I went to the Computer History Museum this evening to see the Pixar guys talk about the evolution of computer graphics in film. Two of the directors were there and one said something really interesting. He said that he doesn't write or direct any better than anyone else, he just makes more mistakes faster. And they have an environment at Pixar where they can try things and have a healthy feedback cycle that they use to improve it.
I think that's so important. Particularly in my own stuff I've found that I would rather do something sloppy to start, then throw it out or hone it until it's great. Rather than trying to do it just once, but do it perfectly. That never works. In particular because there is such an emphasis on getting it perfect the first time. Of course, it takes a long time to figure out what's important to try and perfect and what can stay sloppy.
Update: The museum itself was great. The room full of hardware brought back some great memories and opened my eyes to what had come before the sight of even these old eyes. Crays. Data Generals. The old tube machines and IBMs. Amazing.
Posted by jherr at May 16, 2005 09:14 PMSame with songwriting. Sometimes it's more important just to get the idea out there and start developing it than to wait for one concrete package.
Unfortunately, with accounting there's no leeway for mistakes.
I guess it only works in the creative field?
Posted by: Jacqueline at May 17, 2005 06:51 AMI think accounting can be creative. Look at Enron. ;-)
Seriously though. At the CFO level there is a lot in terms of what-if scenarios and money management.
My mom was an accountant and some of the stuff she did with our finances were amazing. She actually had enough to buy her second house out-right, but she mortaged that second house to the hilt because she knew that she could out-invest the market, especially with the homesteaders exemption factored in.
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