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In this article, we'll explore why the quest for perfection can be a drag for entrepreneurs and how to take a more pragmatic approach. Drawing inspiration from the world of Olympic athletes, we'll look at how entrepreneurs can achieve success without trying to do everything perfectly.
The illusion of perfection: a comparison with athletes
Olympic Athletes and Excellence
Olympic athletes, like swimmers or dancers, train relentlessly to achieve technical perfection. They repeat the same movements over and over again, correcting each flaw until they are able to perform flawlessly in competition. They have only one goal: the gold medal.
Why Entrepreneurs Can't Be Like Athletes
Unlike athletes, entrepreneurs don’t have the luxury of striving for perfection in every aspect of their business. They have to juggle multiple tasks and make decisions quickly. Waiting until everything is perfect before launching a product or service can slow them down significantly and make it difficult for them to stay competitive in the marketplace.
The entrepreneur facing competition
Launch at 80% and improve later
A product or service is often ready for market as soon as it reaches 80% quality. Improvements and adjustments can be made after launch. A good example is the software field, where constant updates allow products to be improved after their initial market launch.
The trap of perfectionism
An entrepreneur who waits to achieve perfection often finds himself overtaken by the competition. His products will never be ready, while the more pragmatic competitors will have already taken market share with products that may be imperfect, but are available. Absolute perfection does not exist, and the time it takes to go from 80% to 100% is often a waste of time and resources.
Complementarity, the key to success
Multiply, not add
An entrepreneur must know his strengths and weaknesses. To compensate for his shortcomings, he must surround himself with people who complement his skills. Only by combining their strengths can a business truly thrive.
The importance of complementary partners
When you partner with a partner, it is crucial that they bring skills that you do not have. If you and your partner have the same strengths, you are additive, but if you have different and complementary skills, you are multiplying. This is what allows you to overcome individual imperfections and grow the company faster.
Example of successful complementarity
My partnership with Georges Karam in our companies Aheeva and Atelka perfectly illustrates this idea. We had different but complementary skills, which allowed us to support each other and achieve ambitious goals, despite our respective imperfections.
Conclusion: aim for perfection without seeking it
As an entrepreneur, it is essential to aim for excellence without trying to be perfect. The key to success lies in complementarity and the ability to quickly launch a good quality product and then improve it over time. Perfection is an unattainable ideal, but with a strong and complementary team, you can get close to it while remaining competitive in the market.