No Comments

Is Good the Enemy of Great?

We have all heard that good is the enemy of great, but is it always true? Are we causing ourselves and our families stress by having unrealistic expectations? I’ve often used the saying – “good enough for who it’s for” .  Have you gotten to this point in any area of your life?  Sometimes perfection just doesn’t matter.  Often, we just need to call it – Enough! Does “good enough” mean you are sacrificing excellence?  I think there are areas that perfection is a waste of our time and energy and there are other times when it is absolutely the only choice. Another saying I’ve heard and used – “It’s more important to do all the right things than to do all things right.” Some things just don’t require perfection. Some examples of good enough: The frosting on the cake is tasty, but looks messy.  Your child’s favorite shirt has a stain on it. The house didn’t get dusted today.  You are 3 minutes late to a meeting. These things don’t compromise your safety or well-being. Now, where I do expect precision is in math.  Numbers are finite.  Close enough is not good enough when it comes to correct change from a store purchase,  the guarantee on your car, or the proceeds check on the sale of your home. Maybe the continual quest for “The Best” is actually our enemy. What’s your ‘good enough’ task?  And what’s your ‘100% needed’ task? I’d love to hear if you battle this Good vs. Best in your personal and professional life.