By “good enough” we mean absolutely, definitely, not our very best, not perfect. We are actively encouraging you to perform occasionally below standard. Go on, you have our permission. In fact we suggest a trial period where you make a conscious habit of NOT doing things as well as you usually do—and even then we bet you’ll still be good and not just mediocre. It’s a radical concept, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be liberated to focus on high-value/high-return activities in your professional and personal life.
“You have to remember,” counsels Julie Wellner, an architect from Kansas City, “are you trying to be good enough in your own eyes or everybody else’s eyes?” Julie has set up her own firm and created a work enviroment where she can be with her children when she chooses. But she still fights the lure of perfectionism. “That’s where we fall short compared to men. Men are better at saying, ‘OK, this is good enough in my eyes.’ Women are constantly saying, ‘Is this good enough in the world’s eyes?’ ”
Once you’ve mastered the ability of being able to use “good enough” strategically, you’ll be able to shift your performance up a gear and be “totally excellent” when it really counts. After all there’s no way you can have time to do everything to your highest standards all the time. Remember, that’s the road to sixty-hour workweeks—the road we are trying to destroy. No, if you want a sane life, permanent perfection is just not possible. Get over it! We are not looking to be judged “good enough” by Gandhi.
Embracing “good enough” is simply a smart power move. Think of it this way: we’re so good and so in demand we can’t possibly do everything to perfection. And, by the way, our “good enough” is great.