Perfection is impossible
Perfection is impossible. Get used to it. By Paul Lemberg
Perfection is what happens when you get everything exactly right. All the pieces fit together in the best way conceivable. There are no defects, flaws or blemishes of any kind. Nothing is lacking and your outcome is completely suited to the situation.
Excellence, on the other hand, refers to something superior; of the highest value, the finest quality, and exceptional goodness.
The quest for perfection is an empty pursuit – an often fruitless and frustrating game of the ego. The costs of perfection are often well out of proportion to the benefits, and perfection’s striving is likely to cost you profits and customers.
The pursuit of excellence – superior value, fine quality, exceptional goodness – is likely to yield big rewards in terms of customers and profits.
Perfection leads you into problems. Perfectionists are only happy when “nothing at all is ever wrong”, and are continually unhappy. Something, no matter how small or insignificant, is always – well, wrong.
Excellence leads you to breakthroughs. Not seeking something perfect – without blemish or flaw – but doing something great – providing great value, great quality.
Don’t you need perfection for great quality? In mission critical, real time systems, yes. In systems where lives are at stake, yes.
But wait... people say “we couldn’t tolerate defects in medicine.” Yet they happen all the time. What about airlines – we need zero defects there, don’t we? Again, scheduling, overbooking, meals issues, even grounded flights. These are all defects.
Would the benefits of eliminating these defects outweigh the costs? In both of these cases it is excellence we want. Excellent diagnosis and treatment. Excellent takeoffs and landings.
Examine the costs and the benefits of perfection. What would zero defects in all areas cost you and what would it yield to you and to your customers? Isn’t it really excellence you are after?
Excellence is possible. Commit to it.
Perfection is what happens when you get everything exactly right. All the pieces fit together in the best way conceivable. There are no defects, flaws or blemishes of any kind. Nothing is lacking and your outcome is completely suited to the situation.
Excellence, on the other hand, refers to something superior; of the highest value, the finest quality, and exceptional goodness.
The quest for perfection is an empty pursuit – an often fruitless and frustrating game of the ego. The costs of perfection are often well out of proportion to the benefits, and perfection’s striving is likely to cost you profits and customers.
The pursuit of excellence – superior value, fine quality, exceptional goodness – is likely to yield big rewards in terms of customers and profits.
Perfection leads you into problems. Perfectionists are only happy when “nothing at all is ever wrong”, and are continually unhappy. Something, no matter how small or insignificant, is always – well, wrong.
Excellence leads you to breakthroughs. Not seeking something perfect – without blemish or flaw – but doing something great – providing great value, great quality.
Don’t you need perfection for great quality? In mission critical, real time systems, yes. In systems where lives are at stake, yes.
But wait... people say “we couldn’t tolerate defects in medicine.” Yet they happen all the time. What about airlines – we need zero defects there, don’t we? Again, scheduling, overbooking, meals issues, even grounded flights. These are all defects.
Would the benefits of eliminating these defects outweigh the costs? In both of these cases it is excellence we want. Excellent diagnosis and treatment. Excellent takeoffs and landings.
Examine the costs and the benefits of perfection. What would zero defects in all areas cost you and what would it yield to you and to your customers? Isn’t it really excellence you are after?
Excellence is possible. Commit to it.
Copyright Paul Lemberg and reprinted wth his express permission,
Any questions give me a call,
Michael
PPI Business NLP
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posted by Michael at
7:53 PM
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