Release Your Perfect Baby

While walking back from my tennis match this evening, I had a conversation about the death grip some journalists have on tradition and perfection. Some are turned off by this believe it or not and some would even equate this to being unhappy.

“This is the way we do it,” or “that didn’t work because (a), (b) and (c).”

How many times have you heard this during your career? Picture yourself in the middle of a brainstorming session. You are pitching a grand idea, which you’ve been planning for many weeks. Wait for it. Wait for it. There it is. Someone in the room informs you of some situation, at some point in time, at some job when your perfect idea was their perfect idea. And guess what, it failed.

The veteran in the room often becomes casted as the bitter “Dr. Know It All.” Unfortunately, experience, or institutional knowledge as some like to call it, can often create negative consequences in the workplace. It’s important journalists remain vigilant of this.

The conversation today led me to an explanation similar to this one. It then led me to second-guessing my very own expectations. During my conversation, I proclaimed I was once a bitter perfectionist, with a death grip on life and pursuit of happiness, however, I am now over it. As I sit here I wonder if I really am.

Why is it so difficult to let go of what we created even when we know it was flawed from the beginning?