07/25/2021
What Is Perfection?
I received an email from Linkedin a few days ago asking me to write something about three different questions:
1. To what extent should people aim for perfection at work and in their careers?
2. When is "Good enough" an Acceptable goal?
3. How can people make a distinction between the two?
So here goes nothing.
While it's hard to answer one of them without answering all of them, I will try to answer them one by one. Then give you the way I would answer them all at the same time.
The first thing you need to realize is that perfection is held in the eye of the beholder the same way beauty is held in the eye of the beholder.
1. To what extent should people aim for perfection at work and in their careers?
Everyone should always strive to do their best at work and in their careers. I am a firm believer in putting in an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. Rather that means hitting the mark of perfection or not as long as you do the best you can without holding back (giving a 110%) of yourself to the task at hand.
2. When is "Good enough" an Acceptable goal?
As long as you do the best you can without holding back (giving a 110%) of yourself to the task at hand, while it may look perfect to you, someone else may view it as mediocre and feel that they could have done better.
As long as you give it an honest attempt and do your best, no one has the right to demand more unless they are willing to pitch in and work with you at improving it to their ideal of perfection.
3. How can people make a distinction between the two?
While making a distinction between Perfection and Good enough is a hard call. Once again, it all depends on the eye of the beholder. One might view something as perfect another might view it as way below par or mediocre at best.
At best, as long as the product/service performs as it was intended to within acceptable parameters, it was designed to meet.
The main thing is that whoever is using the product/service is happy with the outcome of using it.
In closing, I most likely will reiterate some of which you have already read.
We all see perfection a bit different as no two people are 100% alike, just like there are no two objects, plants, or animals 100% alike. So, while viewing perfection, we must ask ourselves, are we genuinely seeking perfection, or are we settling for the lesser of the objects facing us?
• As with beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is perfection.
• While we all strive for perfection, is it actually obtainable?
At best, all we can do is our best, and no one can ask any more of us. But on the flip side of the coin. If we use education in one form or another, we stand a greater chance of reaching our desired outcome of a project/ service. Because while we may look at perfection as a goal, we wish to achieve it.
What it boils down to is what makes you happy. While some may seek employment doing something they enjoy. In contrast, others may seek a more spiritual outlook.
We all have our views and opinions on what perfection is.
