PERFECTION WOES

 

 

“Trifles make perfection

              But perfection is no trifle.”

 

I admire perfection in work.  It speaks of dedication, research, careful planning, rumination and execution in work. It speaks of redoing a job till it is just right.

 

A perfectionist’s work can be a masterpiece.  An artist’s efforts to bring out just the right hues of light in his painting is striving for perfection.  A carpenter’s efforts to get the finishing of his furniture just right, a student’s efforts to research and gather all the facts and make a presentation, a homemaker’s efforts to keep her house sparkling clean, an employee’s efforts to make a right project report, a businessman’s efforts to make the best product is striving for perfection.  We all strive for perfection in our own way.  The pleasure and satisfaction of work perfectly done is incomparable.

 

But can anything ever be perfect.  There is always scope for improvement.  Do a job perfectly.  Then ask somebody else if the job is perfectly done.  He will always be able to add some improvements.  Every head thinking differently can add something to better the output.

 

I know for a fact that if I were to try to be perfect in all the articles that I write in this blog, I doubt whether I would be able to write even one article weekly.  I do my research and put my soul in when I write my articles.  I try to ensure that I give value to my readers.  But I do not strive to be perfect.  I know that trying to be perfect everytime will seriously hamper my productivity.  Instead, I strive for excellence. 

 

The risk – reward payoff of perfect output should be evaluated in every case.  Trying to be perfect come what may is a big blunder. 

Sometimes, perfectionism is very rewarding.  An author who puts in her best in her book has every chance of it becoming a bestseller.  In this case, the reward could be very high.  Hence, all the effort is justified.

 

But, if a homemaker with little children strives to be perfect in cleaning her house, she is inviting fatigue, not to mention the loss of her good mood and time spent with her family.  What is the point of trying to clean a house perfectly when the chance of it being dirtied immediately is very high.  Instead if the homemaker strives for only a clean house, she will be happier.

 

In the changing world of business, if you strive for perfection everytime, then you might lose your opportunity. 

 

Some of the greatest achievers are perfectionists.  Perfection becomes a problem when it is compulsive.  Compulsively trying to be perfect may result from some insecurity and fear of making mistakes.  It can also cause considerable stress.  Perfectionism may stifle creativity.  Also, perfectionists may fail to move forward.  

 

Successful people know how to balance their perfectionist urgings with demands of circumstance, time and value to be received.  They try to do the job required excellently.  They spend only that much time and effort which is required to do the job well or as per the importance of the work.  They know when to do their best and when to move on.   

 

So when should you be a perfectionist:

 

1.      When the payoffs are huge

2.      when the same work has to be done again and again

3.      when this job is likely to be the key factor in your progress

4.      where safety is concerned

5.      where you are charging a big premium for quality

So think over.

 

Bye for now.