I have been saying this for years, and it is a maxim that I try to embody every day. If I can accomplish a good plan today, why put it off until tomorrow?
I was curious as to the origin of this phrase, beyond Anthony Hopkins’ character in the 1997 film The Edge. I presume that it is an adaptation of this famous General George S. Patton quote:
A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.
Patton’s quote certainly has applicability on the battlefield, but the same principle holds true in many other areas as well. In most cases, it’s advantageous to move forward immediately with a plan that you feel good about, rather than waiting for a perfect plan to unfold. Waiting on those last few details to fall into place can be time consuming, and often the hesitation will cost you in the end.
The perfect is the enemy of the good. I admit that I often times strive for perfection, but it’s helpful to dial things back and realize that you’re far better off to deliver a good product now than to deliver nothing at all.
I definitely agree. Further, who knows if tomorrow will come at all?