The Problem with Perfect

The law of diminishing returns states that at a certain point adding more effort will actually decrease output.

So how do you know how far to go on a project before deciding that it’s “good enough?” When is good enough “good enough?”

Perhaps good enough is what is done within a specified time frame, or by a particular date. There’s another law known as Parkinson’s law that says, “work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”

(Actually, the same law applies to stuff. An example is the limited parking and tiny garages in San Francisco. The garages have just enough room for a car and those who have a garage, park in it. In the suburbs where there may be two- or three-car garages, you might find the car in the driveway as the garage holds a ping pong table, bicycles, washing machine, and more.)

Perfect is difficult to define. One person’s perfect is another’s so-so, or even eh. Voltaire said, “perfect is the enemy of good”; what are you sacrificing when you give up being satisfied with good? And what is the cost to span the gap from good to perfect? I’m willing to bet that the difference in quality is not worth the price to your wallet and/or peace of mind.

If you’re currently working towards “good” perhaps I can help. Feel free to reach out.

-Sydney Metrick