Jon Youshaei discusses how perfectionism can hinder creativity and productivity, drawing lessons from famous figures like James Corden, Mozart, and Thomas Edison. 

He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing quantity over perfection to foster creativity and innovation.

In a thought-provoking TED talk, Jon Youshaei shares his personal struggles with perfectionism as a YouTuber. Despite his profession, he experiences significant anxiety every time he prepares to upload a video. 

This anxiety often leads him to endlessly tweak his content, resulting in multiple versions of the same video and, at times, not uploading it at all. Youshaei's journey highlights a common challenge faced by many creators: the battle between the desire for perfection and the need to produce and share work.

The Cycle of Perfectionism

Youshaei describes his desktop filled with files named "FINAL," "FINAL_FINAL," and even "FINAL_BUT_ACTUALLY," illustrating the endless cycle of revisions he goes through. 

This obsession with making his videos perfect led him to upload only six videos in his first year on YouTube. While he acknowledges the value of quality, he realizes that this approach can stifle creativity and productivity.

Learning from James Corden

A turning point for Youshaei came from reflecting on the work of James Corden, the popular late-night host. Corden revolutionized the late-night format by experimenting with various segments, such as Carpool Karaoke and Crosswalk the Musical. 

His willingness to try different formats resulted in an impressive 5,700 videos and a massive subscriber base, surpassing many of his peers. Youshaei notes that while Corden is celebrated for his hits, he also faced numerous flops, which are often overlooked.

The Mozart Mindset

Youshaei draws parallels between Corden's approach and that of historical figures like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Contrary to the myth of Mozart as a flawless genius, he produced over 600 compositions, many of which were not well-received. 

His prolific output allowed him to refine his craft and create masterpieces. Youshaei encourages creators to adopt a similar mindset, focusing on quantity to foster creativity rather than getting bogged down by the pursuit of perfection.

The Lessons from Thomas Edison

Another example Youshaei shares is Thomas Edison, who is known for inventing the light bulb among many other inventions. Despite facing ridicule for some of his ideas, Edison persisted and created over a thousand inventions. His journey exemplifies the importance of resilience and the willingness to fail in order to succeed.

The Tragic Tale of Monet

In contrast, Youshaei recounts the story of Claude Monet, who destroyed a significant number of his paintings due to his perfectionism. This act of slashing his work in a moment of frustration resulted in the loss of art valued at millions. Youshaei uses this example to question how many of us, like Monet, might be sabotaging our own potential by striving for unattainable perfection.

Shifting the Mindset

Youshaei emphasizes the need to shift from a Monet mindset to a Mozart mindset. After changing his approach, he went from posting six videos in his first year to 173 videos that garnered over 300 million views. He acknowledges that many of his most successful videos were not technically perfect but resonated with audiences nonetheless.

In closing, Youshaei urges creators to embrace imperfection and prioritize the act of creating over the fear of failure. He reminds us that every artist and entrepreneur faces anxiety and criticism, but the only thing worse than producing imperfect work is not producing anything at all. 

By letting go of the need for perfection, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and innovations.