Creativity Through Refinement

The worst thing you make is always better than the best thing you only thought about.

In creative work - be it composing, writing, painting, cooking, architecture, or so much more - ideas are the seeds from which creations sprout. However, having an idea is simply not enough. We must take action and invest the work if we want to see any of our ideas come to fruition.

The journey from the initial idea to realization is rarely a linear path. I know I experience this daily, and I’d be surprised if you told me you never had to “go back to square one” at any point in anything you’ve ever done.

But how do we start at an idea and arrive at a completed work?

First, it’s important to understand that ideas, just like talk, are cheap. Why? Because ideas are easy. Other than taking a few moments to think, there is very little effort needed to have an idea. They are also endless. An infinite resource. 

The subject of the idea doesn’t matter, either: an app that monitors white blood cell count in real time; a science museum that doubles as a public observatory; breakfast in the morning.

Each of those examples all share the same trait: they are only ideas. I thought of them, I wrote them down, but that’s it. My mentioning a blood cell app doesn’t magically wish it into existence. My imagining a science center doesn’t will it into reality. Thinking about breakfast doesn’t mean I’ve already eaten.

Ideas are cheap. So how do ideas become valuable?

Well, it’s up to us to give them value.

We give our ideas value by putting in the work to turn thought into reality. While initial ideas may hold promise and potential, they rarely emerge in their final, polished form. This is where iteration becomes important.

The process of iteration involves refining and evolving ideas through several stages. It is an indispensable practice that can elevate the quality and impact of any creative endeavor.

Iteration involves revisiting, reimagining, and refining an initial idea, often through several stages. The practice is crucial to turning an idea into reality. By embracing iteration, we push beyond the constraints of our initial idea, allowing our work to evolve and grow organically.

Let’s use the breakfast example from above. When I wake up, I decide to have breakfast. Great. I go to the kitchen and look through the cupboards and the refrigerator to see my options - I’m taking the idea of having breakfast and iterating (refining) to what my specific options are. I see cereal, eggs, and toast. I could have one of those, or a combination. Personally, I consider what I’ll likely be eating later in the day and when, so I again iterate the idea of having breakfast to include those pieces of information. Maybe I know I’ll be having a sandwich for lunch and a hard-boiled egg for dinner, so I ultimately decide to have cereal for breakfast.

In this example, I go through the iterative process in less than one minute. With larger ideas, such as the blood cell app or the science museum from earlier, the iterative process may take weeks, months, or even years.

Why?

Through iteration, we uncover hidden nuances, identify weaknesses, and refine details. Each iteration serves as a snapshot to reevaluate our idea from different angles, inviting fresh perspectives and enabling us to make significant improvements and, hopefully, enhance the quality and depth of our output.

As we iterate upon our ideas, we challenge conventional boundaries and explore uncharted territories. By venturing into unexplored thoughts, we open ourselves to unexpected breakthroughs and innovative solutions that can revolutionize our work.

For the longest time, I had the bad habit of trying to create the polished, finished product from the first draft. It didn’t matter if it was a drawing, a music composition, or a school paper - my process was often the same. Typically, lack of iteration always forced me into some kind of creative roadblock, which then either frustrated me to the point of giving up (or not doing my best) or needing to spend unplanned time iterating anyway.

Thankfully, I’ve realized this bad habit and I’ve realized that I don’t like creating in this way. It’s not a conducive process to my own success.

This year, I’m embracing iteration.

It’s not always easy - I find myself hesitating every day, fighting a 10-plus-year bad habit of wanting immediate perfection right out of the gate.

But the proof is in front of me. By investing my time in iterating, I’m seeing streamlined results and continuous growth. The feedback loop between idea and execution is helping me to refine my creative process.

I may not be able to magically wish my ideas into existence with the snap of a finger, but the lessons I learn about myself from putting in the work to execute my ideas are more gratifying.

And that, in its own way, is magical.