helpful Aphorisms for the terminally busy

[netmouse]

The other day matt_arnold came to a SFOHA meeting (Look Ma! I updated the website!) and after a discussion of audio file types and recording straight to MP3 vs capturing a less lossy .wav or tape recording first, he commented to me that Mp3 may be a bit lossy in comparison, but an MP3 up on the web where thousands can see it is better than a recording on tape in an archive somewhere any day. And he suggested this rule:

Perfect is the enemy of Good


I mentioned this suggested aphorism to my father, who is a design engineer, and he responded with a slightly less absolute one they use in his shop:

Better is the enemy of Good Enough


These all remind me of the saying that floated around the shop when I was doing technical theater for the summer reperatory program at the University of Findlay (often said to me, then a Physics major, following the phrase "This ain't rocket science"):

Done is Good


So I offer them to you, and myself, as a reminder not to be so worried about getting something right that you don't get it done at all.

Comments

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

I learned it as "The best is the enemy of the good".

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Regarding writing projects, I have long said: "It's not done when it's finished; it's done when it's due."

B

[shadowriderhope.livejournal.com]

Interesting, this very thing came up last night at tai chi, while I was training punches, and very frustrated with each one, not feeling like I was getting it at all. I was reminded that none of the first 10,000 will be perfect, so just get through the first 10,000. ;)

[asfi.livejournal.com]

At risk of being a contrarian, I offer:

Done is good, but make allowances for "good" turning out to be "not quite good enough." Do you need to start over from scratch, or will it suffice to backtrack a step?

Conversely, recognise when starting over from scratch is really the best solution. Focus on the end result, not on salvaging existing work.