Perfect vs done

Imagine a birthday party: the guests are gathered, and the birthday song is about to begin. But the cake? It’s still being perfected in the kitchen—flawless frosting, intricate decorations, but tragically late.

In work and life, the same principle applies. Speed often holds more value than perfection. Here’s why:

Timely delivery meets needs
Just like the birthday girl wants her cake during the party, stakeholders and customers need solutions when they can actually use them. Delivering something functional on time is far better than delivering perfection when it’s no longer relevant.

Momentum builds trust
Completing tasks and delivering results on schedule demonstrates reliability. Late perfection can erode trust, as others depend on your timely contributions to move forward.

Perfection’s cost vs. impact
The value is often in the ability and timing, not the detail.
Speed allows for learning and iteration, while perfection locks you in a loop of diminishing returns.

Speed doesn’t mean cutting corners; it means delivering something good enough when it matters most. Perfection can wait - because no one remembers the flawless cake that missed the party.

Have you ever delivered “good enough” on time and made the moment?