Why I Hate "Done is Better Than Perfect" × Navigating the Procrastination Valley × Minimum Viable Completion
Balancing perfection and efficiency: mastering 'Minimum Viable Completion' while avoiding procrastination valleys. Achieving productivity with intentional task management.
Lately, I've been reflecting on my approach to work and thought I'd share some insights. Striving for perfection in everything can be counterproductive, and I've come to see the value in balancing quality with efficiency. Here are some #littlethingsworthsharing from my journey.
The MVC Principle
There are times when things need to be perfect upon completion. However, that is the case for a minority of tasks. Most of the time, tasks need to meet a certain standard rather than achieve perfection. I expect only a few tasks each day to require that level of polish - and that's the pace I'm sticking to.
As a tech-product person, I'm familiar with MVP: the minimum viable product. Here, you explicitly choose what to do and what to deliberately leave out, then live with the results. The same applies to any work.
Consider my slide presentations. When pitching to high-value clients, I focus heavily on design and alignment. That precision is necessary, but many slides (especially internal communications) don't warrant that investment. A "Minimum Viable Completion" conveys the necessary information without perfection from the start. Refinements can follow if needed.
The Art of Subtraction
I learned something from music production: the art of subtraction. I could spend forever tweaking, adjusting, tinkering, adding more, but restraint matters.
When I have enough material laid out on the table, I can look objectively and decide what's truly impactful. If something doesn't add value, it goes. I never fully know how much is "right" - there's always anxiety - but it's an experiment with no single correct answer. I hope to get better as I grow.
That said, stakes matter. When stakes are high, I lay everything out and see all options. When stakes are low, intuition helps me move faster. Both have their place.
Energy and Decisiveness
For tasks where friction builds - inefficient work, jumping on and off without progress—it's exhausting and anxious. The answer is usually decisive: either complete it immediately or rest. The space between is procrastination, and it's worth avoiding.
When friction reaches a certain point, I need to gauge quickly: am I tired, or is the task genuinely unclear? If I've pushed for 20 minutes and output is minimal, rest is probably the answer. If I hesitate on this decision, I end up wasting time—neither resting nor producing quality work.
It's not always easy to know when to push through versus when to pause, but being decisive about it, rather than lingering in uncertainty, makes the difference.
The Balance
Balancing execution with intentionality - knowing when to perfect, when to subtract, when to rest - creates genuine satisfaction. That mix of achievement and productivity is what I'm after.