Perfectionism in music is something I have had an immense struggle with. I also encounter it in my personal life. This approach described by contributor David Pennise may seem simple, but it is incredibly difficult for me–but more importantly, incredibly powerful and effective. – Dan
“Good is the enemy of great”
Everybody has heard the phrase. “Good is the enemy of great.” While there is no reason to not strive for excellence in what you do, when doing so reaches a point where it causes you to go insane, you know you’ve gone too far.
What is wrong with being perfect? While fantasies about perfectionism may lead us to believe that it results in us producing our best work, it often gets in the way. If you are suffering from perfectionism, here are some tricks you can use to combat this vicious villain.
Strive for “good enough.”
Wait—“good enough?” I thought “good was the enemy of great!” “Good enough” means “sufficiently strong.” As in, there is no need to keep fussing because the level of expectation has been met. There is no such thing as perfect; you cannot be “perfect” no matter how hard you try. And, what is perfect anyway? After all, music is an art.
Reach a point where you can ask yourself if you have met the “good enough” expectation.
If your internal dialogue leads you to fuss over minutia, take a break. If you feel an urge to fix something coming on, that is when you need to ask yourself “is this good enough?” If the answer is honestly yes, then it may be time to “put it in the can.”
Set a deadline
Deadlines are super important in the music business. And once you submit something, you are done—at least until your client tells you they want you to fix something, which they will more than likely do. And, the probability they will choose the one thing you are most proud of, that didn’t keep you up for hours at night, is much higher than the probability they will choose whatever it is that is bothering you most. Remember, it’s not always about you, it is about your audience.
Pretend you didn’t create it.
Sometimes the best strategy I can recommend for myself when I am being overtaken by perfectionism, is to pretend I am my uncle or dad, who are constantly joking about how music is like Greek to them. As strange as this may sound this helps give me a more realistic picture of what I am really hearing (from the “normal” world’s perspective). Sometimes listening with somebody else’s ears can eliminate extraneous criticism.
The Bottom line
Make sure you do your best, but never strive for perfection. When you know you have honestly given something your best effort and that working to improve it would only get in the way, you know that it is time to wrap up. When you sincerely strive for good enough, knowing that the bar is already pretty high to begin with, you will ultimately produce your best work.
Happy creating, and good luck!
David Pennise
Composer, French Hornist, MFA Student
https://youtu.be/mwrfOT702p0
https://soundcloud.com/user-550028505
