“Good enough” isn’t good enough
Aug 3rd, 2005 by Accidental Thinker
When I was a kid, one of the personal characteristics teachers could indicate for improvement on report cards was “striving for accuracy.” It’s funny what sticks with you, because I can’t remember anything else about those elementary school report cards except that I never wanted to be labeled as someone who wasn’t doing my personal best. I haven’t always done my personal best, but I have always learned from it, and still do, when I fall short. To this day I’m a perfectionist, more so all the time. (But please, Lord, don’t let me turn into one of those people in my old age—still a long way off—who finds fault with everything!) I take a lot of pride in my work and work hard to make everything I produce something to be proud of. “Good enough” just isn’t good enough. Or is it?
On the flip side, I’m guilty of spending way too much time overanalyzing to get that small increment of improvement that probably wasn’t worth the time I invested and probably was noticed by no one but me. I realize that there have to be compromises, especially when time and money are at stake. It’s a mistake to let “perfect” stand in the way of “good enough,” as a vice president at work is fond of saying.
There is some wisdom in those words, but danger too. Does such a statement indirectly give people permission to settle for less than they are capable of? Does it give license to accept mediocrity and just skate by? I can’t always achieve perfect and I don’t expect to all the time, but I can and do at least try. Why would anyone accept anything less from themselves?
Wow, applause!!! You’re on my blogroll , too. You just hit one out of the park, Lady.
Very thought provoking. I have often thought I would like to be more of a perfectionist. I suppose I am in some areas – areas involving things I’m interested in – and not in others. I’m very disorganized. That’s my #1 fault. It keeps me from being my best because I’m always having to LOOK for stuff that I absent-mindedly left somewhere.
Wow, really, thanks for all the kind words. It almost makes me feel important or something! 🙂 This particular post was one that’s been percolating in my mind for a while, then yesterday I finally had the flash of inspiration that allowed me to write what I meant.
Wordwhiz, don’t let me fool you. I’m a perfectionist about the quality of the end product, but not necessarily about the process of getting there. And it also only applies to things that matter. I’m definitely not a perfectionist in all that I do. For instance, um, housework???