"Doing is better than perfect." - Facebook Company Motto
We live in a world where information is more easily accessible than at any other point in history. Most of us can pull out our cell phones and receive information via the internet from all over the world. That information is then delivered without wires into the palms of our hands. Wow. There is certainly a lot to learn out there. You could pick any given topic, spend a lifetime learning about it, and still not know everything there is to know about it. There are lots of people who know enough information to fill a library. The issue comes when a very simple life principle is overlooked. Information is only worth learning if it is used.
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has a show called Sherlock that my wife and I enjoy watching. This modern retelling of Sir Author Conan Doyle's famous stories follow the adventures of a Sherlock who uses text messages, Google, and email to solve crimes. One of my favorite scenes is shortly after Dr. Watson and Sherlock first meet. A question comes up about the solar system and Dr. Watson discovers that Sherlock does not know that Earth is the third planet from the sun, or even how many planets there are in our solar system to begin with. Sherlock then makes the point that his brain is like a computer. When there is information contained in his brain that he does not find useful, it is deleted.
While this is a fairly light example, it illustrates an important point. Most people like to gather information to the point that they can accomplish a task or know a topic in its perfect state. In an age of information we kill ourselves with it. In fact, actually starting the job becomes less important than knowing enough to start. That is where the issue lies.
Learning is a wonderful thing. I strive to constantly learn new skills and information every day. But if I put off actually doing something with the information for the sake of learning more, the information itself is worthless.
Consider this example. I have mentioned previously my interest in Spanish and in looking forward to the opportunity to write and one day preach in this foreign language. I can sit around on my computer learning Spanish until I am blue in the face. But if I never actually get out and use it, the information does not do me any good.
So why is it that we look for information that we are never going to use? The answer is because the fear lies in the doing, not in the learning. Gaining new information makes us feel productive and good about ourselves without any of the risk of setting out to do it. My challenge to you today is to forget how much information you think you need. Doing is better than perfect.
But what if I mess up? What if it goes horribly wrong? That will embarass me. I would have been better off to not have set the goal or started the task in the first place, right? Wrong. People were created to have their energy focused on something. That's why we set goals. Yes, you may fail. But the act of trying is what you were made for. The most disappointing strikeouts in baseball are the ones where the batter never swings. It is actually more dangerous to sit there learning that it is to be out there doing.
"And what if I did run my ship aground; oh, still it was splendid to sail it!" - Henrik Ibsen
It is a proven fact that ships deteriorate more quickly sitting at anchor in the harbor than they do sailing. It is much safer to sit in the harbor, sure. But the joy comes in the sailing! Is it dangerous? Yes. But the preparation is nothing without the doing. I leave you with the quote below because it sums up this post perfectly. Quit killing yourself with information and get out in the world. Make some mistakes and learn something worth using. That is what will make you into a better person and a more effective professional.
"Just do it." - Nike
Stay classy,
Andrew
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