I can’t remember how many times I have written about this in the past but it must be a lot and that’s because what I am doing differently these days is simply making forward progress. Taking steps and always moving is the key to getting what we want out of life. It’s when we stop, or push and pull, that we end up somewhere where we don’t desire.
Perfection is the enemy of progress and so being done is better than perfect. I like to say that done is better than good. The reason I like this better is because I don’t struggle to be perfect and have a tough time being great. And that’s just it. There are so many shades of variance from good to great that the most important lesson to learn is to always make forward progress.
Making forward progress requires us to say yes to things before we are ready. It means investing our money, time, and energy. We have to face the tension of not knowing if any of the work we will do will amount too much. We have to embrace this tension, because if we don’t we will never do anything, or we will quit. It’s the tension that means everything.
The tension and uncertainty of not hearing what we want to hear when we play our music instrument. The trepidation of not hearing the right things come out of our character’s mouth. It’s the tension of being overwhelmed how many details there are to everything and how in the world is this ever going to get done?
But it will. In time. With forward progress. When we care more about being done and sharing something with the world, than we do about being good or perfect.
Perfection is the enemy of progress. Tension is your friend. Those butterflies in your stomach are there for a reason. Those thoughts of doubts in your mind are there because you’re up to something. Neither would be there if you were just watching tv or getting high. There is no tension is watching your life go by.
Only regret.
Photo credit: https://unsplash.com/@margotd1
