'good enough' is my new 'perfect'

This week, I got to pitch a high-revenue offer to a client. It was a big deal to me, and I wanted everything to be perfect. I spent quite a bit of time reading over facts and stats, analyzing every angle, and trying to anticipate every possible objection. By the time our meeting rolled around, I was so caught up in being “flawless” that I forgot the most important part: connecting with the client.

During the conversation, I fumbled a key fact and felt blank while narrating the story I’d planned. My brain screamed, “You’re blowing it!” As unease gripped my insides, I decided to focus on what I did know. I shared how our service would directly meet their future needs and promised to follow up with more specifics in some time. To my surprise, they didn’t mind my imperfections. They appreciated my authenticity, courage, and willingness to deliver value over memorized perfection.

This experience got me wondering and brought back memories of my days doing part-time work as a barista. I enjoyed and prided my latte art, obsessing over perfect rosettas and symmetrical hearts. One busy Monday morning, there was a line of customers stretching all the way to the door, and I knew I couldn’t spend ages on every cup. I poured a quick swirl that resembled… well, let’s call it “abstract art,” handed it over with a smile, and braced for disappointment. The customer took a sip and said, “This is amazing!” Turns out, they cared more about the taste and warmth than the art on top — as do we all!

In industrial-organizational psychology, this principle comes up often: we call it prioritizing impact over perfection. Whether it’s pitching an idea or making art with milk, I am coming to see that focusing on what truly matters often outweighs getting the small details right. Whenever I aim for “good enough,” I allow myself to show up authentically, connect with others, and deliver results that matter.

So, next time you feel the pull of perfectionism, pause and ask yourself: What’s the real goal here? can I be perfect by simply being good enough? Chances are, “good enough” is already a superpower you have!