Comments

The two percent is a pain. But I've seen it work in my own experience. I've done exactly what you've done: stopped working, thought I was finished, and the invisible tug of the Excellence Muse says, "Go back one more time. Have faith, it will make a difference."

Walt Disney, the man, is my inspiration in this area. The stories are legendary about the details they put into rides even though most people don't conciously notice them.

"Whenever I go on a ride, I'm always thinking of what's wrong with the thing and how it can be improved." - Mr. Disney

Posted by Todd Reed at July 17, 2008 1:16 PM

Tom – I remember reading somewhere many years ago (it may have been your writing) about Mozart’s obsession over a ‘final note’ for a new composition. The story goes along the lines that he awoke at 4 am, went downstairs to his piano and struck the final note after having a restless night, unhappy because he could not find that final note. I am also reminded of the great British Golfer Tony Jacklin who won the US Open and British Open in successive years 1969/70. When Jacklin was a kid he would practice bunker shots out of the sand and he would not leave the bunker until he had sunk three SUCCESSIVE bunker shots …. Sometimes this meant many hours. The average club golfer like me would be happy to sink one bunker shot in our career.

I love ‘final two per centers’- thanks for a great story

Posted by Trevor Gay at July 17, 2008 4:32 PM

For fear of being perceived as one who generally sucks up to all things TP, I will contain my enthusiasm of the truth of this post and say...TO HELL WITH IT! -- THIS IS ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL POST!

I am without doubt one of those last two pencenters and it has given me a tremendous sense of satisfaction. Not only that I had discovered mistakes after susposedly doing the final final draft, but that I had cared enough about the presentation to put all that I had into and then some.

When I have given it my absolute all on any given night, the sleep is sweeter and the sense that I will do something of value tomorrow (which by then is actually today) makes all of the precision well worth it.

Love and value trump exhaustion everytime, releasing endorphins for the task and sweet sleep as a reward.

Posted by Judith Ellis at July 18, 2008 7:27 AM

I too am an advocate of the Last Two Percent. Like Tom’s example of last minute changes to a presentation, I have often spotted something the day before an event or a project submission and that 2% has made ALL the difference, in turning something from pretty good to memorable. But sometimes success is about knowing when you’ve gone far enough with a task or project, and going another 2% won’t make an ounce of difference, or worse - it’ll be an excuse for not finishing something.

A small business I know were planning a mailout to their customers. We’d talked about them doing this for months but they had procrastinated over it. Last week I saw piles of letters in their office sitting ready to go out. Hurrah, I thought to myself, they’re (finally) doing it. But they are still there a week later; they’ve not gone out. The guy who runs the business is a perfectionist (and that’s one thing I admire about him), but on this occasion he wanted to wait til he had ordered new labels for the envelopes and a new release of postage stamps were out that he thought would look good on the envelope. Perfection and Excellence are always worth striving for, but here’s the ‘But’.

But sometimes it’s about just ‘doing it’. Most of his customers will rip open the letter without looking at the envelope and I bet none of them will notice the difference between what label he had printed the address on and the ones he could have used 7 days ago. So sure – always go the extra mile, do that last 2% to turn a project from mediocre into stunning; but also know that for some tasks and projects, it’s better to get it done and get it finished. The trick is to know the difference, when the 2% counts and when it doesn’t.

Posted by Ian Sanders at July 18, 2008 9:00 AM

Plenty of time to rest later.

Posted by Chris Tapken at July 18, 2008 9:45 AM

Ian - While I understand the useage of the term "perfectionist," for myself, it is one that I stay away from. (To each its own, of course.) For me perfection is a futile never ending quest and I dare not set myself up for failure. In fact, love and discipline are my motivators and surprisingly (or not) they motivate others too. There was most definitely a time some years ago where because I believed myself to be a perfectionist that others to my perception were constantly missing the mark. Silly me.

Now, there are two crucial points that I missed with the above mindset: 1) It wasn't all about me and how I saw a thing. 2) Others work differently, express themselves differently. and the finish product may very well be "perfection." (Deadlines, of course, must be considered) I appreciate your point, though, Ian. I'm just adding on. And, by the way, the two percent when it doesn't count seems by all definition not that invaluable two percent; the two percent makes the difference. Any other percentage expending energy will not matter. Spinning is not necessarily succeeding.

Posted by Judith Ellis at July 18, 2008 12:16 PM

Some perfectionists, sometimes known as egotists, spin for days without any real success, but useless pride insist upon a staid course. My uncle used to tell us whenever he thougth we were off course, "you might be moving, but in the wrong direction." Perfectionists sometimes waste energy needlessly in the wrong direction. A sense of insecurity or incapabality can also be a drainer in the wrong direction, yielding no fruitful results. The two percent to me (I may be wrong) is both a forging ahead and ongoing observation.

Posted by Judith Ellis at July 18, 2008 12:27 PM

Yup- there's not much that's more energy-sapping than mediocrity.

Posted by Lois Gory at July 18, 2008 2:01 PM

One of the BEST (!!) things about chores is the immediate satisfaction of seeing your efforts transforming the yard, room, house, etc. It's a LOT harder to get that immediate hit in the work I do at the office.

