism that every creative ought to be chasing is progress - a reputable indicator of healthy change and vital iteration. Progress is a promise of a better future, a hopeful gesture towards free and limitless creativity full of flavour. The fruits of progress are ever-so sweet – we’ll take iteration over refinement any day!

🧠 Shift your mindset to the long-term

A short-term outlook doesn’t build a future. Reframe your mindset to embrace the long-term and explore what a three year timeline might look like. Experiment with frameworks like the 2Y3X accelerator (opens in a new window) to make reliable progress and reflect on how far you’ve come.

💎 Explore digital tools and offline creativity

Collaboration breeds creativity. Make use of digital tools as well as off-screen experimentation to see what works best for yourself and your team. Platforms like Notion and FigJam help to facilitate intuitive and interactive collaboration – or perhaps a Hackathon could be for you? Read more about ours here…

👏 Reframe “failure” as an opportunity

Missing the mark never feels great, but try to see this as an opportunity to reassess, iterate, and move forward. Break free from the shackles of perfectionism and indulge in the pleasures of progress. Failure truly is an opportunity to do better.

Do you have thoughts on how we can break free from perfectionism? We want to hear from you! Get in touch with us to continue the conversation hello@driftime.com (opens in a new window) 🌟