Is "The Best" really the enemy of Good?

Dean Martin · 07-23-2009, 04:16 PM

Voltaire's quote: "The perfect is the enemy of the good." or "The best is the enemy of the good" is often used to keep people from being paralyzed into inactivity because they haven't reached perfection yet or their idea is not completely finalized.

While I'll admit there is some wisdom in that premise in that it's better to actually get something put into place than to do nothing - I also find a lot of Internet marketers throwing a lot of sub-par ideas / sites / articles / ppc campaigns at the wall hoping that something works and not taking the time to hone and perfect one thing that could actually vault them into real profits!

Though the basic premise of the light bulb had already been invented (carbon element in a vaccum) Thomas Edison worked for over 2 years changing the shape of the element / perfecting the vaccuum pump etc. to improve the life of a bulb from 13.5 hours to over 1500 hours. I'm glad he didn't think 13.5 hrs. was "good enough" and move onto his next project.

I belong to a male singing organization that has an annual international competition to judge the best chorus and quartet in the world. Since 1979 The Vocal Majority, a 100+ man chorus out of Dallas, TX has won every competition they've entered (rules require a 2 year hiatus after each win). Many choruses have tried valiantly (and some came very close) to beat them. As such it has pushed the quality level of all competing choruses to a higher and higher level.

Did I say they won every time they entered? Until this year when they were beaten by one of the most dynamic performances I've ever seen.

Ambassadors Of Harmony - Gold Medal Performance

See if you don't agree that sometimes "Good enough" is the enemy of continuous improvement, true success and real innovation.

What steps can you take to not become complacent and move your business to the next level?

MinisiteMatt · 07-23-2009, 04:35 PM

I tend to overthink things way too much and sometimes that gets in the way of actually "doing". I've found that if I sit down and spend some time creating an outline of what I want to accomplish, then it becomes easier for me to "do" as I can see what needs done right in front of me and I can take it one step at a time.

If you're referring to getting things "out there", that's where testing comes in. Don't be scared to get your project rolling because it's not perfect... just get it up and then test, tweak, improve.

bobsedge · 07-23-2009, 04:39 PM

Striving for perfection will kill more ideas than you can imagine. When it comes to launching a new project or idea my theory is "good enough is good enough".

I worry about making it better later.

MinisiteMatt · 07-23-2009, 04:44 PM

And by "good enough", I think he means good to begin with. It's gotta be good before you can even think about releasing it. There's enough crap out there already

Dean Martin · 07-23-2009, 05:12 PM

I guess I'm talking to myself as much as anyone else - too often I settle for just "good enough". If I truly want to differentiate myself and my businesses it takes continuously improving processes / automation / customer service / etc.

Putting out average effort and average products will result in average results.

I'm looking for truly extraordinary results...

bobsedge · 07-23-2009, 05:20 PM

When I say "good enough" that has nothing to do with the benefits and features. The benefits in particular need to be extraordinary. The problems start when we procrastinate on launching because not every "i" is dotted and "t" is crossed.

Get it out there, blemishes and all, and strive for perfection as you go.

Kirahster · 07-23-2009, 05:26 PM

I looked at the video! WOW how impressive is that...
Is the there a video of the choir that usually wins?

George Wright · 07-23-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobsedge

When I say "good enough" that has nothing to do with the benefits and features. The benefits in particular need to be extraordinary. The problems start when we procrastinate on launching because not every "i" is dotted and "t" is crossed.

Get it out there, blemishes and all, and strive for perfection as you go.

Yes,

Your customers will tell you where you need to improve. Customer feedback is the perfecter.

George Wright

LB · 07-23-2009, 05:38 PM

I think you're mistaken what "good enough" means in regards to how it is used in product creation etc.

There's no reason to not release a product that's "good enough" as long as it provides value. But that doesn't mean it's never improved. "Good enough" is just the start, it can be tweaked and improved from there...and your customers will help you do it.

Dean Martin · 07-23-2009, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirahster

I looked at the video! WOW how impressive is that...
Is the there a video of the choir that usually wins?

Hi Kirahster,

I couldn't find a video of the Vocal Majority but I do have the winners from 2 years ago. Much smaller group but another example of guys who didn't settle for anything less than the BEST!

