What does great look like?
Define what "great" looks like, then deliberately aim for 80% of it. The path to excellence often starts with giving yourself permission to be good before becoming great.
As entrepreneurs, we're often told to strive for excellence, but there's a hidden trap in this pursuit of greatness – especially for first-time founders. The trap isn't in wanting to be great; it's in not knowing what "great" actually looks like.
Here's what I've learned: First, define your version of great. For everything – your people, your product, your processes. Write it down in detail. Then, put it away. Yes, you read that right. Put it away because what you actually need right now is something else: the next step down.
I call it the "good enough" version – the 80% solution.
Why? Because I've been there. I've fallen into the paralysis of perfectionism, where the pursuit of "great" prevented me from doing anything at all. The gap between where I was and where I wanted to be seemed too vast, too daunting. That's when I discovered a crucial truth: getting to 80% is far easier than achieving that final 20%, and often, that last stretch isn't even worth the effort – at least not initially.
Here's the strategy that works:
Define what great looks like
Document it thoroughly
Set it aside
Focus on achieving 80% of that vision
Execute on the "good enough" version
Only then, retrieve your original "great" vision
But here's the interesting part – by the time you reach that 80% mark, something remarkable often happens. Your perspective shifts. Your experience deepens. Your knowledge expands. Suddenly, your original definition of "great" might not even be relevant anymore. You might discover a completely different peak to climb.
The key is maintaining this balance: always know what great looks like, but focus your energy on reaching "good enough" first. Once you're there, then and only then, chart your path to greatness.
Remember, progress beats perfection, especially in entrepreneurship. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good – or in this case, the "good enough."
How does this resonate with your experience building your business?
~ AQ