Don’t strive to be the best. Be good enough

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Whether it’s in your home life, social life or work life; the strive for perfection is usually a steep climb without a peak. A tunnel without any light at the end.

Many battle with the notion that it’s not worth doing unless it’s the ‘best’. Our consumption of social media and the perfect ideology means we constantly self critique and analyse our own accomplishments. Never satisfied we seek something which perhaps is not attainable.

Why not just be good enough?

When I started freelancing my thought process was never to become the best but to make a decent living to support the growth of my business and my family. When I started the educational business and moved to a predominantly subscription model I never expected us to be the best. Hell, our first crack at it was bloody awful and I am stunned we managed to actually persuade people to subscribe. I’m sometimes embarrassed myself when I look at the material we produced!

But when I look back, despite my reservations, it was ‘good enough’ to kick start the subscription business. It was ‘good enough’ to change our mindset and approach, and it was ‘good enough’ as a proof of concept.

When you say ‘good enough’ it’s always met with negative connotations. That you’re settling, or lack ambition and drive in your profession. But being ‘good enough’ is just that….enough.

Many go back and forth with an idea; sweating over whether it will work or whether it will disrupt the industry. They are desperate to be the best when in reality you can be successful by being another cog in an already spinning wheel.

Don’t jump from one idea to another or be apprehensive about taking the plunge into freelancing. The best is only available for xxx amount of hours a week. When the best is not available; ‘good enough’ is always waiting in the wings.

I’m good at many things in digital marketing. I’m also good at many things in business but I’m not the best. Far from it. But I know I can provide a good service and add value to any business who needs my help.

Being self employed has it’s challenges but if you show up, be punctual and be realistic then striving to be good is just right. Nobody expects you to be the best so why clamber for the unattainable? Just be good enough and everything else will fall into place.

In a market where everyone is clambering to be the top of the pile, whatever happened to offering a good, genuine service?

Perhaps good enough is a niche of it’s own after all.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.