Perfectionism or MVP? The choice is yours.
Most people think that being a perfectionist is something to be proud of. For a long time, I was proud of being a perfectionist too. However, scientific research tells us that this is not actually a good thing. So, if you had to make a choice between being perfect and achieving something, which one would you choose?
“Done is better than perfect.”
― Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
You’ve heard some version of this expression. With a similar understanding, Voltaire began his poem ‘La Bégueule’, by saying, ‘In his writings, a wise Italian, said that the best is the enemy of the good.’ This point of view is very popular in the world of entrepreneurship and software, telling us that it is more significant to go into action and get the job done rather than striving for perfection, which can often lead to delays or even inaction. Exactly here we encounter another concept: MVP (Minimum Viable Product).
We can say that MVP is a simplified version of a product that has enough features to be usable by first users and collect feedback and validate a product. The critical thing at this point is to decide the minimum set of features and functionality. Eric Ries, founder of the Lean Startup methodology, defined an MVP as the version of a new product that allows a team to gather the maximum amount of proven customer knowledge with the least effort.
It’s almost impossible to make something perfect, so we must start somewhere. Here are the reasons why done is better than perfect:
The longer you strive for the perfect product, the more likely it is that someone else will launch a similar product ahead of you. By completing time to market period as quickly as possible, you will gain a serious advantage over your competitors. You cannot make money from products that you haven’t launched. Don’t miss market opportunities.
If you aim to develop all features of the product, it will take a long time and your customer’s needs may change along the way. MVP allows you to launch the product as quickly as possible and test it with real users without allocating a large budget to the full development of the product. Presenting product features iteratively distributes risks and saves cost and time. Be in control.
Accomplishing something is satisfying enough. As you strive for perfection, your productivity and motivation may decrease, whereas delivering a successful launch and improving your product will increase your motivation and excitement. Set realistic goals and celebrate the progress.
If you think about every detail, things become more complicated than they need to be, and you are likely to miss the big picture. “Done” doesn’t mean the job is sketchy, it just means it is good enough to move on to the next stage. Keep it simple.
You don’t know what perfect is until you present your product to the market. The truth is, that you can spend a lot of time, money, and resources to make your product perfect, but it may not be exactly what your customer wants. MVP ensures that the product is valuable and competitive, suitable for real needs. Listen to your customers.
You can improve your product with feedback from your customers. MVP aims to bring the product to market quickly by improving its most basic features. Thus, you can get feedback from customers earlier and shape the product roadmap accordingly. Realize that perfection is a journey, not an outcome.
“You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.”
― Les Brown, The Power of Purpose
The iPhone is a prime example of this, with early versions full of bugs but a highly successful launch.
So, aren’t there situations where perfectionism is advantageous or necessary? Sometimes perfect is the enemy of good, but sometimes good is the enemy of success. It depends on the specific context, project goals, and the tolerance for risk. Perfectionism is necessary to meet safety standards in industries such as healthcare or aviation and to minimize errors in industries such as finance where detail is critical, and precision is crucial. But even in these cases, remember that the pursuit of excellence should not undermine progress or action. Always consider the specifics of the job before deciding what needs to be perfect.
References:
https://www.justalittlecompany.uk/our-journey/
https://upjourney.com/done-is-better-than-perfect
https://www.fastcompany.com/90388049/perfectionism-vs-good-enough https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2021/12/08/a-review-of-the-minimum-viable-product-approach
https://clearbridgemobile.com/planning-a-minimum-viable-product-a-step-by-step-guide/
