Might and Main Monday: Perfection Vs. Good

My husband and I were eating lunch at our local brewery the other day. I explained to him how, even though I was taking on the daunting task of blogging every day for September, I was ready to lower my standards if I had to to complete the task. He, a software architect, thought it was a good idea. He said, “Like they always say in engineering: don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.” Engineers often slow or stop a project in the name of perfection. Sometimes perfect doesn’t get you to the finish line. My husband attributed the idea to Voltaire, the French writer and philosopher, who credited the concept to an Italian proverb. In other words, don’t get mired in every last little aspect of your project being perfect. Instead, get the project finished. Allow it to be good enough.

So here’s a saying to keep in mind for this Labor Day and the coming week:

Perfect is the Enemy of Good.

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