The Best, Most Frustrating Quote About Creativity: Closing the Gap Between Taste and Skill

The Best, Most Frustrating Quote About Creativity: Closing the Gap Between Taste and Skill

When it comes to creativity, there is a quote that truly captures the essence of the journey: "Nobody tells this to people who are beginners. I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be. It has potential. But your taste -- your taste is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you." These words come from Ira Glass, the creator and host of This American Life. They speak to the frustrations and challenges that come with pursuing creative endeavors.

Glass acknowledges that many people never get past this phase of disappointment and quit. However, he points out that most individuals who produce interesting and creative work have endured years of this struggle. The gap between our taste and the quality of our work is what keeps us unsatisfied. But this gap is not insurmountable. Glass emphasizes the importance of doing a lot of work and putting yourself on a deadline. By committing to finishing one project every week, you can gradually close the gap and elevate your work to match your ambitions.

Creativity is not some innate talent that only a select few possess. It is a skill that can be honed through practice and repetition over time. It is about continually striving to make your work better with each iteration. In 2017, at SXSW, Ira Glass summed up this truth succinctly: "Don’t wait. Just make the thing. Make a version, and then make it better and then make it better." This mindset applies to all creative careers and projects. The focus should not be on simply "being creative," but rather on the act of creating itself.

We all have the capacity to create meaningful things. It is a matter of closing the gap between our taste, intuition, and ambitions, and the skills we currently possess. To achieve this, the key lies in creating a volume of work. The most important project we can undertake is our body of work. It is through this accumulation of projects that we refine our skills, develop our unique style, and ultimately create what truly matters.

Incorporating the concept of "好きこそものの上手なれ" (liking is the key to mastery), we can understand that when we genuinely enjoy something, the effort we put into it doesn't feel like work. Even though it may appear as if we are exerting a tremendous amount of effort to others, we perceive it as a form of entertainment. This perspective allows us to sustain our efforts and continuously improve our skills. The joy we derive from pursuing what we love becomes its own reward.

While the end result is crucial in any endeavor, those who genuinely love what they do find fulfillment in the process itself. This absence of a fear of failure is one of the advantages of pursuing what we enjoy. Unlike other aspects of life, we cannot simply command ourselves or others to develop a liking for something. It is an intangible and precious aspect that cannot be purchased with money.

Taking all of these insights into account, here are three actionable pieces of advice for closing the gap between taste and skill in your creative pursuits:

1. Embrace the process: Instead of fixating solely on the end result, find joy in the journey of creating. Enjoy the learning, experimentation, and growth that comes with each project. Remember that creativity is a skill that can be developed through practice and repetition over time.

2. Set deadlines and commit to completing projects: Putting yourself on a deadline ensures that you consistently produce work and close the gap between your taste and your skill level. By establishing a regular practice of completing projects, you will gradually improve and reach the level of quality that matches your ambitions.

3. Embrace failure as a stepping stone: Understand that the early stages of your creative journey may not live up to your expectations. Instead of becoming discouraged, view each failure as an opportunity for growth and improvement. Learn from your mistakes and use them to inform your future work.

In conclusion, creativity is a journey that requires perseverance, dedication, and a willingness to embrace the process. The gap between our taste and our skill level can feel frustrating, but it is not insurmountable. By committing to a volume of work, setting deadlines, and embracing failure as a stepping stone, we can close this gap and create meaningful and fulfilling work that aligns with our ambitions. So don't wait, just make the thing, and keep making it better.