One Perfect Pot vs. Many Pots

At the beginning of the semester a ceramics class is split into two groups.

Each one is told they will be graded differently at the end of the term. One group will be judged by the quality of one single pot, while the other group will be judged only by the quantity of pots they produce regardless of their quality.

Which group produced the best pots?

Of course I wouldn’t be asking if the answer was obvious: it was the quantity group that produced the more interesting, technically sound, and innovative products. But why?

While the quality group made plans and researched, the quantity group started churning out pots. Their skills increased from repetition and perhaps just to entertain themselves they started experimenting with little changes, trying new things. Over time those little changes and improvements added up and up and up to amazing results.

And the quality group? Some of them didn’t produce anything by the deadline. Nothing was good enough in the development phase and seemingly great designs fell apart or exploded in the kiln at the last minute. On average, the pots that did make it to the final grading showed far less skill and creativity than those from the quantity group.

I first came across this story years ago in the book Art & Fear. This is a paraphrased version so I may have gotten some details wrong. I can’t even remember if it is fact or fiction, and I like to think of it as a fable.

If it rings true for you, I hope it inspires you into action. Make many pots.**

See also Beginner’s Mind (Shoshin).

** Maybe it’s obvious: this applies to lots more than just pots and “creativity”. Do 10 minutes of yoga five times a week rather than 50 minutes once a week. Practice little kindnesses every day rather than making a grand gesture every once in a while. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Small frequent things add up to be much larger and stronger than big occasional things.