[davidjay]

The path to perfection leads to procrastination.

- Harry Beckwith

[kcindy]

davidjay, on November 21 2004, 03:26 PM, said:

The path to perfection leads to procrastination.

- Harry Beckwith

Perfection is paralysis.
-Winston Churchill

[Reuben]

davidjay, on November 21 2004, 07:26 PM, said:

The path to perfection leads to procrastination.

- Harry Beckwith

Man David that totally hit home with me. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and don't want to even do anything unless I can get it exactly right... which leads me to put things off until I can "get them just right." I've finally started to break free of that and I'm working like crazy on just doing things no matter what. But for the last few months I've just been sitting on my hands dreaming of the perfect solution to everything, but not really working towards it.

Thanks for the encouragement!

[liana]

photoreu, on August 26 2005, 05:04 PM, said:

I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and don't want to even do anything unless I can get it exactly right... which leads me to put things off until I can "get them just right."

Ditto. I've been procrastinating on my new site for months and now it's almost done and I already don't like it!!

Seems to be only a problem with my photography stuff though...

*needing a sure-fire kick in the buttah...*

[Reuben]

yup... know exactly what you mean. Why don't you post up some stuff and we can give you a kick!

I tend to be overly critical of my work... others don't seem to mind looking at it as much as I do

[Adam Squier]

photoreu, on August 26 2005, 05:04 PM, said:

Man David that totally hit home with me.  I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and don't want to even do anything unless I can get it exactly right... which leads me to put things off until I can "get them just right."  I've finally started to break free of that and I'm working like crazy on just doing things no matter what.  But for the last few months I've just been sitting on my hands dreaming of the perfect solution to everything, but not really working towards it.

Thanks for the encouragement!

This is really easy to fall into. I know from first-hand experience. Someone told me to try to make things "good enough" rather than "perfect" and it helps. But it's still difficult. Because I know in my head that it's not perfect, and I beat myself up over it. The funny thing is, is that what's just "good enough" in my mind is often completely outstandingly amazing in other people's minds. I really need to let go and let things be where they are and not try to nit-pick too much.

I realize I'm rambling, here. It's kind of like painting (fine art, not walls). There comes a time when you have to say "it's finished" -- but knowing when that time is can be difficult. If you keep going, it can get ruined, but if you stop too soon, it might not be quite there. You could say the same thing about retouching a senior girl's portrait. How much is too much? Should I soften it more? Should it be "edgier" instead?

I guess it's done when you say it is, rather than when you think it should be. Or could be.

[bryanfuller]

I totallyy agree, nice quotation.

[kendra michelle]

Very well said!

Comparing my work to others (in the past) caused me to never post my stuff or even want to take pictures until I got it 'perfect' like others... caused me to get SUPER frustrated and burnt out because m stuff never looked 'perfect'. After realizing that my work...is well, just that. MY WORK. I kept asking questions, learning and practicing until I found MY STYLE - now I can stop snapping pictures and wanting to learn all that I CAN! I still enjoy to look at others work for inspiration and still amazes me how talented and creative people can be - the human mind is amazing!

You have full permission to be YOU! No one and nothing is perfect...so you will just waste your time trying to achieve it.

[Set_Apart]

Good stuff....thanks!
Encouraging indeed...