Practice is a necessary evil for those who aren’t yet perfect ;) Part 1

King Julian once said that (yes, the lemur from Madagascar). While his quotes aren’t exactly typical fodder for business articles, this one sparked a reflection on perfectionism. Is it a blessing or a curse? Something to condemn or to nurture? How do you “cure” it? It feels as though every angle has already been covered. So, why bother reading one more post?

My reflections on the pursuit of excellence were reignited after watching The Lion King on London’s West End. The performance was simply breathtaking. As the orchestra struck up the “Circle of Life,” a parade of wildlife—recreated with stunning accuracy through makeup and props—swept across the stage. The giraffes were divine, but it was the full-scale elephant and its calf marching through the theater that truly left me awestruck. The stage was alive; birds soared over the audience. From the opening note to the final curtain, they held my absolute attention, fueled by impeccable costumes, set design, music, and extraordinary performances.

If perfection is an evil, then please, give me more of it.

Once again, I found myself envying the West End’s endless pool of talent. Every artist wants to be there—unless, of course, they’re already on Broadway. This ambition ensures a level of quality that is truly world-class. There are no compromises. It must be exceptional, beautiful, and electrifying. The goal is to leave every single person in the audience spellbound.

But is it just a numbers game? Is it pure statistics—the idea that you need a massive talent pool to find the “diamonds”? Statistics certainly help; the more rock you sift through, the higher the chance of finding a gem. Yet, nobody is born a master. Or perhaps we are all born with equal potential, and it’s simply a matter of what we do with it? They say 10,000 hours of practice makes a master. But is that always true? I suspect not.

Nobody is born a master.

When I work with professionals on skill development, the topic of perfectionism frequently arises. It’s often entangled with micromanagement, a failure to delegate, “DIY syndrome,” poor time management, and a sense of being irreplaceable—behaviors generally considered detrimental. In these cases, I focus on the downsides, encouraging people to “let go”—mostly of their own unrealistic expectations—to unlock their potential and find more joy in their work and life.

We live in an era that discourages patience and consistent effort.

However, I also see the opposite extreme: a growing acceptance of mediocrity and intellectual laziness. We live in an era that discourages patience and consistent effort. We don’t save; we take out loans. We don’t learn difficult skills; we download an app. We don’t read; we watch the movie. We don’t master mental math; we use computers. We stop thinking because the world is neatly organized for us by someone else…

To be continued in Part 2.