The final 2% is what distinguished "job" from "My Work".

Posted by Guy Skoy at July 18, 2008 2:02 PM

Thanks Judith.
You're right. It's about the Two Percent going in the right direction. My example was someone spinning in the wrong one. If he'd sweated that Two Percent in the right direction, it might have made all the difference. As it was, his pursuit of perfection was actually more about procrastination..

Posted by Ian Sanders at July 18, 2008 3:16 PM

Thank you, Ian. I'm thinking sweating that two percent in the right direction takes observation internally (why am I doing this?) and externally (how is this beneficial?) and actually doing something. Procrastination sucks!

Posted by Judith Ellis at July 18, 2008 4:00 PM

"But sometimes it’s about just ‘doing it’."

Ian, agree whole heartedly. The above has been my mantra for years.

So here's my take:

(1) Business-life is an art. We balance-fiddle with perfectionism (good kind or bad) "versus" "just do it." We never ever "get it right," hence my term "fiddle with."
(2) How about applying "just do it" to the last 2%. Get on with that last 2%--and see where it leads.
(3) Despite #1 above, I believe not in "balance" but "tension." I want a "last 2%-er" across the hall from "just do it." Let them duke it out. (It's like having the strong-willed CFO and strong-willed CRO across the hall from one another. [CRO = Chief Revenue Officer])

Posted by tom peters at July 19, 2008 6:36 AM

I love the idea of discovery by simply doing it and that of balancing "fiddle with perfectionism (good kind or bad) 'versus' just do it.'". Yeah, that's right! Makes plenty sense to me. Thanks!

Posted by Judith Ellis at July 19, 2008 8:53 AM

Ian - you hit on an important point. I suspect many fantastic ideas ‘go down the pan’ because people labour in vain over the final 2% in an attempt to move their idea from absolutely fantastic to absolutely perfect. Whilst I love two percenters I also believe ‘good enoughness’ is equally effective on occasions – it depends on the issue – tactics rule!

Posted by Trevor Gay at July 19, 2008 5:11 PM

I categorically disagree with Trevor's comment. I do not want "good enoughness" around me...period. I do not want to employee those with this attitude, nor do I want them on my team. Now, if as a leader I hope to take one from point A to point B, this I can see. But even in this capacity as a leader, I wouldn't advocate it; the premise of "good enoughness" is negative, without hope.

Who awakens in the morning saying, "being good enough is good enough for me?" Motivating? No! Lame? Yes! As far as getting thing done, I would not want this person nearby. This kind of attitude affects others and can kill a high energy, high productive environment. It is also a downer to creativity. Good enoughness is no where near "equally effective on ocassions." Frankly, it flat out sucks!

Posted by Judith Ellis at July 19, 2008 5:44 PM

Hi Judith. As I said in both my comments in this thread ‘I love two percenters’ and I like to think of myself as a fully signed up member of the ‘two percenter society’

MOST stuff has to be ‘perfect’ for me as judged by me.

What I was trying to say – obviously not well enough – is that sometimes – just sometimes – ‘good enough’ is good enough.

I agree ‘good enoughness’ is not a model way to live life. That is not what I was trying to say in my comment. I meant to say, sometimes, just sometimes I personally have to say ... ‘that’s good enough’ – and then just get on with ‘doing it’

Posted by Trevor Gay at July 19, 2008 6:18 PM

What we "personally have to say" regarding the way we live our lives or perform our tasks who can really dispute? The choice is ours individually, of course. But for me, "good enoughness is no where near 'equally effective on occassions.' Frankly, it flat out sucks!"

Posted by Judith Ellis at July 19, 2008 7:21 PM

"Tactics rule" where aggressive or stealth processes are deployed. "Good enoughness" is tactical defeat.

Posted by Judith Ellis at July 19, 2008 7:32 PM

Another way of looking at it is that for only 2% of my time - and then for pragmatic reasons only -'good enough' is an ok place to be. I don't make a habit of it. As it is now 1.30 am Sunday I have to go to bed - have a great evening Judith - a good exchange - thanks.

Posted by Trevor Gay at July 19, 2008 7:33 PM

I am confused by this thread - or perhaps I am saying it is confused. I don't know which.

Seems to me that Tom's post was about the value of finishing a job - completing a task instead of stopping at 98% done.

I don't see this as perfectionism at all.

Perfectionists rarely get things done.

Every time I have been on some standards committee that has perfectionists on it it seems that the spec or standard is either never completed or it end up to be unusable.

For me, I pay a lot of attention to the problem, because it establishes what kind of a solution is going to be acceptable. Call it establishing tolerances. The tolerances for making nails, for instance, are much different than making computer chips. Sure, we can make nails that are within .0001mm of a particular spec - but the cost of those nails will probably be over 1000x the common nails I can get. Functionally, the difference is nil.

Seems to me that a perfectionist disregards reasonable tolerances. The 2%er makes sure those tolerances are exceeded enough to ensure success.

