One of the world’s best known software companies has a fascinating way of doing things: they launch a fairly good yet unperfected product (a “beta” product) and then they start the iteration/improvement process to clean up the bugs. Each new version (2.0/3.0 etc) is better than the previous one and eventually they grow closer to getting it to a place called Flawless. Fascinating way of doing things.
This approach allows the organization to be an intense hub of product releases – and to often be the first to market while their competitors quietly toil away in obscurity, hoping to reach perfection before they offer their software to the world. And it gives the company a valuable psychological advantage because they are constantly bringing value to those who keep them in business.
Yes, I completely agree with the arguments saying “but why send less than perfect products out to customers?” etc. Offering your stakeholders nothing less than your absolute best is a great way to build a “durable competitive advantage”, to use Warren Buffet’s words. But playing with the idea behind the approach is definitely a valuable exercise for anyone interested in leadership and exceptionalism.
So, let me ask you, where do you hold back from releasing to the world because you are waiting to reach perfection versus sending out beta – and then iterating (and fixing the bugs)?
Is it a new service that you know would help your clients?
Is it that book you’ve always wanted to write?
Is it a project that you are certain would change the game for your business?
Maybe the answer is to model Nike’s old tag line and JDI: Just Do It. Just get it out. Just launch it. Just shout it out from the mountaintop. And then, start the process of making it an eventual masterpiece.
Keep Leading Without A Title.
Please add your comments below so we all can learn from you.
Tags: Business, improvement
Good article to keep our march towards self-mastery path rejuvenated..
Robin, your posts always really inspire me so, so much. I am currently developing an iPhone application for businesses and this advice couldn’t have come at a better time. Thank you so much for your guidance and mentorship all these years (I’ve been a fan since you released The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari). I really appreciate your good work. Keep up the good work and may we all persist on the path to personal mastery!
P.S. forwarding this to my team right now!
This is right on target. If we wait for perfection, we miss lots of opportunities to get feedback on our ideas and to inspire others to act boldly and optimistically.
It’s almost impossible to define perfection. And although we constantly strive to achieve it, we rarely gain perfection.
good comments. thanks for making the time to post them. yes, most of us wait for perfection before we take the first step. nice way to avoid having to do anything…and take the risk of failure. robin
Dear Robin,
Thank you so much for this blog which I received in perfect time.I was getting tormented inside for not being able to get to the next level of perfect self mastery.Your blog helped me to get more courage to go ahead & try with fresh approach not being too critical about my progress all the time. Please help us more to progress faster towards our inner light.may God shower you with more blessings.
robin
very well put , this one. only if we do it / launch it / etc , will we get to know where is the scope of improvement. but otherwise, if we do not launch it & try to perfect within ourselves, we are only losing on time before launching it , because eventually in either case you would have scope for improvement.
thanks for the blog
regards
yashwant
Better way to come out first in market before your competitors can do it. It is better way to get the market share.
Dear Robin,
This is timely for me. My son was introduced to you through an amazing leader, Rick Ivone. In turn my son is inspired by you and forwarded your blog to me. I have been writing that book you mentioned…for about 6 years now, reaching for that illusive perfection. A year and a half ago I did put it out to a publisher who was a friend of a client of my husband’s. The book is about a boy with Type 1 diabetes and the publisher was looking for a book on the topic. I was fortunate to have the attention of the publisher and to get the opportunity for a full reading. Within three months I received the full rejection. It did give me a kick to make the book better. I took a writing class and have traded TV for books (I am not a writer by trade or education). I am nearing the rewrite and have been struggling with this exact issue…when to release it again. I will not have the fortune this time to send it to the front of the line so it is more daunting than ever. You have given me that extra incentive to not give up. I know that my journey is just beginning in the world of book publishing. Writing the book is just the first step!
Gratefully, Your Newest Fan
This is one good way of viewing this scenario. However, we must also constantly give this kind of strategy a new spin because customers/consumers are also getting smarter each day and they have seemed to have learned to look for something that is perfect (although we know there is no such thing).
Excellent comparision. Equal to slow and steady path. Srini
Ready, Fire, Aim. Love it!!!