Is perfection attainable?

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” This is a quote from Vince Lombardi who demanded perfection from his players. Hailed as one of the greatest football coaches in history, he has an NFL Super Bowl trophy named in his memory. 

Despite knowing perfection was not attainable, Vince Lombardi did not stop searching for that elusive perfection. And in his quest, he mastered excellence by being outstanding in his field of work. Likewise, we can aim for perfection without being consumed by it.

Perfectionists often place themselves under a lot of pressure because they fear making mistakes even before they start their projects. They overthink and nitpick. By doing that, they end up waiting until the last minute to complete their work. 

By overthinking, one can miss a chance for improvements or find new discoveries. Often, these tendencies lead them to excessive worries over mistakes, causing anxiety and lower self-esteem. They often feel that they are never good enough. They try to ease such feelings by placing more pressure on themselves to be better, creating a cycle of stress.

As Vince Lombardi suggests in his quote, excellence is something obtainable by producing quality. Plan and be prepared by getting accurate information before putting projects into action. Being informed about your projects will give you confidence in your work. Be open and be flexible. Seek feedback without letting your ego get in the way. This will help you grow and establish solidarity with your co-workers. 

So, instead of perfection, aim for excellence. Excellence is all about leaving room for improvement as you grow and gain knowledge. Perfection, however, is all about being without fault. And really, is it possible for life to be without fault?