THE FALLACY OF ‘GOOD ENOUGH’

“If the writing can’t be made as good as it is within us to make it, then why do it?  In the end, the satisfaction of having done our best, and the proof of the labor, is the one thing we can take into the grave.”

Raymond Carver, American Author

(1938-1988)

I love this quote from mid-20th century American Author Raymond Carver.  I feel like it expresses succinctly what I feel about performing arts, and I wanted to share it, specifically with our older and more advanced students.  Just replace the word ‘writing’ with ‘dance’ or ‘acting’ or ‘song’ or ‘floor routine’ and let it inspire you to push yourself a little harder, work a little longer, aim a little higher.  

And for the parents of our younger students who are wondering whether it’s worthwhile devoting all of the time and money that it takes to train your kids in performing arts:  this is a lesson that will serve them wherever they end up going in life.  It will not only make them more successful at whatever path they choose, it will also make them happier, more fulfilled adults if they can adhere to this adage.

Please note in the quote the lack of outside judgment.  It’s not about how much money you get paid for doing your art, or how many trophies you win, or what the reviewers said. “As good as it is within us to make it.”  That’s entirely up to you to decide.  But DON’T LET YOURSELF OFF THE HOOK!  Is that really as good you could make it?  Or is it the soul-killing ‘good enough?’  Maybe somebody else can do 4 turns, and you can only do 3 right now.  But did you do them as well as you can do them, filling that moment with yourself, or did you judge yourself even as you were doing it and find yourself coming up short?  COMMIT TO THE MOMENT.  And then get to work on that fourth turn.  Did you really find out everything you could about this character that you’re playing, the time period that s/he lives in, the past experiences of his/her life so that you can fully inhabit the character, or did you memorize your lines and keep from falling off the stage?  YOU KNOW the answer to those questions.  They aren’t questions for anybody else to answer, but if you aren’t asking them and then answering them honestly, then you’re selling yourself short.  You’re settling for ‘good enough.’

Now, there are places where ‘good enough’ is good enough.  You can go the other way and drive yourself crazy with perfectionism.  For instance, if I’m cleaning my house, and there’s some clutter on the dining room table that I can’t figure out what to do with, that’s good enough.  I can live with a little clutter.  If I pull into a parking space, and I’m a little crooked, but I’m not blocking anybody else’s way, that’s good enough.  That’s not how I define myself.  But when I think back to an audition that I had 25 year ago that I didn’t do enough to prepare for, I kick myself all these years later.  It would have been SO much easier for me to have put in that extra work 25 years ago than to be regretting it still.

So how does this apply outside of the arts world?  My father-in-law was a carpet installer, and he lived up to Raymond Carver’s challenge.  He took such pride in every job he did and his aim was perfection.  I remember him telling me that he had previously done upholstery, but quit that because he never felt like any of the jobs he did were perfect, and he couldn’t live with that.  His identity lived with every corner, every tack that he laid down.  He was a blue-collar worker, he never made a ton of money, but he was an artist that stood by his work, and he has my undying respect.

So, students, take the quote, replace the word ‘writer’ with whatever you do passionately.  Make a poster for your wall, or make it the home screen on your phone, or have it etched on a bracelet, but most importantly, take it into your heart.  Make it a part of how you live every day.  It’s an important way that you can make the world a better place.

I’d love to see your comments about having done this, or having failed to do this.  Let’s share.