Steam gently rose in white whisps and formed a cloud above our heads. Three buzzed couples lounged in FrankeeZee's backyard jacuzzi last weekend: sipping wine... and watching the snow fall while talking about life.
Lynn had flown in from Toronto on business again. Was she sending me a message? I didn't mind at all.
Frankee cracked open another bottle of Chardonnay and began to share one of his theories.
"Eighty-five percent Paul. That's ALL you ever need to accomplish anything. Most people strive for perfection, and THAT bogs them down. You'll never achieve anything by waiting until things are absolutely perfect."
"Where did you get that theory Frankee?" I asked.
"Jeez, I musta come across it in a half-dozen books and articles on personal growth. Do you read anything, Paul? Or are you still wasting your time on that dumb-fucking adult site?"
Lynn spit up some wine — while laughing — and poked me in the ribs.
FrankeeZee topped off our glasses and continued his lecture.
"Perfectionism can be a roadblock in careers, hobbies, and personal lives. Striving for perfection can be overwhelming and unproductive. People get bogged down in the details and do nothing."
What FrankeeZee was saying made a lot of sense, as we all nodded.
"Take those silly blogs you write, Paul. I hope you're not spending more the minimal effort to post them. I mean, that's the impression I get when I read some of the bulllshit drivel you scribble."
Lynn burst out laughing again, poked me in the ribs, and spilled more wine into the bubbles.
I wasn't going to reply to Frankee's impressions. But I considered his point of view and agreed. In fact, on THIS post — and all future blogs — I've vowed NOT to exceed eighty percent of my available energy.
I'll have to misspell a few words and fuck up a couple of commas here... somewhere. 😶
Are you a perfectionist, or do you budget your efforts and "go for it?"
Where would YOU absolutely need to strive for perfection? 🙃
Many of you know this about me.
I acquired my "sky-diving" license and stepped out of planes at ten thousand feet numerous times. I've always packed my own chute. And I've always whispered a prayer I'd folded it — one hundred percent right. 🙏
... i'd say he's giving one hundred percent...
... you've got to give one hundred percent... at THIS altitude...
46
17 comments
Guess Paul it does depend on the "what"! But seriously we can only ever do the best we can! In the case of "packing and checking your chute ) - your best will have to be better then your best! (Of course "85% is a bit better then 50%)! Enjoyed reading this btw, and didn't know you're into "sky-diving" - great stuff!
There are some things you have to do at 100 percent.
Driving on busy roads would be another one.
Frying an egg?
Depends on how hungry I am... Lol... 😂
Oh, and we always have a backup chute packed.
Thankfully, I never had to open THAT one. 😲
I like perfection and accept that it is never going to happen.
I've given up on one hundred percent with stuff around the house.
I have a tiny leaky faucet in the bathroom that's been nagging me for a year. Thanks for the reminder...
But not today. 😂👍
Medical field, 85% can get you fired and maybe unlicensed. So yes I had to strive there. I do hope my airplane pilot and surgeon is always at 100%. The rest of life, my 100% strive for perfection is never to be arrested. So, I’m good, so far. The rest, I can fake perfection.
Where "life" or health is not at stake, I'll judge how much effort I'll put in. Especially when there are only so many hours in a day, and so much that needs to get done.
This blog, for instance, will only get half the focus it used to.
Today, I've decided to invest the other half in getting rid of the clutter in "closet number two." 😶
Having worked in budget and accounting jobs most of my life, no, getting a bank account 85 percent balanced isn’t good enough!
Now when knitting a sweater - I would probably allow one or two teeny mistakes that no one else would notice if they weren’t looking for it.
Cleaning my house? Definitely 85 percent. 😅
Context is everything when applying those percentages.
Banks definitely require those debits to balance with those credits.
I'm with you on cleaning. 😲
FrankeeZee's 85% rule is a reminder that perfectionism can often hold us back. It’s true that striving for perfection can lead to inaction.
Your point about the need for 100% effort in certain situations is spot on. Just like ensuring a successful surgical operation requires absolute precision and care, there are times when giving anything less than 100% simply isn't an option.
Surgery would be one of those 100% efforts.
I'm going to try everything today at 85% and see if my time management improves.
Snow shovelling would be one of those 80 % rules to follow. Especially after all of that white stuff just kept falling and falling without a break for the last few days. 😲
@Paulxx001 Sounds like a solid plan! I hope the 85% approach brings some balance to your day. Stay warm and take care!
Skydiving is on my bucket list and would indeed pray that the chute was packed properly for sure Hun..lol. As for perfection, I would go nuts if I was a 100% perfectionist.. 80-85% sounds about right..lol.xoxo
I think for most things around the house, 80% would do fine. 👍
True... about that chute. 😲
I’m not sure if it’s 80% or some other percentage, but for me, as long as something “works,” it’s good to go. Some things, like a parachute, definitely need to be at 100%—no room for half-measures there! But others only need about 50%... like cleaning a frying pan: as long as the inside is clean, we’re golden. 😆
It all depends on the consequences of NOT going the extra mile and what else one could be doing. 🤗
A frying pan is one of those 50% items. 😎
@Paulxx001 Yes! So true, the key is in the consequences
Oooooooh yeeeees i wish to join it
Go for it. 👍
I'm always working towards perfection but I always stop at, "Eh...good enough."
That's where I'd stop... now.
But I recall some projects in grade two — and senior grades — required perfection. I think I'm borderline OCD.
Silly me.😶
That's what I love about cooking. I don't have to be 100% spot-on with the ingredients; I can come close. Baking, on the other hand... is a whole different story.
I'm sure there are tons of examples where precision counts.
Just as there are other times when 85% is probably just right. 🤗