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The Veil of Perfectionism
Uncovering the myth that permeates our culture
“How much will it matter, from the point of view of the whole universe, whether I speak well or badly?”
Bertrand Russel
We live in a time where we are hyper-focused on the idea of perfectionism. We have grown up with the stories and myths of titans of industry who were perfectionists in their pursuits for greatness.
Take for example the iPhone’s box. While most products are finished and simply shipped, Steve Jobs and Jony Ive turned the unboxing of the iPhone into an experience, seeking perfection from every detail. They saw the unboxing of the phone as another moment to excite the customer and ‘perfect’ the customer experience.
And so, those looking on come to a conclusion: ‘I have to touch every part of this, I need to do everything in my power to ensure this is perfect.’ There’s just one problem with this:
Perfection does not exist.
This despite all the constant cultural stories that say otherwise. The people you follow on social media, the buildings and architecture you adore, the role models you have, they are not perfect. They may have great attributes, they may have a work ethic you envy, but they are not…
