Making Peace with Imperfection.

One of the most important chapters I read from one of my favorite books “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” by Richard Carlson is on the topic of Imperfection and how to deal with it.

Let’s all be honest here, the very thought of imperfection is a massive roadblock when it comes to seeking success in any field. We spend so much time dwelling on imperfections that we forget about the bigger picture. But in most cases, our mind is simply playing tricks on us. Let me explain.

How many times have you heard musicians discuss their own hit records and almost always say that the biggest hit is always a surprise to them? I have yet to meet a musician that made an album and called out his big hits on the fly. In most cases, the songs that become hits are the most unexpected and usually the least polished. In most cases, the least expected song becomes a hit for a musician.

We spend too much time perfecting the very thing that needs the least amount of perfection. This not only applies to music but to life as well. In most cases, we tend to dwell so much on the negatives and put ourselves down for no reason. Trying to fix the things that, in most cases may not even need fixing, or dwell on something that is really insignificant to our success.

We spend hours and hours dwelling on our imperfections, questioning god why things are the way they are…when in reality things might actually be exactly where they belong.

After a lifelong battle with imperfection syndrome myself, I came up with 5 rules to help me in life. Let’s hope these rules can help you live a happier life:

1. Stop comparing yourself to other people. The most common trade of imperfection syndrome is always thinking something is better. In most cases, the grass will always be greener on the other side, and even the rich cry. Rank your success based on hard work and personal achievement and worry less about how many Grammys Skrillex will win on his next album.


2. More work does not equate to better results. If you are unhappy about your current results on a music project you started, save it and move on to a new idea. Spending another 4 hrs trying to fix a broken inspiration is not going to resolve anything. Sometimes ideas simply need to be saved for another day or deleted altogether.


3. Simplicity is the answer. In most cases, the most perfect things are simple. As human beings, we have this weird mentality that the more complex something is, the better it will be. In reality, the best things created are actually very simple. So ask yourself, is that extra layer really necessary?


4. You are unique. The day you finally realize that God made us all different for a reason is the day your Imperfection Syndrome will start going away. Most of our thoughts of imperfection come from comparing ourselves to others. But why do always assume that the other way is better? Maybe our way is better and has just not been discovered on a large scale just yet? Don’t let society mess with your head when it comes to the concept of perfection/imperfection. You are just different, and that’s where the magic is.


5. Chip away not hammer away. Becoming successful in anything in life takes years and dedication. The key here is to smooth out your corners and not demolish your ideas on a daily. Most of your concepts are great, they just need to be finessed over time. It’s a lifelong journey to perfection and even at the end of your road, you will most likely realize that there is no such thing as “Perfect”. Imperfection is beauty in many cases. Maybe the weird way you play that piano is beautiful in its ugly and unorthodox form. Maybe the way you process your vocals is not exactly industry standard, but the kids are raving!

At the end of the day who knows what true imperfection really is? The key to life is to keep rocking out and go with the flow. Be proud and don’t be afraid to expose your weaknesses, because they might turn into your greatest straights in the end!

-Max Vangeli

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