We care about process. We value details. Each step on the journey from A to B is worthy of pride. We’re all about the honour of deep quality.
…What? The deadline passed? But my application took weeks to complete. It’s a work of art, a sure thing.
…He died? You’re kidding, right? But that means he’ll never know. I was still thinking about what I wanted to say to him, making sure I’d say it in the best way.
The best way does not always get the job done.
Sometimes, the most effective way to sink the arrow into the bull’s-eye is to walk up to the target with the arrow in your hand and shove it into the centre circle. When you’re judged on completion, not prowess, sloppy methods can close the gap between done and not done.
I loathe housework. We’re between housecleaners at the moment. To fill the gap, I sporadically and randomly use wads of fresh toilet paper to “clean up” in the bathroom. Yes, I use precious paper, even though there’s a sponge under the sink, inches away. Is this a failing? No. It’s the sloppy method that gives me both sanity and a bathroom I’m willing to show a guest.
Sloppy methods combined with devious bribery create rocket propulsion for crossing finish lines. Ditch reward’s goody-goody feel for bribery’s overt wickedness. Sometimes, for some tasks, the dark side of completion beckons.
…If I get my holiday gifts into the mail on time, even if they’re super sloppily wrapped, I get not only an immediate new release DVD rental, but dinner out at that place where the chef’s choice sushi platter brings me to my knees in reverence. And a hot bath, with two eucalyptus packets, at noon. Ha!
If it’s worth getting done, sacrifice perfection to do it. Gain loot instead.
Related reading: The Power of Equal and Opposite Forces, Pep Talk | Set the Timer
Flickr photo: Perfect Shot, by TheMarque
6 Comments
I love this! YES!
Once read advice from a wise woman: if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing badly. Meaning, she went on to explain, that we get so hung up on being perfect and doing everything perfectly first time out of the gate that we often do nothing.
I love, love LOVE: If it’s worth getting done, sacrifice perfection to do it. Gain loot instead.
And I *want* loot! Lots of it! Heaps of it! Bathing in loot!
P.S. Besides here’s something I’ve learned over the years: There Are NO Police. No bathroom police are going to come and inspect and question how you/what you used to clean the room. The Crochet Police are not going to come and check *every* stitch in the afghan just made for a homeless baby.
Just saying . . . .
Oh my god, Jo, my face aches from laughing about the Crochet Police. You’re so right. This also reminds me of a Robin Williams riff I heard once, about the cops in Los Angeles being Fashion Police — funny as only he can be. “Stop! That shirt doesn’t go with those pants!”
Now, whenever I need a little pick-me-up, I’m just going to think of the Crochet Police. You’re swell.
This is the best. People often say, if you want it done now, give it to Andrea. If you want it done right, give it to someone else! Which, really, I take as a compliment.
Although it makes me ponder those things in my life that I am wanting to do right now (create an org chart for my new business idea) but am NOT doing…perhaps a fear that if I put it on paper then I am committed! Maybe I will tell myself “There are no paper police” who are going to come and inspect my goals and see if I am meeting them.
Thanks, Grace, as always, for the bracingly fresh perspective!
Loved this! Sometimes letting go of perfection can be so freeing-
Ditto to many of the above feelings. With some things we need to lower our expectations and what we require of ourselves/projects. And while the saying “the good is the enemy of the best” (meaning we don’t need to do “good” things in life at the expense of bypassing truly great ones) … sometimes the best is the enemy of the good (meaning we sometimes procrastinate getting a task started/done because we think it must be pristine and perfect {when it’s actually something that shouldn’t command such time anyway!}).