Performance vs perfection

1 min read Original article ↗

In a professional setting, one is expected to perform perfection every day. That might be an expectation set by a leader, a peer, or by oneself. In some cases, one is expected to perform perfection at speed. This is not possible without a lot of practice.

Every so often one is tasked to perform a task to perfection the first time one performs the task. This is possible but highly unlikely to turn out positive.

Some ā€œPā€ alliteration happening in this post

The business and self-improvement literature is littered with this concept of practice makes perfect. I would like to add a few small points regarding this strive towards perfection.

  • Define: Write down what perfection looks like.

  • Measure: One cannot achieve perfection if one does not know what that is.

  • Adjust: The definition and measurements can change over time and should

  • Increment: Aim for 1% improvements per day/time period

  • Learn: What you think day 1 vs day 100 is going to be vastly different, learn from it

  • Action: Planning is cool and all but do something, a little is a lot more than more than nothing

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