Proof-Perfect vs. Perfect – Is Good Enough Good Enough?

One of the marketing terms I use is “Proof-Perfect.” It describes a 9-facet formula to ensure error free copy... every time. Having just said that, however, proof-perfect isn’t perfect. What? Let me explain.

Proof-perfect is your best attempt to ensure boo-boo-free copy in your marketing materials. As you already know this is vital to maintain your reputation. However, even the best system is performed or implemented by humans. Because of the human factor, proof-perfect isn’t guaranteed.

What is guaranteed is the moment you hit the send button to your mailing list of 9,378, you notice a spelling error. Argh. Or after weeks of waiting for your new promotional brochure they arrive; all 50,000 of them. You are so excited until you notice a punctuation blunder that you overlooked in the final review. Double argh.

Proof-perfect is a best attempt... is that good enough? It has to be.

We are not perfect. We are not here to be perfect. Achieving perfection is an impossibility. Perfection being the goal is a futile exercise in frustration. It is a relentless, internal drive never appeased. No matter how much we accomplish or do, the voice inside says our efforts fall short. We are never in a space of “job well done” because our unreasonable expectations are focused on achieving perfection. With this approach we always fall just short of attainment. Talk about rip-your-hair-out insanity.

If you haven’t tried it, don’t take my word for it. Go about the business of your life with the premise that perfection is innate or even attainable. You’ll end up depleted, frustrated, and even angry because clearly it’s an impossible task.

This doesn’t have to cause you grief, however. It’s something with which you can make peace.

If you release your attachment to the whole notion of perfection and replace it with your best effort every time, you are free to explore what you are, instead of what you aren’t. You learn to embrace yourself as-is; perfectly imperfect. Your approach to business and life is a bit lighter. You're able to laugh or shrug off the reminders that you're imperfect because achieving perfection is no longer your goal.

With this switch in thinking, doing your best is not only sufficient, it feels great! You know you did your best. And that is always good enough because how we feel tells the story. Knowing that you haven’t done your best is quite another thing and not the topic of this article. Let me just say, it feels terrible. We all know when we’ve done a great job and we know when we haven’t done our best, for whatever reason. Point taken? Always do your best.

One of the books to greatly impact my life and first shed light on my own unrealistic expectations is A. L. Williams’ All You Can Do is All You Can Do but all you can do is enough! I highly recommend this read.

For the perfectionist in you, it allows you to treat yourself with more tolerance and acceptance for things as-is... from the perspective that doing things well is enough. Doing your best is enough.

Why spend even a moment on what is unattainable -- perfection? Why NOT spend every moment on what is certainly attainable -- your best effort with near-perfect results?

Focusing on things you can do something about is the smartest investment of all your resources. And let me reassure you: Your best is good enough. Always.