Finishing the Back of the Painting
One of my favorite ways to wind down at the end of the day lately has been by watching the Baumgartner Restoration channel on YouTube. Watching someone take such great care to preserve these gorgeous paintings and all of the history they represent is soothing. With each painting, Julian, the owner/restorer always takes great care, but the thing that often stands out to me is that he always treats the back of the painting just as well as the front. As he delicately folds and tacks any extra fabric he often says, “It’s not required, but it’s how I do it, because I like to do it…paying tribute to the front by doing the right thing on the back.”
It’s a beautiful sentiment, he wants to do the work right even if it isn’t something noticeable or public-facing. It’s how I, and many of my clients, approach our work. We care. About our own clients, putting good work in the world, and how our businesses affect those around us. It means that we end up having long conversations, like one with my client recently that culminated in a thought-provoking (and high-performing) piece about dealing with public figures like Lizzo. It helps to create great content and great work.
This all seems well and good, but what happens when it goes too far?
On the flip side, I also have clients who easily let themselves get caught in the weeds. Suddenly, this desire has a dark side, it can be debilitating and promote perfectionism. I know I suffer from it, and I talk to so many others who deal with the same thing. It can turn all of that drive and desire into something that can freeze you and turn you into someone you aren’t. It can turn us unkind, and stunt our growth.
So how do we balance the two? Certainly not perfectly or easily.
To me, I see this as my own job imperative with my clients, reminding them that while everything we do is important, not at the expense of progress. I often say, “Marketing is important, but it isn’t brain surgery. Nothing is so urgent that we can’t handle it together in a timeline that works for both of us.” To some, that may seem like I’m belittling my own work. To me, I see it as creating a healthy work-life balance for not only myself but also my clients and putting everything in perspective. As someone who does more than just marketing for my clients, this is how I support them on every level. Plus, it means that they always get the best me, one who isn’t overly stressed and is thinking clearly about every strategic aspect of what we are working on.
This is something I’m still learning, just like everyone else. It’s something to strive for, to finish the painting without hurting yourself or your business. Does it cost Julian a little bit extra for those extra tacks and that extra time? Certainly. But does it also show how much he cares? More than we probably know. So let’s all strive to finish the backs of our paintings, set ourselves up for success, and do things right the first time. But let’s also make sure that doesn’t come at the cost of ourselves.
Lesson Learned: Perfect is the enemy of good, but right is in the eye of the beholder. Making sure things are right without triggering perfectionism is the key to success.
