"Close Enough for Government Work?"

I grew up hearing this term being used to describe the standard for minimums needed to get by. This was even more pronounced if no one was really inspecting the work or if schedule was being potentially compromised.

• I got a C on my homework. “Hey a “C” is passing. Close enough for Government work”
• It looks like that bumper is a little crooked. “No problem, they can bring it back later. It’s close enough for Government work.”
• That window frame is a little bit out of square. “It’s a basement. No one will notice. Close enough for Government work.”
• That report still has a couple of typos. “It’s due tomorrow morning and the game starts in 5 minutes. Close enough for Government work.”

The actual origins of this term speak to a time when the standards for acceptance by “the Government” were among the highest in the world. Workers took pride in their output and knew that what they were doing made a difference. In the case of WWII factory workers, they knew without a doubt that if their craftsmanship and attention to detail was substandard, people died, missions weren’t fulfilled and the Axis Powers could continue their move toward world dominance. A pretty big motivator no doubt.

Thank you Greatest Generation

In the post WWII years somehow the value of this noble statement shifted. Corporate and political necessities somehow managed to overshadow pride and craftsmanship. Quantity overshadowed quality. Accountability and ownership was taken away from the individual and moved to another division. We experienced the results in all aspects of our lives. We saw it in the auto industry and housing. We saw it in manufacturing and healthcare and education. Ironically, we even saw it in Government. Where was the common cause driving each person to do their best?

All was not lost.

The core philosophy and meaning behind excellence in “Government Work” hasn’t gone away, it’s just been under constant attack. It’s also not very good press to highlight things that work as planned but many do and sometimes they aren’t appreciated as such. My first assignment as a freshly minted engineer in the Defense industry was as a Design Engineer on the Army’s Pershing II Ballistic Missile System. We were at the height of the Cold War with the USSR and anyone on the “inside” of the industry (especially those who paid attention to the capabilities and motivations of our adversaries) gained sobering insight into the consequences of failure.

I have to say that I truly loved the Pershing II Program. Why? Because quite simply by doing exactly what it was supposed to do, the unassuming little “P2” helped stave off and ultimately to bring about a closeout to the Cold War and a drastic reduction in the number of nuclear weapons deployed on both sides of the Iron Curtain.

It wasn’t particularly pretty and it certainly wasn’t flashy (quite the contrary by design). But because it was proven to be able to execute its mission –with deadly effect, on time and on target, the USSR hated and feared these little green workhorses. If, and gratefully never “when” called upon from its mobile locations in Western Europe, the Pershing II would have delivered a low yield nuclear warhead with ridiculous accuracy to the enemy’s backyard…literally.

It was in all manner “Close enough for Government work”.

Designed and built to exacting specifications and subjected to rigorous lab and field testing, this system exemplified what happens when everyone on the team understands the mission, internalizes ownership and executes consistently and pays attention to feedback from the folks who know. From the engineers to the suppliers and subcontractors and the assembly team on the shop floor everyone owned this missile system. From the truckers who transported from our facility and the transports who hauled the missile sets to Europe and ultimately the troops who deployed and oftentimes literally slept with them in the field, there was an enviable consistent passion for making sure we got it right. We all made sure the little missile that could was indeed “close enough for Government work”.

Back to the Future

We all have the potential for greatness. Not just the record breaking, back of the end zone, one handed snag, billion dollar IPO or the Nobel Prize winning stuff. Greatness can also be found in some of the simplest most mundane pursuits and outcomes.  What if we applied not the new version but the original version of “close enough for Government work” to our daily lives. What if we performed each task with the idea that it would end up with a uniquely traceable tag on it that says “proudly made by Me”? Think about your job, your product, your service, your conversations and relationships. How about your kids? What would the reviews sound like? How many stars would you expect to find next to your tag?