Not Good Enough
Criticism of your work can sting. But without it, you may find it difficult to push yourself to do better—no matter what job you do
By André van Heerden, Communications Director
Have you ever done something that you were quite proud of, only to be told that it wasn’t good enough? It stings and sometimes the natural reaction might be to get angry about it, or maybe even to give up.
I remember years ago working with Gary Koftinoff, a talented composer, on the opening theme for a movie I was directing. I wanted it to be memorable and powerful and something that could be used throughout key moments in the film.
After he delivered a number of versions, Gary created something that both of us really liked. But the film’s executive producer didn’t think it was good enough.
Despite the fact that it wasn’t even my piece of work, I was upset by the feedback. I really resented the producer’s criticism, and I had to ask Gary to try yet again.
He accepted the criticism though, and produced yet another theme. And this one blew everyone away. It not only worked wonders in our film but was chosen as the lead track on a showcase of Canadian compositions.
Out of all the work Gary had done for us, this became my favourite. And it never would have been, if not for the push to do better.
Winston Churchill once noted that “criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.”
I don’t think Gary’s original piece was “unhealthy,” but it certainly wasn’t as good as the final piece that he delivered.
When Nathan Koslowsky, a CLAC representative, reported on a ratification of a collective agreement for Local 152 members employed by Premier Horticulture in Richer, Manitoba, he noted that it took over a year to conclude. The workers eventually voted strongly in favour of it, but this was after an initial no vote.
“They have waited patiently for this agreement to come to fruition,” said Nathan of these members. “Though the journey to get here has been long, we are pleased with the results. Our bargaining committee did a fantastic job of working with the employer to secure these much-deserved improvements to their agreement.”
That initial rejection of a proposed agreement must have been disappointing. But after a lot of subsequent hard work, it paid off.
“Don't trust a mirror that only tells you how wonderful you look,” wrote Canadian author and philosopher Matshona Dhliwayo.
Similarly, minister and author Norman Vincent Peale wrote that “the trouble with most of us is that we'd rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”
It stands to reason that we should actively look for those who criticize and push us to do better, rather than just settling for good enough. You never know how much better you and your work could be without being told to try again.