Is PERFECTIONISM a form of COWARDICE?

[@slowwoodshop]

Spectacular video. Honored to be a part of it

[@7wv5]

been waiting for Van’s response video ever since you posted the build over 8 months ago!

[@thematturlookingfor]

Dude your content is phenomenal, great film work, great wood work, keep after it man🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@Hdianvciadpei]

Ari, your work is incredible

[@robthewaywardwoodworker9956]

Nice work. I swear Van's is one of the only non-builder channels I watch! LOL Glad he included you in this one.

[@Phanithc192]

You both should be father son, the story is complete 😅

[@SplinterTimber]

"Perfectionism is procrastination masquerading as quality control" - Steven Barnes

[@isabel-rj4kd]

Van may not read the comments, but I do and I walk around behind him reading him my favorites 🥰

[@janelte]

Thank you Isabel. And congratulations on another little letter of the alphabet.

[@BuffaloWill]

Love that ☺

[@endiryu8276]

thank you! van's content seems so far removed from other creators and I love him for that

[@seanrichards2962]

Thank you for doing that ,because I was disappointed when he said he never reads any of the comments on here 😅 I’m not a patrion guy but I whole heartedly enjoy watching these videos they fill up my soul

[@JesusIsMyFirst]

I want to invite Van to be on my podcast. Would he like to do that?

[@budthompson2537]

Great Lombardi quote! My favorite of his is, “The man at the top of a mountain didn’t fall there.”

[@kliklaminaat]

I remember Casey doing a video about perfectionism. I often mention this quote: "Don't strive for perfection, strive for good enough" which is something I have always remembered. This video is a great detailed explanation on that.

[@emmapzn5210]

the imperfections of your work make it excellent to me, literally

[@GoranofallTrades]

I would recommend the book "The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control" to anyone who identifies as a perfectionist, and honestly to those who don't. Because you might just find out you are a perfectionist. Turns out there are different types of perfectionism, and what we usually talk about when we say perfectionism is just the classic perfectionist. There are 4 more types with quite different characteristics. It also gives a different look at perfectionism. It doesn't see it as a disease you need to get yourself rid of. It's just a characteristic that you live with and you can choose if you'll use it to help you in life or to make you miserable.

[@thriftstorelumberjack]

I will be checking this out! Thank you for sharing!

[@SticksAandstonesBozo]

You take my soul and being and somehow put it into words in a way I’ve never been able to.

[@Mimlou]

Van, that’s why I love and respect your vision and craft so much. You do not focus on perfection but rather the process and the value you gain from it. As artists its always in our heads that we may not be “good enough,” but you’re the perfect example of “just start now, just do it, just go with the creative flow.” The rewards will soon follow❤

[@ghitapaints91]

Your music gives the video such an awesome vibe, it gives me such a 80's vibe every time I watch.

[@bonacci01]

One of my favorite videos you've made. It makes you contemplate what you are , what you strive to be.

[@JustinMcCulloughOnline]

Exceptionally well placed synth swells in this one. Always love the signature sound, but this one seemed like great placement and tone. As always, super enjoyable.

[@Rody_le_Cid]

cool video Love it. Nobody makes their magnum opus first time out of the gate, you first need a "body of work" and to do that, you just have to get up and make something, rinse, repeat, and eventually you'll create perfection. Most people get "crop-locked" into immotion, calculating all the ways they could fail, instead of making something and risking the failing part.

[@PaulaHeartland]

I love the research you do and the golden nuggets you drop. So pleasurable watching this.

[@BrinkHouse]

did you miss the part where he said "I don't read my youtube comments." ;)

[@PaulaHeartland]

@BrinkHouse Fully aware. Comments help his channel. Isabelle sometimes reads them.

[@tvpierce1]

Excellent video. The one foundational point I take issue with is the notion that the consumer/viewer is the ultimate judge of the quality of a piece. Creativity for the sake of consumption is commerce. Creativity for the sake of creativity is ART! IMHO, the artist/creator is the sole arbiter of what is good, good enough, excellent, or perfect. Or so it seems to me.

[@seanwalker9614]

“Art is the expression of man’s pleasure in labor” -William Morris

[@Jon-Gardner]

For those wondering if Van’s Patreon is worth it - Yeah, it definitely is 👍🏻

[@phaivideos2232]

Your "good enough" ethos is what makes you so relatable, so human, so spirited. You don't shy away from your mistakes or flaws. You own them and that too is relatable. A perfectionist may hide from their flaws, you do not and that is a sign of excellence.

