Why Done Is Always Better Than Perfect
As an early stage founder, the drive for perfection can be paralysing. I recently spoke with an entrepreneur struggling to launch their minimum viable product (MVP). They were stuck in pursuing a flawless v1 release.
I call this the maximiser mindset - where you agonise over every detail, determined to present the perfect product right out the gate.
The problem is, for high-velocity startups, perfect is the enemy of done.
Rather than maximising, founders need to embrace satisficing - prioritising speed and learning over polish.
What is Satisficing?
Satisficing is accepting an optimal solution rather than the perfect solution. It means picking the first option that sufficiently achieves your requirements, rather than endlessly analyzing all possibilities to find the theoretical best choice.
As Barry Schwartz explains in The Paradox of Choice, too much choice overwhelms and paralyses us. People presented with fewer purchase options actually make decisions faster and feel happier as a result.
The MVP Spirit
This satisficing concept is key to developing a minimum viable product. An MVP launch is not about wowing people with your genius first-time ideas. It's about rapidly testing core assumptions with real customers in the market.
Your goal is to build the simplest thing that could plausibly work to validate that your solution resonates. Perfection not required.
With an MVP you are checking:
Problem validity: Have I identified a real pain point?
Solution viability: Does my proposed solution show promise?
Business viability: Can a sustainable business model be built around this product?
By capturing feedback and data, you can then iteratively improve your offering over time.
Prioritising Speed Over Perfection
Of course in certain arenas like choosing a life partner, the maximiser approach makes perfect sense. We naturally want the best possible option.
But in the fast-fail world of startups, done beats perfect every time. Satisficing enables rapid experimentation, feedback, and pivoting as needed.
The first version of your product will have kinks and gaps. But resist the perfectionist urge right now. Get your MVP out to customers. Embrace the journey of constant learning and improvement. Today's good enough could lead to tomorrow's incredible success story.