If you think you already know the answer to this question- this post is not for you!
You’re either a successful perfectionist, or a confident pragmatist.
For the serious perfectionists…. ah never mind- they all left after 30 seconds on this blog.
For the confident pragmatists- I envy your ability to make a decision and move on. Except when I’m wondering if you really meant to replace half the switchplate covers in the room- and not even have them match each other.
This was the case when we moved into our house. Sadly- it is still the case.
For the slacker perfectionists- those who (like me) teeter back and forth between wanting to do a good job and having so many different projects, plans, ideas, and commitments that we can’t possibly give them all their due- this one’s for you!
This whole question is on my mind because last weekend, for some reason, both cars were out of the garage at the same time revealing an entire winter’s worth of sand, grit and crud. I was inspired to grab the broom and head out for some serious sweeping. As I grabbed the dustpan and headed for the door, I announced my intentions to my husband, who replied, “Yeah, I want to get everything out of the garage and really do it right.”
I suppose in the grand scheme of garage clutter- I’d put us firmly in the middle. We have a 2 car garage that fits 2 cars. So already we’re ahead of some folks I’ve seen. On the other hand, the area around the perimeter is filled with bikes, skis, scooters, sleds, tools, toys and various piles of miscellaneous stuff.
Now usually, if an urge to sweep the garage floor came upon me, I might just pour myself a cool drink and wait for it to pass. But the sight of that empty real estate in the middle of the garage floor was just too tempting.
There was, however, no way on God’s green earth that I was gonna start hauling out all the rest of the crap in the garage before I began to sweep. And frankly, I wasn’t even interested in waiting on him to do it.
I had a broom, I had a dustpan, I had a mission.
But as I was sweeping pound after pound of sand, reflecting on the conversation with my husband, I was contemplating this very question: Is it better to do it right or get it done?
In that moment- the answer was very clear to me.
Who knows when or if the major garage cleaning will ever happen. (And if it does, it will necessarily involve a garage re-organization project, which might very well involve the installation of, removal of or rearranging of various shelves and storage options which is certain to require at least one trip to the hardware store…. you see where this is going?!?!?)
We’ve all heard the saying, “a job worth doing is worth doing right.” But what if ‘doing it right’ means never getting it done?
I knew I couldn’t be the only one with this issue, so in the spirit of a true geek- I started looking for what others had to say on the matter.
The best is the enemy of the good.
Unknown
Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.
Unknown
A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.
Unknown
It is through Art, and through Art only that we can realize our perfection.
Oscar Wilde
Art knows no limits and the artist will never achieve perfection.
Bente Borsum
Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it.
Salvidor Dali
Oh… well that explains it!
What I find fascinating about this collection (and there were many more along the same divergent lines) is just how true each one seems. Even the Wilde and Borsum quotes which seem almost completely contradictory, both strike me as containing some kernel of truth.
Of course, as a mom, I live this question not only in my daily activities,
Is it better to give the bathroom a ‘lick and a promise’ over and over again, or let it get disgusting enough that I actually break down and clean it right?
but in my parenting.
Is there any chance that I’ll be able to be fully prepared for “the TALK” so that I can get that right or am I gonna get the pop quiz like one of my mom friends got when her son (about 10 at the time) asked, “Mommy, what’s a blow job?”
BTW.. if anyone has a graceful, age-appropriate answer to that one- please post immediately!
I think as moms we’re always giving things a lick and a promise- and fortunately chances usually come around to add to and improve upon our previous efforts.
What’s even more challenging sometimes is knowing what to teach my son about doing it right vs. getting it done.
I have found myself exasperated with him for placing each stuffed animal just so on the shelf- taking what seems like forever when I just want the things picked up off the floor and pronto!
And then in the same day, I urge him to slow down with his homework and ‘get it right’ or we practice the same measures of music over and over.
I really don’t know what the right answer is on this one. Because as I said, I find both possible answers so compelling.
After I’d swept the garage, I was so into sweeping, I kept going and swept the driveway. (Seriously….) And then, to make matters worse, I was digging in and getting all the crud out of the cracks between the sections of concrete, all the while acutely amused by the absurdity of my actions.
Of all the quotes I found, this one is probably my favorite. It seems to find the essence of wisdom that lies beneath the others.
Striving for excellence motivates you, striving for perfection demoralizes you.
Harriet Beryl Braiker
What do you think? Are you a ‘do it right’ gal or ‘get it done’? Both? Neither? How do you teach your kids when it’s important to do your best and when it’s important just to get it done?
Let us know! Click on the comments button and speak your mind!