[@JakeAmmann]

As someone who makes stuff I've been trying to wrap my mind around this trifecta from the beginning. This exactly what I thought and its so nice to hear to from someone I respect.

[@ethosphane]

Excellent and perfect. A video that everyone should watch. Thank you, Van.

[@hiphopsuperman]

I apply this mantra to DIY home-renovations: 1) Take the path of least resistance, and 2) Stop when it’s good enough. Follow these rules and you will maintain sanity.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

My dad was a painter for close to 30 years, like house and industrial painting. One of the first things he taught me as a kid was that messing with the paint, trying to "fix" or perfect it, will more often than not backfire and leave you with a mess. Apply it the best you can the first time and with good prep work and go from there.

[@yakymua]

Love this. Gonna apply it to bookkeeping.

[@jedvere]

I like your content very much. I actually found the Spirited Man -channel after watching the video of Arri making the gift for you! And i´m a bit amazed that it has made a full circle now, since the video of him making it was uploaded 8 months ago... since then i´ve watched almost every video you have uploaded here, plus Casey´s and Tom Sachs´ work too, thank you!

[@johanwagner_sweden]

Consistently hitting the mark of “good enough” is also perfection. Rock on Van.

[@ashleyalvarez7724]

oh my goodness i love wes anderson everything is perfect every shot is just great

[@Kato414]

This is insightful. In my particular case, perfection is often the result of cowardice, although I appreciate the balanced treatment of the topic in a broader context. Van’s and Tom’s work has helped me in this respect by revealing the beauty of the specific.

[@DavesNotAlright]

This guy speaking about being good enough while I think every single video of his is a master piece

[@whatisiswhatable]

Everyone sees things differently

[@fosterbeach]

👏 well said! Too often perfection becomes procrastination - something is better than nothing

[@DulcesSweets]

I have a few "half-done" or "imperfect" pieces of art in my home that I just decided to hang up on my walls anyway because I was losing motivation to complete the 'perfect' product. In the end, the imperfections are what I love the most about them and it's not like I can never go back and do more should the inspiration hit in the future. The stress of making something perfect was holding me back.

[@6Acres]

Imperfection fuels evolution. If the universe were perfect, we would cease to exist. Another inspiring video again!

[@sodajones2576]

Dude, videos like this one and the tardiness video are an unexpected pleasure. Thank you for waxing philosophic

[@chilidog73]

Excellent video. Always entertaining. Always informative. Always art.

[@jbratt]

Im building a cabinet as this came up. It’s not perfect but I’m the only one who knows where the mistakes are.

[@metrokosmiko]

I love that! I'll say that to myself next time I'm recording a song - only I know where the mistakes are.

[@Lreserved]

Hi Van - You have significantly improved my life, that is all.

[@da47934]

1. I'm so not surprised he's a big fan of Wes Anderson. There is a visceral pleasure in the way he places objects within the camera frame, which feels very different from-but aesthetically connected to-Mr. Anderson's style. 2. He did such a good job showcasing excellence that I'm even more motivated now to pursue excellence rather than good enough. 3. I changed the above from second person to third person, remembering that he doesn't read these!

[@PiecesofVinyl]

this comment is for Isabel since she reads these - and I dont where to post on the patreon so Van Reads them - I have been subscribed for over a year now! Saw this when it came out - it inspired me then - it inspires me more now - we all need to strive for Good enough! also I really want that Krusty sticker!

[@justinblaha5105]

The benefit from your videos meets my criteria of excellence.

[@RyanGuerra]

I think you should make a video on how you fell about Casey's success versus your own. Obviously, you helped inspire your younger brother. Who would not want to see their brother succeed. But I think this is a great story to be told. IMO...you both have stayed true to yourselves since the Neistat Brothers on HBO.

[@RyanGuerra]

You're an excellent writer. I love how you intertwine the different stories. Something Casey does well too.

[@tristanhall5971]

Your excellence is your consistency.

[@dgillphotos]

UPDATE: Love it. I'm sharing this tomorrow. Already shared too much today. WES ANDERSON! Making a faux cameo! (I'm only 2:00 in - back to it.)

[@microMobilidade]

Deadlines are the antidote to perfectionism

[@casey.taylor]

true, but it's hard to gibe yourself a deadline on a project that has no real consequences if you don't finish it

[@TimeBreakPictures]

I think perfection is sometimes in the imperfection. In my opinion this video was at the very least, excellent!

