Perfect VS. Good—You Decide
French philosopher, Voltaire, is known for saying: “Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien,” which translates to “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” I think of this today as I edit several chapters for one of our upcoming books, Mompreneur Extraordinaire. There are times when perfect is necessary like when publishing words on the printed page. Although I have purchased and read books with typos and the sky did not fall nor did the publisher garner any criticism.
Perfect in most cases in your business is not a good ideal to pursue. Doing the best you can right now is.
I have worked with countless entrepreneurs who, before they met me, spent months working on a speech or a website or a training program—all while having their businesses go nowhere. Fear and a pursuit of perfection are the culprit.
Here is what I tell my entrepreneur clients that I am also telling you: Instead of perfect, embrace what I call Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3. Phase 1, is the just get it done. Phase 2, is the time when you incorporate upgrades, improvements and new innovations; and Phase 3 is when you feel it is in fact the best it can be.
People ask me all the time how I became a business speaker or a publisher—the answer is super simple. I started to speak and publish. If I waited till I was the best speaker I would still be waiting. If I waited till I knew everything about publishing I would still be waiting. Making yourself and your products or services better is in the doing and pursuing—not in the pre-education, the pre-release tweaking and the planning.
Look at your own business. Where are you waiting, or taking way too long to get something done because you think you need more info, or you want to get it perfect before it is released? Instead make a commitment to yourself to get it done in the next two days so you can start to make upgrades in Phase 2.
Do not get ready to get started to begin to plan a time when you will begin to get going. Just get going! Let me know how it goes.
By the way, with ten books printed or in production, plus the incredible training and co-author benefits we provide I do truly believe we are the best multi-author book publisher there is. Check us out at www.powerdynamicspub.com.
Comments
I totally agree! Power Dynamics Publishing is the best! As for perfect. It is just a relative word – what is perfect to you is not perfect to someone else. Caterina your advice is spot on. Don’t wait! There will never be a better time than NOW.
Caterina, in my chapter on Developing Strategic Alliances, I briefly speak of standards, and how standards of excellence are attainable, while perfection is not even measurable – pursuing perfection is a waste of time, and you are right on target with “doing it” – nice blog post!
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