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The pursuit of perfect

So many people spend all day in search of perfect.

We’ve been trained to ever since the first grade. To get a 100% of our fractions quiz. The get every answer right on our spelling test.  Make no mistakes so you can get an A in the class.

Years later nothing has changed.  Instead of fractions now people spend their days making better slides. Rewriting their legal memos. Drafting email after email. And trying at all costs to avoid making mistakes in things that aren’t even critical.

But often times, you work is far better when you don’t focus on being perfect.

Facebook has the motto, done is better than perfect. Because early stage companies have to get a lot of things done. McKinsey talks a lot about the 80/20 rule. How getting 80% right is more than enough. And Seth Godin talks a lot about “shipping” products. He says sometimes you have to ship when the project is good enough. He says the definition of “good enough” is “Good.” “Enough.”

Even the best artwork in the world isn’t perfect. Think about it. Some of the best Art has defects. Colors outside the lines. Or has edges that are crooked. That’s what makes it unique.

Sometimes perfection is what you want. You want a computer that doesn’t freeze on you. A car that looks beautiful. And a job application that is mistake free.  On the other hand, some of the most remarkable companies and people in the world do things that are not perfect.

Something worth considering.