Posted by Martin Koning-Bastiaan at July 19, 2008 7:52 PM

It was not only that "good enoughness" was indeed not good enough, but the fact that it was claimed to be "equally effective." This really caught my attention. Clumsy speech is one thing, clumsy thoughts perhaps another. But we all have them. "Good enoughness" is never as effective as the two percent that makes the difference and gives the feeling of sweet satisfaction.

Posted by Judith Ellis at July 19, 2008 7:59 PM

Martin does not understand this thread or considers it to be confused. But I'm confused by his comment if he doesn't understand the thread. If we have arrived at 98% and remain unsatisfied, some might call us perfectionists or unreasonable. Why press for that 2%? 100% may be perceived as unattainable. After all, we have accomplished nearly all that we have set out to do.

Putting all confusion aside momentarily, it appears that the thread is well understood by Martin, for he makes a very cogent statement: "Seems to me that a perfectionist disregards reasonable tolerances. The 2%er makes sure those tolerances are exceeded enough to ensure success." Nice.

Posted by Judith Ellis at July 19, 2008 8:20 PM

You caught me, Judith! :-)

What I was confused about was why we were talking about perfectionism. Completing a job and perfectionism don't mix.

And, to be even more contrary - getting it right - and fiddling with stuff - I call that evolution. Not much to do with getting a particular job done either. (it is more about doing the job a number of times or a number of similar jobs). Tom's slides evolve as he fiddles with them and they get better and better. But each job/presentation he makes and completes in excellent fashion are not themselves fiddled with.

Posted by Martin Koning-Bastiaan at July 19, 2008 8:46 PM

Hmmm? "Completing a job and perfectionism don't mix." Does it matter then if when one stops before the job is completed, before that final 2%? Does it mean that the job is not complete? Some might argue that without that 2% element of perfectionism the job is incomplete. While others might argue that perfectionism is impossible, therefore the incompletejob, minus that 2%, is, in fact, complete.

I actually love the notion of fiddling, of tinkering. I also love the notion of describing this fiddling process as evolutionary and perhaps disconnected from "getting a particular job done either." The process itself enables a surer better eventual product, even if the product is not the current one.

There is indeed a beauty in the 2% process that is not revealed during the performance. As a trained singer, I understand this all too well. What goes on in the practice room or studio is not what occurs on stage unless I have flopped. Then, the process reveals itself to be lacking. When the delivery is flawless because I have worked that final 2%, the process is not revealed and the audience is simply appreciative--even when I am fully aware of the imperfections of the performance.

Thanks for your words, Martin.

Posted by Judith Ellis at July 19, 2008 9:11 PM

I would rather spend that bit of extra time up front to make sure the job is done right first time. I just hate it when I hear about people who have been up all night tinkering with a presentation......no thanks. Completer finishers are useful but to a point...
Chris
http://learn2develop.blogspot.com

Posted by Chris at July 20, 2008 10:16 AM

Chris, From your words I get the impression that your finisher is perhaps spinning needlessly. Do we know when the 2% has become an additional useless 25%? Or, is there no such thing when we "just do it?"

TP's #3 above also gets me to thinking about a Senior Executive Director friend at one of the car companies and the tension that now exists there. It feels completely unbearable as I listen to him week after week. It seems to me that the kind of tension that works is when it is leading to plausible productivity and not simply arranging, as my friend says, "the deck chairs on the Titanic" as a viable solution.

What was recently pointed out to my friend, however, is that that's precisely the plan: not to do much, have monthly feel good meetings espousing "leadeship" principles such as "there's no I in team," and prepare to package the company up for sale, while the team is actually fighting about silly stuff and everyone is worried about whose head is next on the chopping block. The tension seems unbearable.

This to me seems like the wrong kind of tension where there is no productivity, save by that upper percentage of folks perhaps who actually know the game plan which, by the way, doesn't quite jive with the spiel given to the team at these monthly meetings. The meetings seem to be in direct opposition to what is taking place in the company, a kind of disingenuous insulation in the space of the meeting that no one believes there or on the floor.

This tension then would seem to be valuable only when the team is on the same page, not necessarily about the best solution for getting the job done initially, as the cited example often shows opposing views, but where the company is heading. The above example seems ideal when the vision of the company is widely known and perhaps if your decision or lack thereof meant your head could very easily roll.

Posted by Judith Ellis at July 21, 2008 6:16 AM

‘Completer finishers are useful but to a point’

Chris – I agree … such as the guy who wrote back when asked for comments on a 30 page document a few years ago when I worked in the NHS. His deadly serious comment (he was not the sort to have fun) was

‘The brackets are not aligned on page 23.’

I may have got the page number wrong but I suspect you get my drift :-)

I am not the world’s greatest completer finisher but I would be lost without a good completer finisher working alongside me on occasions.

I think it is great for those who WANT to stay up all night perfecting the presentation to do that. I sometimes think there is a thin line between perfectionism, pedantic (ism) and getting a life.

Having said that …. I am often guilty of staying up well into the early hours working on something to get it as ‘good enough’ as I can... even if it is not perfect … so I must look in the mirror again!

Posted by Trevor Gay at July 21, 2008 4:15 PM

Totally agree – the last 2% MATTERS THE MOST and that is “EXECUTION!”

Posted by K.Sriram at July 29, 2008 1:15 AM