“Perfect is the enemy of good.” It’s a phrase we’ve all heard, a warning against getting so caught up in pursuing perfection that we fail to make progress. But what about the flip side? What about the danger of settling for “good enough”?
In a world where mediocrity is the norm, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that as long as something is done, it’s good enough. But is it? Is “done” the same as “done well”?
Voltaire once said, “The best is the enemy of the good.” In other words, settling for “good enough” can be just as dangerous as chasing perfection. It’s the enemy of greatness, the killer of innovation and excellence.
A study by the Harvard Business Review found that companies that consistently strived for excellence outperformed those that settled for “good enough” by a significant margin. The pursuit of excellence, it seems, pays off.
But how do we find the balance? How do we avoid pursuing perfection while still pushing ourselves to be great? The answer lies in setting high standards but also in knowing when to say “done.”
As Seth Godin puts it, “Shipping beats perfection.” Sometimes, the most important thing is getting your work out into the world, even if it’s imperfect. Because the truth is, nothing is ever perfect. There’s always room for improvement.
The key is to strive for excellence and embrace the idea of “good enough for now.” To keep pushing forward, keep iterating, and keep making progress. Because in the end, that separates the good from the great.
