Everyone knows one, or maybe has had to work with one. Perfectionists are easy to spot, always burning the midnight oil, stressing over every detail of a situation and holding co-workers up to the same, unattainable standards they expect of themselves. Some take on near obsessive/compulsive tendencies, in their efforts to make everything just right. You may even profess to be one. If so, you are either still in the closet, struggling to survive in this imperfect world, or you have become hardened to the snickers, jokes and ridicule of those who cannot grasp the concept of your mantra, "If it isn’t perfect, it isn’t right." Considering the very real possibility of our ethical, economical and political downfall in this country, perhaps it is time to reconsider that philosophy and demand a higher standard of living.
In recent years, perfectionists have gotten a bad rap. They have been admonished by a way of thinking that supports creativity over detail, desire over need, and self over selflessness. While a blend of both philosophies can result in a strong, well-balanced culture, too much of a good thing is generally associated with the demise of a civilization. Let me cite a few examples:
- The Garden of Eden
- Fall of the Roman Empire
- The Fall of Enron
Can the durability of our goods be directly related to the durability of our culture? Most products sold in America hardly last past their warranties. You may still have your grandmother’s old toaster on a shelf, but the shiny one you bought last year just went on the fritz. Within five years, a new automobile will have been to the repair shop approximately two times for adjustments or parts replacement. What became of the slogan, "Ford, Built to Last"? Leasing is becoming a more attractive option than buying, partly because we need to replace our vehicles before the cost of repairs outweighs a monthly car payment. At $20,000+ a pop, that’s a pretty pricey disposable. Yet, the 1956 T-Bird purring down the street during a parade is a masterpiece of outstanding workmanship and sound mechanics...the product of perfectionist thinking.
It has been argued that the durability of the automobile was compromised by the introduction of newer, lightweight materials, designed to enhance both safety and comfort. Sleek, state-of-the-art, computerized features such as automatic windows and seat warmers are hard for the consumer to pass up. If, however, a choice was given between a flawless transmission or climate-controlled temperature gauges, the typical American consumer would continue shopping until both features could be provided for the same price.
Let’s consider the family home. Technology has provided us certain products designed to improve a new home’s efficiency (double-paned windows, lighter and better insulation), quality (strong, lightweight materials) and beauty. Yet many homebuilders cut corners to save a dollar here or an hour there. Quality workmanship has been neglected because builders have become more concerned with the number of units that can fit in a particular space and the speed with which they can be completed and sold. Rather than providing a sound structure that will provide generations of families security from the elements and pleasure within its walls, we blindly accept shifting foundations, unsquared walls and unfinished basements.
Yesterday’s architecture, on the other hand, has withstood both natural elements and manmade disasters. In generations to come, the designs of the Great Pyramid, the Roman Coliseum and many other ancient structures still standing will speak of those civilizations’ exquisite detail and perfectionist attitudes, while our contribution might only be remnants of unidentifiable plastics found while excavating former landfills.
The medical profession should be one area where only true-blue perfectionists need apply. How unfortunate for many of us that this is not the case. The reason for the high cost of malpractice insurance is because it is tapped into so often. Horror stories can be found in the news every day of someone dying after a routine procedure, incorrect diagnoses, botched surgeries, and post-op infections and complications. Yet these atrocities have been relegated to the status quo of healthcare in America. Should we not, instead, be holding the medical profession up to a higher standard of care? I assure you that if it regards my family or me, I would rather take issue with the doctor before a mistake, than to present my complaint to a judge after the fact.
I’m not saying that we all need to develop Type-A personalities, suddenly analyzing the minutia of life. There are many in our society who fill that role "perfectly". We must, however, take the responsibility to value quality control over quantity control. We need to demand better service, better products and better attitudes. If "Inspector 67" takes the time to put a sticker on every article coming off the assembly line, then he or she should be accountable for the condition of that article. We need to raise our children with a sense of global responsibility, rather than hardly making them responsible for themselves. In doing so, we might possibly turn things around and, once again, become a country built on the perfectionist attitudes of our ancestors.
No comments:
Post a Comment