Make Progress, No Resistance

It’s the time of year when everyone is focused on plans, projections, and reflections. The unachievable enemy of each is perfection.

Stephen Pressfield calls chasing perfection a form of “resistance.” Resistance is anything standing in our way that we have the power to move (or remove), if only we recognize it. 

Voltaire said, “Perfect is the enemy of good.” Confucius said, “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.” On perfection equaling resistance, Pressfield said, “You have hung up an entire battalion trying to capture an outhouse.” 

These all apply to our personal plans, projections, and reflections. The same for our clients. The same for our businesses, careers, fantasy sports teams, etc.

Plans are important. But, a plan without action is just words. We’ll face resistance when it comes to the doing. We create our value when the plan is as good as it needs to be and we’re actually making forward progress. 

It’s time to make the plan, the projection, and reflect. It’s also the time to do something. It’s not the time to get stuck, especially in the pursuit of perfection. Don’t hang up the battalion trying to capture an outhouse. Make progress. No resistance.