Imperfect Action …

Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.

I’ve seen this in action a lot, lately. Someone needs to get a proposal “just right” before it gets out the door. Someone needs to know “one more thing” before seeing a prospect. Another person wants to make sure that the curtain color is an exact match with the tablecloths before the rest of the event is planned.

I can appreciate anyone’s interest in making sure that the details in life are addressed … to a point. After all, we’re human, and humans aren’t machines.

How is this a career move?

Yes, you’re human. You will make a typo in a cover letter. You’ll say the wrong thing in an interview. You’ll misjudge a reference. Getting your next job isn’t about being perfect, it’s about how you react to NOT being perfect.

If you get a chance to recover, super. Resubmit the letter. Apologize for the mistake. Find another name to give. But even if you can’t, just make sure that being imperfect doesn’t make you so focused on being so perfect that you never try again.