“Done is better than perfect.” When you have a task, get it done as good as you can, learn from the process, and move on with something new. In one of his videos, Peter McKinnon talks about this approach when working on photography projects. But is this approach wrong? In this video, Jamie Windsor discusses whether “done” is really better than “perfect.”
Generally speaking, making that little extra effort is what separates good (or good enough) work from great work. Therefore, that extra effort and thinking about the details will make your work standing out from the rest. Relying on this, Jamie challenges Peter’s claim that “done is better than perfect.” But is Peter wrong? Well not entirely. It’s more complex than merely the choice between quality and quantity.
Jamie explains that “Done is better than perfect” is a philosophy that applies well to the learning process. On the other hand, “that extra push” is a philosophy that helps you to create successful work. The thing is – these two philosophies are not mutually exclusive, but rather connected. The first affects the efficiency of the second. In other words, the more of the first philosophy you practice, the more effective the second philosophy will become.
It’s even more than that. “Done is better than perfect” approach keeps you from overthinking. It helps you do your work intuitively rather than analytically. I’d say that this might be a good way to overcome the creative block, which can occur when you overanalyze things.
While you’re still learning, “done is better than perfect” approach can be ideal for you. However, as you grow and progress, Jamie suggests you start striving for perfection a bit more. Put that extra little effort to make your work stand out from the crowd, don’t just get it done.
For those of you who haven’t seen Peter’s video Jamie is referring to, you can watch it below.
Personally, I lean more towards “done is better than perfect” when I’m very limited with time. In this case, I simply cannot afford to spend too much time on getting the work done perfectly, so I just try to get it done as well and as soon as I can. However, when I don’t have to meet a very short deadline, I will do my best, and even more, to get as close to perfect as I can.
So, I don’t think one or the other approach is always the right answer. It all depends on the situation you find yourself in. But I’d say that, whenever you can, you should push yourself a bit harder than the previous time in order to become better.
What do you think? Which of these two approaches do you usually follow?
[Is Peter McKinnon WRONG? | Jamie Windsor]
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