Generate Confidence   (Part 1)                              (go to Part 2)   
--Distinguish Practice from Perfection

Living in New York City and growing up in a musical household, I
have always appreciated the question: "How do you get to Carnegie
Hall?" My students know that class time is time for practice,
practice, practice.  Practice expressing ideas.  Framing issues.  
Making arguments.  Each semester I have a few students
obsessed with perfection.  Unless they can give a "perfect" answer,
they think it's better not to speak at all.  This is a self-defeating
attitude that fails to understand the value of practice.

For better or for worse, our society places a great deal of emphasis
on perfection.  Anyone who has ever had to give a presentation at
school or work knows all about the weeks of preparation required
for the sake of a few minutes of flawless execution.  Some Olympic
athletes practice for years to run the best ten seconds of their
lives.  How then we spend the years of practice for our moments on
the big stage becomes of critical importance.

This is where a great coach can make a big difference.  We should
all be lucky enough to have the best parents, teachers and mentors
we're entitled to.  Someone who picks you up when you fall in
practice; gives constructive criticism; and then empowers you to try
the move again.  As a teacher, I strive to do just this for all my
students.  Some days I meet with success; others, I know I should
try much harder.  It can, at times, be a delicate dynamic as anyone
who has ever taught or raised children will know.  A caring manner
always proves crucial.     

Here in the Big Apple, you’re bound to know someone who works
in the fashion industry.  They flip through the Vogue and say things
like: “I can see he had some good ideas in this outfit, but they kind
of fell apart in the execution.”  While no one becomes Calvin Klein
overnight, neither does a financial backer wait ten seasons to see if
you can come up with the perfect, little black dress.  Ultimately, a
designer is only as good as how quickly and consistently he can
turn his sketches into clothes that clear shelves.

It’s often said that life isn't a dress rehearsal, the implication being
that you’re not allowed to make any mistakes.  This is far too rigid.  
Ask any perfectionist, and they’ll tell you that perfection is the
result of a lot of prior imperfection.  Concert pianists practice for
hours.  Actors shoot scenes over and over.  Artists go back to the
drawing board.  To get things right.  But to get things right all of the
time is impossible and no one should live with that kind of a
burden.          

What can I do to help others achieve perfection?
Lesson 3   Generate Confidence
--Distinguish Practice from Perfection