Perfect is the enemy of good
When pursuing excellence or completing projects
Understanding the Rule
The pursuit of perfection can prevent completion and progress. Striving for flawless results often means never finishing, shipping, or achieving anything. Good enough is often truly good enough.
What Happens When You Break It
Perfectionism causes missed deadlines, abandoned projects, analysis paralysis, lost opportunities, chronic dissatisfaction, and prevents you from learning through iteration.
Benefits of Following This Rule
Accepting 'good enough' enables completion, allows iteration and improvement, captures opportunities, reduces stress, facilitates learning, and produces more total value over time.