“Perfect is the enemy of good.” This timeless proverb from Voltaire wisely cautions that an unrelenting drive for perfection can often prevent us from accomplishing a task at all, especially when a perfectly adequate “good enough” result could be achieved with far less effort and time. In today’s fast-paced business world, where agility and speed to market are paramount, this insight is more critical than ever.

The Natural (But Flawed) Drive for Perfection

Many individuals and organizations naturally strive for perfection. While admirable in intent, this instinct can be counterproductive in an environment of increasing competition and disruptive innovation. Aiming for perfection from the outset often leads to escalating costs, extended timelines, and a culture that’s hesitant to release anything until it’s flawless; by which time the market may have moved on.

This isn’t to say we shouldn’t aim high. I’m a firm believer in setting radical, audacious goals to drive new thinking. However, within that pursuit, recognizing that a “good enough” iteration that gets you partway to a radical goal and provides valuable learning is often far better than achieving a “perfect” but merely incremental improvement. Voltaire was right, but perhaps we need to take it a step further.

Beyond “Good” to “Good Enough” for Rapid Learning

Given today’s world of instant communication, vast social networks, and agile product development, the focus for many initiatives should shift from “good” to “good enough” for the initial release or prototype. Why? Because “good enough” is often all you need to deliver significant initial value and gain critical insights into the problem you’re solving or the innovation you’re pursuing.

Consider Google’s long-standing practice of releasing products in “Beta” for extended periods. They embrace a “good enough” model for initial launch, allowing them to get products into users’ hands quickly, gather real-world feedback, and iterate rapidly. This approach has enabled them to lead markets, adapt to customer needs, and create massive value.

Spending excessive time and resources striving for a “perfect” or even “great” initial solution can be inefficient. A “good enough” version not only delivers core business value sooner but does so at a fraction of the cost, providing invaluable real-world learning that informs the next iteration towards “great.” This is where concepts like rapid prototyping shine, delivering immense learning value at minimal initial expense.

Apply “Good Enough” for Agile Progress in Your SMB

Whether you’re working on a new product, a service enhancement, or an internal process innovation, rapid prototyping offers a pathway to valuable insights. This doesn’t require sophisticated tools:

• Simple physical models (even with basic materials like Lego or foam).
• Role-playing a new service experience.
• Creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for a software feature.

The goal of these early iterations isn’t perfection; it’s to be “good enough” to generate new learnings, test assumptions, and clarify the problem itself.

As a fractional CIO, I often guide SMBs to adopt this iterative, “good enough” mindset for their technology projects. Instead of aiming for a massive, all-encompassing system rollout from day one, we might focus on delivering core functionality quickly (an MVP), gathering user feedback, and then iteratively enhancing the system based on real needs and proven value. This de-risks large investments and ensures the technology evolves in lockstep with the business.

The Golden Rules for Agile Progress

Let Voltaire’s wisdom be your starting point:

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

But if you truly want to lead the curve in your industry and foster a culture of rapid learning and innovation, go one step further:
Don’t let good be the enemy of “good enough” (when “good enough” means faster learning and iteration towards great).

What’s Next

I challenge SMB leaders to embrace the “Good Enough to Great” philosophy. By focusing on delivering value quickly through “good enough” iterations, learning from each step, and rapidly prototyping, you create a cycle of continuous improvement that can lead to truly extraordinary results and help your business “Succeed Sooner.”

Is your SMB sometimes hampered by a drive for perfection that slows down progress or innovation? If you’re looking for a strategic partner to help you implement more agile, iterative approaches to your technology and business initiatives, let’s connect with Succeed Sooner Consulting.