Excellence v/s (mere) Execution?

I am in a dilemma. I recently came across a passage in a book by John C. Maxwell -

No one remembers how fast you did the job, but everyone recollects how well you did the job.


I have always intuitively followed the Flylady principle- Do it fast, do it as well as possible, NO PERFECTION... But here's someone saying just the opposite.

And it is seemingly true too. Really, how many people have been appreciated for the speed with which they completed a task? But haven't we often heard others being effusively congratulated for the excellence of their jobs?

No what? Is it time to rethink my philosophy?

Perhaps... the trick is in correctly assessing the job at hand. There are some jobs which do not require perfection. The accolades that may come one's way for doing those tasks with perfection may not be worth the effort put into it.  There are some other jobs, which if executed to the best of your abilities, can bring into your life such applause that it makes every drop of sweat worth it. These tasks must be identified and polished to perfection.

I shall leave it to your judgement, readers, to determine which of your jobs are worth the effort of perfection. Personally, I have determined to leave the mundane daily chores for mere completion, but to strive for perfection in those tasks which are not to be repeated in a six-month interval.

Items like planning shall fall into the latter category, whether it be planning the next academic year schedule, or planning a new garden layout, or planning my priorities for a new year; so that should ensure that my daily tasks - which are for progressing steadily upon these plans - are at least in the PERFECT direction, even if not entirely perfect in themselves.

For example, the daily classes shall progress steadfastly per schedule, with no undue stress on perfection, but the year end thesis or record book shall possess perfection. Indeed after 20 years, no one turns back the pages to check if they'd got straight A's for all assignments, but a big, bright A+ on their record book might be worth looking back for. Daily watering the plants and pruning them shall progress with minimal stress (No perfection, just do it!), but planning the layout, purchasing new plants/potting containers and so on shall merit more attention in a bid for perfection.

So while I shall continue with the Flylady mantra of "Progress, not perfection", from now on, I shall strive for excellence in selected jobs.

My new motto:
Progress, not perfection, for mundane jobs, Excellence for life!




The book I'm reading is titled MAKE TODAY COUNT and may be purchased at Flipkart.
Follow the Flylady @ www.flylady.net

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Varsha