Change Agent, Perfection, and Good Enough

(Adapted from Dr. Phil Humbert)

There are two phrases that are widely thought to encourage peak performance but are actually recipes for disaster. The first is the ever-popular search for "best practices" and the other is the quest for "zero defects." While I understand the intention behind them, in the real world too often they merely trigger our fears and create tremendous interference.

We hate making mistakes! No one wants to mess up, drop the ball or fail! We hate being embarrassed! Unfortunately, human beings are only human. We get tired, we forget, we get distracted. We have misunderstandings and sometimes (I hate to say it) we make mistakes. We "mess up." In the quest for perfection, we kid ourselves and we waste time and energy striving for the impossible. Most of the time we are far more successful if we strive for excellence, being a Change Agent, rather than perfection. And, sometimes, the situation only requires "good enough," and our efforts beyond that are a waste of time.

Now of course there are instances where "perfection" is the appropriate standard, but in real life these are few and far between. Most of the time our quest for "perfection" is inappropriate and grows out of an exaggerated desire to be right, to be super-human, to avoid criticism or minimize risk. Peak performers are more interested in getting things done than in perfection. High achievers look for appropriate outcomes and measure their success based on the quantity and quality of their results. In most areas of life and business, here are my preferred standards:

1. The Change Agent (Excellence). In work and in relationships, seek excellence or being the Change Agent. We want superb results that other people admire, but life rarely asks for perfection. Mistakes are merely the price of experimentation, learning and growth. Never fear making a mistake; fear failing to learn and move forward.

2. Good Enough. In most activities our goal should be performance appropriate to the situation. Anything less is sloppy or careless and that is never acceptable, but anything beyond what a specific situation requires or expects is merely personal preference. Consider my front lawn. It is not a prize-winning lawn and no one';s life or happiness or career depends on its appearance, so "good enough" requires a few minutes with the trimmer, a half-hour with the mower, and some fertilizer from time to time. It looks "good enough" and blends with the standard in our neighborhood. Anything less would be "sloppy;" anything beyond that is time spent for some other personal reason. Perfection is rarely required. Instead strive for being a Change Agent in the important areas of life and "good enough" in everything else. I think you';ll be happier, more productive and in the long run far more successful.

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Change Agent Power Exercise

Take 10 minutes to recognize the area of your life where you want excellence, that is, being a Change Agent.

1. List all of the things you do in a day, week, or month in which you try to reach perfection.

2. Create a T-chart and on the one side write "Change Agent" (Excellence) and on the other side write "Good Enough."

3. Take the list you created and add each area to the appropriate category. This will prioritize your life and provide you with a sense of liberation and self-confidence. I guarantee it!