The Most Important Thing I May Ever Learn
Just about one year in and I am officially LA.
Why?
I went to a VIP art museum opening this past weekend!
In the past, if I had the choice of looking at art versus watching a day in the life of a cat, I would choose the latter.
But I was invited by a client of mine (my 1st LA client) and it seemed like a really cool chance to get out and do something unique with Jess and some of my peeps.
It did not disappoint!
It was held at the Orange County Museum of Art and I have to admit, the art was freakin’ cool!
To answer your imminent question, yes those are a dog’s balls above our heads.
Like I said, freakin’ cool art!
Anyway, it was all very modern and went outside the bounds of the typical drawings and paintings I had been exposed to when I was younger and our school dragged us to art museums for field trips.
I can’t even explain half of what I saw. Actually, I take that back, I can’t explain ANY of it.
For example, there was one “piece” where you walked in to a room that was guarded by a curtain, laid on the floor, and “watched” a movie with just sound and flashing lights. It was unlike anything I had experienced since my bachelor party.
Because we were a part of the VIP group, we got to walk around the museum prior to the opening and hear the artists’ stories and inspirations behind their pieces. It was VERY cool and fascinating to hear their “process”.
One thing that stuck out to me was the amount of time each artist invested in their work. They were all ridiculously talented, but each one had a story of the painstaking time and effort it required to produce what was being showed.
And it definitely drove home a lesson that my Dad taught me when we worked together on my big elementary and middle-school projects;
That lesson is FOLLOW-THROUGH. You never leave a project at 99%. You give it 100% and finish it.
And that lesson wasn’t just taught to me in the form of school projects, but it applied to anything.
Whether it’s cleaning the dishes, mopping a floor, sending an email, you need to give it 100% of everything you have. It doesn’t matter how minuscule the task may seem!
I’m sure those artists could have given 95% and we would have still been amazed by it, but in their hearts, they would have been very aware that they weren’t presenting their best work.
And I think that is what being a professional is all about. No matter what your field, bringing 100% every day (even if it isn’t your A game) is the hallmark of success.
Whenever I attempt to take the easy road and leave something at 98%, I remember those times working with my Dad on those projects and not being allowed to just “be done with it”. It had to be done at my full potential or it wasn’t even worth doing.
At the time, I hated it and didn’t really understand, but as I have gotten older, I realize it is one of the most valuable lessons I will ever learn.
Being at the art museum this past weekend reminded me of the importance of giving your all on EVERYTHING and not settling for anything that is not your best work.
For example, I spent nearly an hour earlier today writing a blog post and when I finished, I realized that it wasn’t that great, so I deleted the whole thing. It’s not worth it to me to put out crap.
I would rather re-do a blog as many times as needed than put out something that I know is less-than-stellar.
So I guess what I am trying to say is;
Give 100% on everything you do, no matter what it is. Don’t allow the world to see anything that isn’t your best. The more you cut corners, the easier it becomes and the more often it ends up happening.
Take pride in whatever you do!
I love the story of Michelangelo when he was painting the Sistine Chapel. When someone asked him why he was working so hard on a small corner of the chapel that no one would ever really see, he responded,
“God will see.”
Thanks Dad!
Be your best,
Kasey, CSCS
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