How To Be Perfect in Six Easy Steps

Note from the editor: this blog is probably going to be a massive let down for the people that are hoping the title really is true. . .

I find many musicians I run into (myself included) striving for perfection in their music. I think when you passionately care about something, you can't help but want excellence. Most of us desire to not just be competent at what we do, but exceptional. It's part of the job description for musicians, in particular- if you're not amazing, you're probably not getting paid.

We all attempt to acheive perfection in so many different ways, but my favorite modus operandi is to make lists. I have lists for everything- when to eat, when to work, when to breathe, etc. If it's not on a list, it probably not getting done.

The fallacy of this approach is that it doesn't leave room for the messy, spur-of-the-moment events that are really important. That moment you get to hang out with a friend unexpectedly, or you get the chance to see a concert in the middle of the week that forever changes how you think about music.

These moments can sometimes change your life forever. Sadly, it's a bit difficult to put a note on your to-do list that reads: "Tuesday, 3 PM- have mind-blowingly influential event happen."

So here's my challenge to both you and myself this week- keep a to-do list, but don't be afraid to change it. Schedule stuff in your calendar, but it's okay to rearrange it. Let's focus on making work happen around our life, not life being strangled around our schedules.