Westminster Chorus - 2007 International Champions

07-23-2009, 04:16 PM	#1
Dean Martin HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chambersburg, PA Posts: 264 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 12 Thanked 45 Times in 38 Posts	Is "The Best" really the enemy of Good? Voltaire's quote: "The perfect is the enemy of the good." or "The best is the enemy of the good" is often used to keep people from being paralyzed into inactivity because they haven't reached perfection yet or their idea is not completely finalized. While I'll admit there is some wisdom in that premise in that it's better to actually get something put into place than to do nothing - I also find a lot of Internet marketers throwing a lot of sub-par ideas / sites / articles / ppc campaigns at the wall hoping that something works and not taking the time to hone and perfect one thing that could actually vault them into real profits! Though the basic premise of the light bulb had already been invented (carbon element in a vaccum) Thomas Edison worked for over 2 years changing the shape of the element / perfecting the vaccuum pump etc. to improve the life of a bulb from 13.5 hours to over 1500 hours. I'm glad he didn't think 13.5 hrs. was "good enough" and move onto his next project. I belong to a male singing organization that has an annual international competition to judge the best chorus and quartet in the world. Since 1979 The Vocal Majority, a 100+ man chorus out of Dallas, TX has won every competition they've entered (rules require a 2 year hiatus after each win). Many choruses have tried valiantly (and some came very close) to beat them. As such it has pushed the quality level of all competing choruses to a higher and higher level. Did I say they won every time they entered? Until this year when they were beaten by one of the most dynamic performances I've ever seen. Ambassadors Of Harmony - Gold Medal Performance See if you don't agree that sometimes "Good enough" is the enemy of continuous improvement, true success and real innovation. What steps can you take to not become complacent and move your business to the next level?
	*Ultimate Offline Social Media WSO* Great Content Rules! (and Membership Site Secrets) *2 Secret Shortcuts To Fast Profits Online*

07-23-2009, 04:35 PM	#2
MinisiteMatt Matthew Keith Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Treasure Island, FL Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Social Networking	Re: Is "The Best" really the enemy of Good? I tend to overthink things way too much and sometimes that gets in the way of actually "doing". I've found that if I sit down and spend some time creating an outline of what I want to accomplish, then it becomes easier for me to "do" as I can see what needs done right in front of me and I can take it one step at a time. If you're referring to getting things "out there", that's where testing comes in. Don't be scared to get your project rolling because it's not perfect... just get it up and then test, tweak, improve.

07-23-2009, 04:39 PM	#3
bobsedge HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Long Island, NY, USA. Posts: 239 Thanks: 19 Thanked 165 Times in 20 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Is "The Best" really the enemy of Good? Striving for perfection will kill more ideas than you can imagine. When it comes to launching a new project or idea my theory is "good enough is good enough". I worry about making it better later.
	www.Tennis-Cruise.com - The ultimate tennis vacation experience

07-23-2009, 04:44 PM	#4
MinisiteMatt Matthew Keith Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Treasure Island, FL Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Social Networking	Re: Is "The Best" really the enemy of Good? And by "good enough", I think he means good to begin with. It's gotta be good before you can even think about releasing it. There's enough crap out there already

07-23-2009, 05:12 PM	#5
Dean Martin HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chambersburg, PA Posts: 264 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 12 Thanked 45 Times in 38 Posts	Re: Is "The Best" really the enemy of Good? I guess I'm talking to myself as much as anyone else - too often I settle for just "good enough". If I truly want to differentiate myself and my businesses it takes continuously improving processes / automation / customer service / etc. Putting out average effort and average products will result in average results. I'm looking for truly extraordinary results...
	*Ultimate Offline Social Media WSO* Great Content Rules! (and Membership Site Secrets) *2 Secret Shortcuts To Fast Profits Online*

07-23-2009, 05:20 PM	#6
bobsedge HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Long Island, NY, USA. Posts: 239 Thanks: 19 Thanked 165 Times in 20 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Is "The Best" really the enemy of Good? When I say "good enough" that has nothing to do with the benefits and features. The benefits in particular need to be extraordinary. The problems start when we procrastinate on launching because not every "i" is dotted and "t" is crossed. Get it out there, blemishes and all, and strive for perfection as you go.
	www.Tennis-Cruise.com - The ultimate tennis vacation experience

07-23-2009, 05:26 PM	#7
Kirahster needs coffee to function! War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 308 Thanks: 107 Thanked 54 Times in 38 Posts Social Networking	Re: Is "The Best" really the enemy of Good? I looked at the video! WOW how impressive is that... Is the there a video of the choir that usually wins?
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07-23-2009, 05:38 PM	#9
LB Original Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In the forest. Posts: 2,894 Thanks: 256 Thanked 461 Times in 202 Posts	Re: Is "The Best" really the enemy of Good? I think you're mistaken what "good enough" means in regards to how it is used in product creation etc. There's no reason to not release a product that's "good enough" as long as it provides value. But that doesn't mean it's never improved. "Good enough" is just the start, it can be tweaked and improved from there...and your customers will help you do it.
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