Progress: Perfect’s enemy, ‘Good Enough’s’ friend.
Voltaire’s idea that “perfect is the enemy of good” becomes more tangible as we look at the elusive charm of perfection that forever promises more but remains just out of our grasp, much like a tantalizing desert mirage. In comparison, progress is more akin to the constant steps of an experienced traveler, slowly bringing us nearer to our goals with each ‘good enough’ step.In areas such as Go-To-Market strategies, product development, sales, and leadership, pursuing perfection can often feel like trying to capture a butterfly with a net full of holes. We become so engrossed in refining and perfecting that we lose sight of the true essence of progress – movement. A ‘good enough’ propels you forward and is far more valuable than perfection that ensnares you in a standstill state. As Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, wisely suggests, launching the first version of your product should happen when it’s still far from perfect.Progress thrives in the realm of ‘good enough,’ much like a bustling marketplace where ideas are exchanged, products are launched, and sales are made. This is the environment where growth marketing finds its stride and leadership becomes truly effective.. ‘Good enough’ is not an enemy but a catalyst for progress.However, promoting ‘good enough’ is not a call for mediocrity. It’s a rallying cry to act, learn, iterate, and grow. Striking a balance between the ideal and the real, between the perfect and the good, requires a dance as delicate as that of a tightrope walker. ‘Good enough’ is the ideal equilibrium where progress resides.Hence, we should welcome ‘good enough.’ We should make progress our companion and abandon the illusion of perfection. As Tony Robbins noted, aiming for perfection sets a standard that is impossible to meet.