Is there another way, besides the current emphasis on rapid results and maximum efficiency?
A friend recently sent me a video about Hayao Miyazaki’s dedication to his craft; he spent a year and three months animating a single four-second shot of a crowd (see Reel’s link below) . This work ethic, emphasizing quality, perseverance, attention to detail, and taking the necessary time, rather than rushing, is truly remarkable. I’m struck by just how much cultural differences influence our actions and beliefs. I have a deep respect for Japanese culture, but is it transferable to our society? Is this work ethic suitable for creative endeavors such as writing, photography, and maybe growing an audience? In short, definitely! However, let’s consider the implications.
Which are the obstacles?
The primary goal for any business or individual is to generate profit or a consistent income. It is well known that stress negatively impacts creativity. So to achieve one’s vision, sufficient funds are needed to sustain the long-term commitment of creative endeavors. Sometimes, this requires pursuing other income-generating activities to support passion projects. This isn’t always easy, but as one of my patients always says, “There are no deadlines in life!”.
Another argument is the Pareto Principle’s rising popularity and its unconscious influence on many of us. It suggests aiming for “good enough” since 20% of our effort yields 80% of results. This has become the usual state of affairs in many cases. The downside is that a focus on quick or good enough results prevents us from achieving true greatness.
Could striving for efficacy be the answer?
For example, many social media recommendations suggest that consistent weekly posts are key to audience growth. Meanwhile, we have an example of a amazing youtube channels like Every Frame a Painting (check the link below), which with 12 very high-quality videos has over 2.8 million subscribers. The question is: which approach will you take?
While efficiency and efficacy might seem similar at first, understanding the difference can significantly improve our creative and professional outcomes. Time and resources are the primary distinctions in how this term is defined. Efficiency is achieving the best outcome with minimal time, energy, and effort, while efficacy is aiming for the best possible result regardless of resources.
Although time is our most important resource, making the most of it, I think it’s involves dedicated effort, even if that means taking longer. What are your thoughts, dear reader?
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