Is Better Always Better? Is It Even Better?

“Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well,” warned the Duke of Albany in Shakespeare’s King Lear. William wasn’t alone in that thought. The French writer, Voltaire wrote, “Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien,”?which is usually translated as “The best is the enemy of good.”?

Bottom line: Why tinker with what works? Right? Or wait...maybe William and Voltaire had other meanings?

• Striving for better can make you forget to appreciate what you already have…or even cheapen it.
• Perfectionism can prevent people from creating anything good. It freezes them.
• Settling for good can limit self-improvement.

Continuing the journey, we began with the Bard...Some of you might know the famous Pepsi dictum: “If it ain’t broke…break it!” In other words, don’t be complacent about where you are and what you do…always think beyond bigger and better…there are no consequences other than FOMO if you don’t.

Then, I found an outstanding thought, written by an advertising great, that embodies the notion and completes the list. It fits because it has more than one way to look at it:

“When you reach for the stars you may not quite get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either.” —Leo Burnett

A not-as-literal meaning, I would add, is that there is nothing more fun and possibly creative than playing a little in the mud…Even if you do come up with less than stars and even if you do occasionally get dirty…so what?! Build on it! Who knows where you’ll end up!!!!

The ultimate reward is going for the gold...in any way you want. Any way you think will lift all of us, change how people think, and ultimately raise the bar—creating new and unique spaces for all.

Don’t get locked into one definition or explanation.?Play in the mud occasionally; there is little more liberating...

Go ahead…JUMP!

What’s your view??