How to avoid the perils of perfectionism

6 Responses to this post

• 

  Mark Shingleton
  February 23, 2010 at 4:18 am | Reply
  

  Hi Guys,

  That was another excellent discussion and is something that I have struggled with again and again while working for myself.

  I’m currently working as a freelance web designer / developer and have certainly experienced the champagne solution on the beer budget and the ensuing inflated client expectations the next time around.
  The end result being that not only can you not pay the bills from time to time … it’s also very soul destroying.

  You put your all into making something that you’re proud of and the client just doesn’t see the value in it. Their budget was $500 and you’ve given them $2000 worth of brilliance for that $500.

  Then when the cheque comes in (inevitably after a couple of overdue emails have been sent) and it’s half or quarter of what it really should be, then you get a real reality check … and a job at burger king starts to look pretty attractive.

  What is perhaps even more scary is that after doing this over and over again, you begin to question the value in your work or your own ability. Scary stuff indeed. Perfection, as they say, has it’s price.

  Thanks again for the reminder and keep on with the BOD

  Cheers

  Markos

• 

  Ben Trahair
  February 23, 2010 at 5:09 pm | Reply
  

  Hi John.

  Just watched your most recent business of design webisode on perfectionism. Just wanted to say thanks very much for all the stuff you and Robin are talking about at the moment. Your shows brings to light issues that are rarely discussed in our creative fields and are really valuable to a wide audience of beginners and seasoned professionals.
  I started out as an editor and have moved into design and motion in a way by chance. Though I’ve been working in motion graphics for about 5 years now I don’t have a design degree (something I often consider making space for) and its really interesting learning about some of your similar experiences in finding your way as a designer, learning to trust yourself and finding compromise to fit the clients bill and time constraints. Its really inspirational stuff and I hope you continue pushing forward with it.

  Keep up the awesome work!

  Cheers,

  Ben

  • 

    John Dickinson
    February 25, 2010 at 2:36 pm | Reply
    

    Thanks Ben! Best wishes, John.

• 

  Frank Busch
  February 24, 2010 at 3:55 pm | Reply
  

  great episode,

  interesting view to the subject. even though my business situation is quite relaxing at the moment, this discussion makes me think.

  thinking is good

  thanks

  frank from berlin (germany)

  • 

    John Dickinson
    February 25, 2010 at 2:40 pm | Reply
    

    You’re welcome Frank. Great to see Germany doing so well in Vancouver too!

• 

  Peter Somers (TC-Productions)
  February 25, 2010 at 4:47 pm | Reply
  

  Wow … you have just voiced one of THE most frustrating and important issues for people working in the graphic industry.

  I’m in the same situation as you, working in Broadcast Graphics, and it’s been a very personal and almost painful process of learning that what you want to do and what the client thinks of as a finished product are in numerous cases two very different things.

  For me personally, not having had a graphic design background, the most difficult thing in the beginning was being too critical of myself. Constantly questioning my skills, constantly wondering “Is this good enough?”.
  The main reason for this I found was that, in the beginning, you don’t really have an objective comparison between your own stuff and other artists’ work. You see the work of people like John Dickinson and think “damn, he’s totally 1000 levels more advanced than me”.
  So you’re trying to prove yourself in the business, hence putting in way more hours than necessary, or wanting to tweak every single detail, with as an end result : pure frustration!
  It’s happened several times that I’m working on something, showing the client a work-in-progress preview, and they say “that’s it! That’s exactly what we need”.
  Even though they totally approve of your work, you just sit there and think to yourself “this can’t be right?!”.

  After a while of working with colleagues in the same line of work however, you start realizing that you ARE in the same league as they are, that your work IS of a professional quality, and that yes, there are situations where you just have to “let go”. Once you’re over that hump, it all becomes a lot easier, altho the uneasy feel never ever goes away.
  Especially on the half-day fast jobs it’s still hard to send out stuff that you could have done better, but hey, if the director you’re working for is happy with it, then why wonder about it afterwards?

  And that’s another important thing I had to learn: don’t fret about stuff you’ve done after it’s been published. In the beginning, I could kick myself seeing some of my stuff on air.
  Nowadays it’s a bit easier to close and archive the project, and with it also the creative thoughts that come with it.

  I guess the best way to overcome the nagging feeling that you could have done better is to ask the director you’re working with for feedback after the project has been finished.
  It helps in learning what your weak points are, where your strengths are, and also if the feedback is positive, gives you that very valuable feeling of approval and skill recognition that can put your mind at ease, and help you to move on to the next project with confidence.

  Many thanks for this very informative article. It’s great to see that there are others who face just the same demons. Hehe!!

  Massive respect!

  Peter

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