Perfect is the Enemy of Good

When to settle for excellence instead of waiting for perfection.

Perfection is Impossible.

Waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect client, the perfect line, or the perfect product is a recipe for inaction and frustration.

And yet, as entrepreneurs, we care deeply about our work. We know our reputation matters, and the closer we can get to perfect, the happier our clients will be.

So where’s the line? How do you know when it’s ‘good enough’, and how do you know when ‘good enough’… isn’t?

Progress Over Perfection

You can make progress, but you can never arrive at “perfect.”

“Perfect is an impossible destination.” – Tim Ferriss

There’s always some incremental improvement that can be made… some detail to tweak, fix, polish, or learn. ‘Perfect’ is a moving target, but progress is measurable.

Focusing on progress rather than perfection helps you increase your impact, effectiveness, and efficiency. Here’s how:

Progress Creates Motivation

Perfection can be paralyzing, but progress is energizing. Each step forward creates momentum, and with momentum comes clarity, confidence, and motivation. When you take action (even imperfect action), you start to see results. And no matter how small those results are, they keep you (and your team) moving.

It Makes You Focus On Learning

A quest for perfection doesn’t leave room for the mistakes, missteps, or slow pace that come from climbing a steep learning curve. But businesses that stop learning and innovating start dying – and managers who prevent their team from learning will inevitably lose their top performers to their more supportive competitors.

Adopting a curious, learner’s mindset allows you to fail or fall short along the way but ultimately keep moving forward to greater heights.

Reward Action, Not Just Outcomes

Outcome-oriented goals like ‘get 10 new clients’ are only as good as the actions they inspire. Focusing on progress instead can lead to action-oriented goals (maybe: ‘call five prospects per week’) that lead to progress. These are 100% under your control and help you move forward, even when results aren’t instant.

Day One, not One Day

Spoiler alert: there is no perfect day, just better and worse ones. If you’re waiting for a perfect day, it will always be “one day….”. But if you adjust your thinking to believe that any day can be ‘Day One,’ it’s easier to get started. Focusing on progress over perfection lets you start now and worry about improving later.

So how do you know when it’s ‘good enough’, and when it’s not?

Ask: Does it meet the goal?

It’s good enough when it helps a client, solves a problem, or moves the business forward.

Ask: Would a customer notice (or care) about the next 10% of polish?

It’s good enough when the only things left to “perfect” are things your customer will never notice.

Ask: Will waiting cost me more than launching?

It’s not good enough if it confuses, breaks trust, or falls short of your quality standards.

This Week’s Takeaway

What’s something you’ve been putting off because it’s not perfect yet?

What would happen if you ran with it anyway?

May 1st: Management vs Leadership Workshop
Join me in-person in Mississauga to make your job easier and your team stronger!

Register here for your tickets!

If you build the people, they’ll build the organization. Companies with great managers boast better morale, higher job satisfaction, reduced turnover, and higher profit margins.

Whether you’re new to building a team or looking to sharpen your skills, you’ll leave with practical tools to make your job easier and your team stronger. Visit the webpage to learn how and save your seat!

New Sales. Simplified: By Mike Weinberg

If you’re looking to sharpen your sales skills in a practical, no-nonsense way, New Sales. Simplified. offers solid guidance. It breaks down how to target the right prospects, craft a compelling message, and structure outreach in a way that builds trust instead of resistance. If business development is on your plate, this book provides a clear roadmap to make the process more effective and manageable!

Check it out!