Name drop alert: years ago, I commissioned a piece from Simon Cowell. Since he was about to turn 50, I asked him to write a letter to his younger self – hardly an original idea but it hadn’t been done to death by that point. And he wrote it well.*
Don’t worry, I’m not about to do the same. But if there’s one thing I wish I’d known when I was younger†, it’s this: perfectionism is pointless. Certainly in any creative endeavour and maybe in anything at all.
One of my favourite buildings is the Pantheon in Rome. It houses the world’s largest unsupported concrete dome with a circular opening at the top. I’ve stood under it, gazed up at the sky and wondered how on earth they managed to build it when I struggle to replace my TV remote batteries. To me, it’s perfection. But I can guarantee some Ancient Roman smartarse called Silvio will have found fault in its brickwork and other critics will have picked it apart over the centuries.
Fast forward to The Beatles.** I’ve probably watched Get Back for longer than it took them to record Let It Be, the album on which the documentary’s based. Despite it being one of the most iconic records of all time, it’s clear the band were on a tight deadline so churned out many of the tracks. To some, the album is perfection. But I doubt even The Beatles would have agreed.
My point? If you strive for perfection and delude yourself into thinking it’s even remotely attainable, there will (if you’re lucky) be hundreds, thousands, millions who reckon your book/album/film/artwork/app is OK. More who think it’s no good. And more who absolutely hate it.
So don’t bother. Just get stuff done – and out. Had I known this when I was younger, I’d have saved myself days, weeks, maybe months of time. Which could have been spent doing something far more useful like learning to fire breathe and juggle.
Anyway, to the three of you still reading, have an imperfectly enjoyable weekend.
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* You can find it here if you’re interested.
†Apart from the value of putting my pocket money on Apple shares, not Panini stickers.
** No, I haven’t been drinking. It’s 10.46am
