Good is better than perfect.

My friend Erica’s grandmother always used to tell her, as they were saying goodbye, to “be good.” It’s such a short statement, maybe an admonishment coming from the wrong person. But E didn't feel like she was being scolded, just reminded to be her best, do her best. When her grandmother passed away, E had her grandmother’s words tattooed on her wrist as a reminder (one of the bazillion reasons she is an amazing woman).

When I started my current job, I was a little overwhelmed trying to get started. And so thinking of E and quoting some Regina Spektor lyrics, I wrote on a post-it and stuck it on my monitor: “Good is better than perfect.”

It was sort of a brave thing to do as an editor. It’s my job to find flaws and fix them, and typos and comma splices are imperfect. The thing is, I am often excellent at finding flaws. And it becomes very easy to become mired in critique as an editor.

For me, the idea of perfect is paralyzing. Waiting for perfection often also means waiting too long, passing things up or not trying because conditions are not ideal. When have conditions ever been ideal? Do not wait for perfect.

Being good means taking the opportunity. It means doing the work now. 

Being good also means, in a traditional way, to be kind, patient and willing to help others. Being good is being restrained but honest, strong but unselfish, and likely failing but trying again.  

Behaving perfectly is dangerously unattainable. Perfect is narrowly focused and intolerant of distraction. Perfect does not meander, is not thoughtful, and it can’t take criticism.

Being good means changing, recognizing nuance and differences of opinion. It means admitting when we are wrong and trying to do better.

Perfect adheres to someone else’s idea of what is right. It follows rules to a fault and lacks compassion.

 

It's good to do your best work, to strive to make the best product. But it will never be perfect. 

One day, that little note on my desk got crumpled up and lost, so I’m going to put a new post it back up this week.

Good is better than perfect. Be good.