[@FindMeInSeattle]

Van’s wife (bc I know van wont see this), he is excellent at making these videos, and I’m sure many other things. Thank you VN

[@tooflessmusic]

Even though, you believe thst your work is just "good enough", to me, all of your videos are perfect. I truly enjoy your every single one of your videos more than any other channel. You some how make me interested in things i wouldn't care about otherwise. I just watched your entire video about screws. I was engaged all the way through. To me, your passion is what makes the videos perfect

[@BrendanMiranda]

That graph showing excellence in the middle just changed me haha 😅 never realized you can reach excellence before perfection

[@timkingaz]

Van's good-enough channel is about as close to perfection as we're gonna see, and saying so isn't cowardice!

[@cheesun124]

look at his mic stand...what a legend of imperfection :)

[@calebshore4505]

another extremely good video, Van. Thank you

[@goldstarsforall]

Theres a quote from somewhere which is, everything that deserves to be done, deserves to be done badly. I'm bad at a lot of things, but I'm better then the person whose never tried.

[@isabel-rj4kd]

Love that

[@dave998899]

I'm not sure where this quote came from but I think I heard it from Adam Savage --- "PERFECT is the ENEMY of DONE" Since I heard this, I have had a sticky note with it on my monitor. Before I followed this philosophy... I was the arrogant coward that this episode is about. Following this philosophy has allowed me to embrace the satisfaction of completion instead of so called perfection. A job done perfectly but never completed is worse, to me, than not doing it at all. Thank you for articulating this about perfectionism to keep the pursuit in perspective.

[@jordansahs1529]

Needed this. Thank you

[@joshuaaruiz]

truly amazing work here

[@shawndavis9096]

As I was growing up my parents made my brother and I memorize a very similar version of that saying..."If you have a job to do, never leave it till it's through. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all." The slight variation in this saying might be the reason for my lifelong battle with perfectionism. There is a fear of not being able to provide a "perfect" product which keeps one from finishing, or even starting, some projects. This is the tormented, vicious cycle of the perfectionist.

[@TimothyStedman]

I think this video is so nice, I wish that I could like it twice. Like Log your gift was made of wood, and much better than bad, it was extremely good.

[@Ashwanithapa]

Excellent video

[@seamusmcdermott4746]

Van is becoming my favorite philosopher

[@blakeagalloway7007]

Excellent Advice. Good enough video

[@philbarrish]

Doing weekly videos this year and it instantly pushed me into the good enough mindset after the first week hahaha, KZbin's all about good enough :)

[@miquerto]

I'm in the business of building residential "outdoor living spaces" for folks who have way too much money. I struggle with perfection myself. We call it degrees of perfection. My ideal perfection level is often much higher than we can output with the materials, time, or money given. If it looks perfect to me then it is, and if it looks perfect to the landscape architect then it is, and if it looks perfect to the customer than it is. Those are three levels with the customers being the "least perfect" to me, but it's the only one that really matters. We always strive for our perfection, but sometimes settle for the customers perfection.

[@M_Storm]

Nice work, I agree 100% with your work ethic when it comes to creating items for myself, I have the same philosophy. Good enough is all you need. I prefer to spend my time with my wife and kids. However when it concerns work. As a Product designer, I'm expected to bring the best results given the budget and time. Guess which one i prefer to be?

[@plixplop]

Right before I watched this video, I saw an animation on YT that was very similar to something I had started and abandoned many years ago, because I couldn't get it to be "perfect". The animation I saw was actually pretty rough in spots, but it was still great overall. The difference between that animation, and the one I had abandoned, is that this other guy's animation was comple, and published...

[@xXSwaghetti.YoloneseXx-uf2bb]

"I never read the comments on my videos" That actually explains so much.

[@Hiluxtaco]

We here on KZbin are real people too, Van....

[@flory2993]

I love that he actually used a real spectrum to show the quality spectrum lol

[@GrecoFPV]

No you are an excellent human and a talented artist !

[@ErikaBarkerNYC]

I really needed to see this video.

[@neiljamespettit]

Last 2 videos are a wonderful stride

[@dosesandmimoses]

I like your microphone.. you are a great creator

[@jakebcampbell]

One of your best!

[@daceuro]

It was totally worth the punchline at the end.

[@pruthenberg]

Yeah, this is solid. Very inspired.

[@IAMSTULITTLE]

My old photojournalism mentor used to say to me “Perfection is the enemy of efficiency” and he was totally right.

[@bobbid65]

Excellent points. I wish more of us humans appreciated the concept of "enough". However, I'm hoping that future makers of the space Challenger become perfectionists when tightening bolts. I'm hoping my surgeon's "good enough" is, in fact, good enough to keep me going. I ditched the concept of "perfection" when I learned that it is subjective and depends on who you ask. 😢

[@bellarosegroup]

I good enough everything because i know nobody else will even try, so good enough is better than nothing. You can always polish it in post.

