When Good Enough Beats Perfect
We’ve been taught to believe that perfection is the ultimate goal. That the best work, the best decisions, and the best life come from getting everything just right.
But what if that isn’t true?
What if, in most cases, good enough isn’t just acceptable but actually better?
Perfection Paralysis: When “Better” Becomes the Enemy of “Done”
Perfection sounds admirable, but in reality, it often leads to stagnation.
- At work, you spend hours fine-tuning a report when a solid draft would have done the job.
- In your career, you hold off applying for a role because you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications.
- In life, you delay starting something new because you’re not an expert yet.
Perfection keeps you stuck. It convinces you that unless something is flawless, it’s not worth doing. But while you’re refining and overthinking, others are making progress with work that’s simply good enough.
Why “Good Enough” Wins in the Real World
Perfectionism isn’t just exhausting it’s impractical. The world moves fast, and those who embrace good enough are the ones who take action.
- Good enough means finishing the project and moving on to the next opportunity.
- Good enough means learning as you go, rather than waiting until you know everything.
- Good enough means making decisions with the information you have, instead of endlessly searching for the perfect answer.
Most success stories aren’t built on perfection they’re built on momentum. The people who grow the fastest are the ones who start before they feel fully ready, who put their work out there before it’s flawless, and who learn by doing rather than by waiting.
When to Let Go of Perfection (and When Not To)
Of course, some things require precision surgery, engineering, legal contracts. But in most areas of life, progress beats perfection every time.
- Instead of obsessing over the perfect resume, send the one you have and refine it as you go.
- Instead of waiting for the perfect moment to start a business, take the first step and adjust along the way.
- Instead of perfecting every detail of a project, deliver it when it’s solid and improve it based on feedback.
Perfect Never Arrives But Good Enough Gets You There
The truth is, perfect is an illusion. There will always be ways to improve, tweak, and refine. But while perfectionists are still perfecting, those who embrace good enough are making progress, learning from experience, and moving forward.
So, let go of the need to get everything just right. The job, the project, the decision good enough is often all you need to succeed.
At Growth Partners People Consulting, we support individuals and teams in overcoming perfectionism-driven burnout by focusing on progress, clarity, and sustainable growth.
We help you:
- Build a bias for actionthrough coaching and leadership development
- Cultivate a growth mindsetthat prioritizes learning over flawless execution
- Empower decision-makingin high-stakes environments by teaching leaders to balance quality with agility
- Design resilient teamswho move forward with purpose, not paralysis
If perfectionism is slowing your people down, let’s talk. We help leaders and teams get unstuck so they can focus on what matters, deliver with impact, and grow without burning out.