Six people tell the same joke, but only one of them makes you laugh.
Why?
Because that one individual understands the timing and rhythm that every story needs. And they know how to employ it.
That’s craft.
Sadly we live in a world where the value of craft has been devalued. Technology allows us to do more things and to do them faster than ever before. But that doesn’t mean that what we’re producing is any better.
Doing something quickly is not the same as doing it well.
As I said earlier, technology may expand our capacity to express ourselves but it can also mask creativity. Talk to any sound engineer in a recording studio.
Understanding the craft of your chosen medium and understanding how to use it to best effect is fundamental to success. If creativity is 80% idea, it’s also 80% execution. Respecting the balance between these two contradictory statements will be crucial to your success.
Valuing the craft of your chosen profession will be critical to your success.