Practice Makes The Imperfect Look Perfect

Perfection has different standards and means different things to different people.

For example, I may notice an error in a design that looks perfect to you. That doesn’t mean the design is imperfect. It just means that perfection is relative.

A man with 20 years of experience in his craft would supposedly produce perfect works. But someone with 30 years of experience in the same craft is in the best position to spot the imperfections in it.

With this in mind, at what point does practice make perfect?

Generally speaking, it doesn’t because we all see the world from different lenses. You can’t be perfect in the eyes of everyone on planet earth. This doesn’t mean the phrase is wrong. It just has some sides to it.

However, practice helps you eliminate imperfections till it is almost non-existent. In other words, every form of practice increases your level of perfection in what you do until the number of people who can spot your imperfections start to become extinct.

“Practice makes perfect” as a phrase is too long term and forces you to believe that you’re not yet good at what you do until you have a gazillion years of experience in your craft with a bazillion number of works to show.

And then by the time you acquire those gazillion and bazillion numbers and have reached the peak of your career, the pride of perfection sets in, making you feel like you’re better than everyone else.

After all, no one has challenged your work for a number of years now, thus the illusion of perfection.

“Practice makes the imperfect look perfect” as a phrase helps you understand that even as you work on your craft tomorrow and the day after that, you may not be perfect yet, but you have grown in your level of perfection.

It helps you celebrate your little successes and perfections. After all, with every practice, you grow less in imperfection and more in perfection.

And when you do get to the point where you have gazillion and bazillion numbers to your name, the pride of perfection becomes non-existent because you understand that there is someone, somewhere who could still spot imperfections in your work.

So get up and practice some more. There’s no time for pride.