Is good enough good enough?
These days I’m working on a new Prosperity Affirmations Audio with a friend of mine, Laureen Falco.
It has been an amazing creative process.
I love working with professional people, and Laureen is one!
As a part of the process I’m working on a video to put on YouTube. I have made several versions and sent them to Laureen, and she has given feed back and then I adjust the video.
Two days ago I thought that now I had made the final version. But Laureen had three things that needed to be adjusted. I shortly had the thought: “Is it really necessary to edit it again? Isn’t it good enough?”
But as soon as I “heard” myself thinking the words “good enough” I knew that I had to edit it again!!
Because I don’t believe in “good enough is good enough”! To me good enough is NOT good enough!! I have learned that from years of work in the recording studio. Every time we said that something was good enough, we knew that it was time to take a break. Maybe one hour, maybe one day, and then come back.
I believe you should always go for “perfect”, or at least as good as possible. Of course for some people, who never finish anything because they are too perfectionistic, the good enough is good enough would work, but not to me!
Remember, every time you deliver something or publish something, it’s a visiting card. And the best recommendation you can get is doing your absolute best, always!!
Don’t bother that there are people that might think they could do it better that you, there certainly are such people.. But if you always go for the sublime, you will have the chance to improve your skills.
Here is the Prosperity Prayer video:
Thank you!
[...] Is good enough good enough?. No [...]
Claus~ great article on whether or not good enough is good enough. You’re right, for some it’s a stall tactic while for others it’s just a necessary evil.
You are blessed to work with Laureen who works very hard at what she does.
Kudos my friend.
Hi dear Tam,
Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad that I attract the best people to work with! (When will we work together? ;-D)
Great post Claus!
You never leave any of your projects at “Good Enough.” That is why your music and your talent is so sought out, because you are one of the best!
Trap
Thank you, Trapper!
Your words mean a lot to me!
It’s also always a pleasure working with you!
Michael Masterson wrote a book “Read, Fire, Aim” (Wiley) with the reverse idea of what you propose. Waiting for perfection usually means waiting forever. Get something good enough and put it up. I don’t mean to post something horrible but put something up.
I spent 8 years in the Marine Corps. I took a ‘class’ on calling and adjusting Naval gunfire. We were parachuted behind the lines with a radio and binoculars. Using a map we would determine the position that needed to be removed from the map. Ships, actually one ship, would fire. That is calling Naval gunfire. If they were off target we would correct the fire. That is adjusting gunfire. Each of these first 2 shots cost millions, but they allowed us to get on target. Then we would call to fire for effect. Remove the grid square from the map.
Ready, fire, aim.
Hi Richard,
Thank you for visiting my blog and your comment.
That is a great story! Thanks for sharing,
Claus
Claus,
Wow! There’s been some discussion about what “art” really is. In my mind, art is an elevated level of creativity. So, I think with both our talents combined, that we bring the work to a higher level. That’s what a great JV is all about! I think it’s following our “instincts” about when we feel we’ve done our best. I felt a bit guilty about comment about the last few changes, but we were so close, and now the video is PERFECT! It’s been a real joy working with you!
Thank you Laureen, it’s a pleasure (a really big one!) to work with you!
Claus,
I go back and forth on this one. I really understand Pat’s thought that you can work an album until it’s perfect, and dead. My main worry is that people equate Good Enough with mediocrity. I think mediocrity is the death of art. I also think perfection is. Not the pursuit of perfection, the thought that you can achieve it.
Yes, do that last edit. I’ve done zero hour changes to my work many times. But eventually you have to declare it “done” and get it out into the world.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found things that needed changing after it was too late, but I’ve learned that nothing, ultimately, is perfect and I’m proud to have gotten it out in as perfect a state as I could, given the constraints. That, to me, is good enough. It has to be or I’d never get another thing done. And I have so much I want to do.
Geoff