Does Perfectionism Slow Your Business Down?

We've all been there: the mix that should be flowing effortlessly feels stuck, inspiration has vanished, and a crippling fear of "not being good enough" rears its ugly head. For audio engineers, creative blocks and the perfection trap are common mental hurdles that can sabotage our best work and lead to overwhelming frustration. But the good news is, they're not insurmountable.

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Understanding the Enemy

• Creative Blocks: Think of these as mental roadblocks. They manifest in various ways – inability to start, feeling uninspired, or an endless loop of self-doubt and scrapping ideas.
• The Perfection Trap: The relentless pursuit of an unattainable perfect mix, the constant tweaking and second-guessing that hinders completion. It stems from fear of failure, criticism, or not living up to your own impossibly high standards.

The Toll They Take

• Missed Deadlines: Agonizing over details leads to blown deadlines, tarnishing your reputation and causing unnecessary stress.
• Diminished Passion: Creative blocks and perfectionism steal the joy out of your work. What once was a passion can become a source of dread.
• Burnout: Pushing yourself relentlessly in pursuit of perfection is a recipe for burnout, potentially leading to resentment and even withdrawal from audio work entirely.
• Lost Income: Time wasted on endless tweaks and battling self-doubt is time not spent on billable projects.

Overcoming the Challenge

Here are strategies to break free from creative blocks and the perfection trap:

1. Recognise the Patterns: When you feel stuck, identify the specific thought patterns holding you back. Is it fear of failure? Comparing yourself to others? Simply not liking the direction of the project? Awareness is the first step to change.
2. Redefine Success: Is the goal truly a technically flawless mix, or is it a mix that serves the song, satisfies the client, and showcases your skills? Shift your focus from impossible perfection to impactful results.
3. Embrace 'Good Enough': Sometimes "done" is better than "perfect." Set deadlines for mix stages and stick to them. Trust that your skill will allow you to deliver quality work, even if it's not the hypothetical "best mix ever."
4. Feedback Loops: Get trusted ears on your work early and often. This might be a mentor, fellow engineer, or even a musically inclined friend. External feedback breaks the echo chamber in your head.
5. Take Breaks: Step away from the session – a walk, workout, or switching to a different task can reset your perspective and help ideas flow.
6. Experiment & Play: Dedicate time to sound design, try a new plugin, or just jam without pressure. This sparks creativity and reminds you of the joy of audio.
7. Celebrate Progress: Focus on how far you've come, not how far you have to go. Keep a "wins" folder with client testimonials, mixes you're proud of, or skill milestones you've hit.

Changing Your Mindset

• Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with the same kindness you'd extend to a struggling client. Negative self-talk is counterproductive.
• Embracing Imperfection: Music is art, not science. There's beauty in those slight imperfections that make a mix feel human and engaging.
• Risk-Taking: Try a bold production move, even if it might fail. It builds creative muscle and combats the fear of "messing up."

The Bottom Line

Overcoming creative blocks and perfectionism is an ongoing process. By being aware of these mental hurdles, employing practical strategies, and shifting your mindset, you'll unlock greater creative freedom, reduce stress, and produce work you're truly proud of. Remember, progress, not perfection, is the ultimate goal.

Rich Steve Beck is the creator and owner of Produce Mix Fix Conquer/We Are PMFC and PMFC Atlas. As well as being a Mastering Engineer, Blogger, Podcast Interviewer and Community Leader, Rich has 20 years + experience in finance, insurance, account management and online marketing. This will be a regular series supporting new up and coming audio engineers and producers as well as hopefully throwing around some fresh ideas to industry veterans to help assist sustainability. Cherry pick what is helpful, leave behind what you don't need. Good luck on your audio adventures!