Self Confidence: Its Power
I have a friend who is a published author. A few years ago, my friend published a book that was well received by the targeted audience. I must confess that I was a bit jealous by the look of the book and the content. It was a lot like a project that I had wanted to pursue for some time. I stood with friends who applauded the book, and I purchased a copy that I’ve read and used for study fodder. During the years since its publication, I’ve asked my friend when I could expect to see Volume II appear. The answer surprised me. It seems that in spite of multiple edits during and after the creation of the book, several misspelt words snuck by the editor’s red pencil, and made it into the printed publication. My friend was so upset by the imperfections that the decision was made to never attempt it again.
How sad. It is truly our loss.
And yet, I find myself experiencing the same confrontation with regard to my soon to be released DVD, SCRABBALUTION. Certainly, I want it to be flawless. And each time (hundreds of times) I reviewed and edited the DVD I found ways to improve the product. At the end of each editing session I was satisfied that I had caught all glitches. And each subsequent viewing focused my attention to some other issue.
The creative process can be very delicate. What is ‘complete’? What is ‘finished’? What is ‘good enough’?
When Edison created the light bulb, he still wasn’t finished. He continued to improved upon it for years to come.
Do we really know if Picasso really felt that he was finished with the pieces of art that he released?
Works and inventions are extensions of their creators. It seems only natural that there is some angst to how creations are received by others.
And now I have put myself in the position to stand with other greater and lesser creators as I am about to release my first full length DVD. I am hoping that my self confidence is strong enough to weather any naysayers and that I can utilize the kudos from the well-wishers to move on to ‘whatever’s next’.