“Done is Better Than Good”

“Done is better that good,” a quote from author Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, Big Magic, really threw me for a loop when I first read it.

I had heard another version of this idea before, namely, “Done is better that perfect.” I could at least get my mind around the idea of not waiting until something was perfect before publishing it, making it or sharing it but, “Done is better than good? Really? If I can’t expect my work to be perfect, can I at least strive for good?

But then recalled hearing two other ideas that actually validated this quote for me.

The first is that editing something that already exist is much easier that creating something from nothing. You can always go back and improve something once it has been created in the first place.

The second is an idea from prominent coach and business leader Art Williams (unfortunately I don’t remember the exact quote, so I am paraphrasing here”: Before you can be great, you have to be good, but before you can be good, you have to be bad, but before you can be bad, you have to try!

My takeaway from this: Taking action and creating something, even if it is lousy at first, at least gives us the chance to “get in the game!”