[@REVIEWSONTHERUN]

Thanks for sharing it. ✌️

[@spencersanderson4590]

The hand written text is looking so crisp in this

[@sauravbasu8805]

"Be always closing." - Casey

[@vangestelcc]

I had a very hard and loud laugh at 3:10 when Van put "*perfection" on the screen to correct himself saying "perfectionism".

[@peterkovachevich]

words of wisdom!

[@ForgeAheadwithMike]

Love it.

[@AllanHaggai]

"Don't let perfect get in the way of good." (author unknown)

[@jason_swet]

Had a ton of Deja vu until I realized it’s because I had seen Ari’s video already 8 months ago

[@lianjzx]

I've been thinking about this tension between perfection (the ideal) and what is possible (the practical) on and off for as long as I can remember. As I type, my year and a half old son is screeching as he struggles to maintain the alignment of one of his hot wheels cars which he has arranged in a line on a couch cushion. I'm thinking, "OK, perfectionist tendencies, here we go... gotta nip that in the bud quickly." But now I'm thinking there is an innate aspect to perfection. We long for the ideal and we struggle to settle for "good enough" or even "excellent". We say all sorts of things to justify "good enough" in the face of perfection. But there is context. If he could understand, I would tell my son, given the couch cushion, he can only expect his hot wheels to line up so well. On a flat surface, expectations could change. Given Van's objectives, time constraints, and available skills and tools, I think most people would say there is perfection in the things he does. So, maybe instead of good enough, I'd say, perfect for now.

[@vassilikatsakis2843]

This was an extremely good video

[@ittwsasvi]

BEST VIDEO OF 2024 TILL THIS DAY, even if it was lauched in 2023 via patreon.

[@jefffromjuneau]

I'm not sure about setting up a paywall for viewer engagement. What I mean is openly admitting you don't read comments from the "peasants" on basic KZbin who maybe can't afford Patreon. We take the time out of day to view your creative work, and I even turn off my adblocker on select creators so that adsense is maximized for them. That's the best I can do.

[@mikefarrington4049]

Adam Savage once said "perfection is not a destination, but a direction." basically meaning you may never reach perfection, but you you should always try to strive for it

[@LukeHarback]

Something that took me ages to realise "If It's worth doing, It’s worth doing poorly"

[@SandCrabNews]

Shibumi - In Japanese martial arts is the pursuit of "effortless perfection".

[@Mulberry792]

“Finish the project”

[@seanualjr]

Great video

[@Phanithc192]

Love❤

[@108u9]

For creatives, I think a helpful takeaway from this is that even Wes Anderson, for all the work, the budget, the specialisation, the team around him, the name recognition, the popularity, the years of making films…still, still someone doesn’t like/enjoy/appreciate his films, his work. In this case one of the Neistat brothers. Arguably Wes Anderson is in amongst the top 1%. And even he can’t please everyone. Let us not wait anymore. Just make. Someone almost for sure will dislike it. It’s a probable fact. Adding one more “hater”, one more critic, one more unsavoury troll isn’t going to make a difference. Add 10 more, a hundred more, a thousand more..it doesn’t make a difference. We can’t perfectly please them all. Just make. Make the best work we can, we know we can, we know how to. Just make. Make it “perfect” if that’s the only way we’ll make and ship the work; knowing we’ll never make perfectly perfect. Make it “good enough” if that’s the way we need to release the pressure. Let us just support ourselves; put an arm around the shoulder of that tiny voice inside us like a loving parent would - “ Go on kid. You got this. You’re alright. Go explore and have fun..”

[@jkell42]

Extremely good video today!

[@natebreeo23]

I feel like you zoned in on Tom sachs genius of storing and organizing his materials. I’m more interested in the tools and work space created while making art, then the actual art itself

[@bikewreck85]

“Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.” - Salvador Dali.

[@keneticchannel]

It's funny how many younger creators in this generation will outfit themselves with all of the equipment gadgetry they could ever dream of having, only to struggle to find an original style or voice. In and interview about his studio, Van was talking about how being a broke artist starting out forced him to "rig" everything-which became his style. "Your workaround is your voice." I've taken that to heart in most of my creations. How much can I get away with based on what I currently have? And can those compromises and workarounds lend to the style itself?

[@NoahKalina]

Perfectionists never end up making anything so I am never interested in anything they do. Good enough is always the way.

[@borderlands6606]

You can see why Jesus was a carpenter. Making purposeful to perfect things, from intractable to broken materials. Nice cabinet.

[@mattsolomon3]

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts