Imagine there were two challenges in front of you. The First challenge is to create the perfect product/process/outcome for a company. You have one shot of getting it right and they would pay you $500,000 for your time and effort. The second challenge is that you need to develop a perfect product/process/outcome for a company, but instead, they are going to pay you $100,000 per iteration plus a $500,000 end-of-project bonus. The catch is that each time you bring the idea to the table, the feedback will be harsh and difficult to accomplish. Which one would you choose?
As humans in the 21st century, we have this immense challenge that exists like no other time before. The challenge of perfectionism. One could argue though that societal expectations. Cast systems and various cultural expectations might be counter to the initial statement. However, the power and curse of social media, raising FOMO, and the “challenge” to be perfect exist at a higher level than ever before. The problem is, that the drive to perfection causes a disconnect psychologically messing with our internal core humanity.
Amy Edmondson writes in her book, Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well
“Fear activates the amygdala… introducing the fight-or-flight response, where “flight” does not necessarily mean running away but instead doing what you can to avoid looking bad…The survival mechanism in our brains helped us elude saber-toothed tigers in prehistoric times, but today it leads us to overreact to harmless stimuli and to shy away from constructive risk-taking…It is hard for people to do their best work when they're afraid.”
The recent release of Wonka brought an inspiring message of continuing to push forward through fear, adversity, and any situation. If there is one character that never listened to his amygdala, it’s Timothy Chalamet’s Willy Wonka. The attitude embodied in the first song, “A Hatful of Dreams” paints the picture of Wonka’s Why.
His chocolate will change the world around him, making him a fortune and sharing an insatiable curiosity for products that are perfected over iterations, travel, discovery, and time. No matter the challenge, there was a way forward that might look different than the original plan but will still offer an exciting solution.
Erwin McManus said during a conference presentation that I attended, “The gift of a great battle is a greater battle… Refuse to stay behind.” The opportunity to develop better ideas has to come in spaces where being able to iterate your processes and fail in your thinking is encouraged. Staying still is the fastest way to be left behind. Our survival brain needs an upgrade.
Fear stops learning. How are you creating a culture where failure is empowered, fear is not a factor, and innovation is chased every day? Happily, I would challenge myself to the second opportunity, to help myself understand the power of feedback and growth, and to not only create one perfect idea/product/process/outcome, but many along the way.
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