This came up recently over a project.
There was a vision… a dream.
The project had a soaring spirit! It was going to be the best thing we did all year. 

Then the changes started rolling in, and the deliverable started to change. Rather than soaring over the mountain tops, it felt like we were gently gliding over farmland. 

Ok. Maybe that’s a bit extreme.
But in the moment, that’s how it felt. 

The creative process can be frustrating. Particularly when you feel like your vision is no longer going to see the light of day. But at the end of the day, what is most important? 

 Really, I have been on the other side of that argument too. I have walked away shaking my head (and sometimes my fists) muttering epithets about creative egos and prima donnas. Maybe. You can’t prove it. 

The point is, how much did it really matter? The goal is king. Does the current execution accomplish our goal in an effective way? Well, does it? If it does, stop whining! 

And that’s the rub.
The creative visionary has (in his head) created an amazing ice cream sundae. With hot fudge, whipped cream, nuts, cherry, those crushed chocolate thingies that you used to get at Carvel as a kid but never had a name until you found out they were really just Oreo cookies... It’s an amazing sundae. Taking anything away makes it a less awesome sundae. 

When it feels like you are delivering nothing more than a bowl of ice cream, it’s shocking! Disappointing! A travesty! 

Yeah… but, was the point to make the sundae? Really? 

No. The point (metaphorically) was to deliver something delicious. And realistically, you are delivering a delicious bowl of ice cream to someone who has no ice cream. They have no idea that you planned something bigger. All they say is “Oh hey! Ice cream!” And they are happy. Possibly thrilled. 

So… sometimes the creative visionary (we’ll call it me, today) needs to just let it go and recognize the success it really is. Because, hey! Ice cream!