Comments on: A Clean Towel is a Clean Towel http://obliteracy.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/a-clean-towel-is-a-clean-towel-or-good-enough-is-the-new-perfection/ Admitting you have an information problem is the first step Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:07:59 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Emily http://obliteracy.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/a-clean-towel-is-a-clean-towel-or-good-enough-is-the-new-perfection/#comment-19 Emily Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:29:30 +0000 http://obliteracy.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/a-clean-towel-is-a-clean-towel-or-good-enough-is-the-new-perfection/#comment-19 Interesting that you should equate the idea of being "the best" with doing everything perfectly. I hadn't thought of it that way. In fact, I'm the first one to tell you that not everything needs to be perfect. I feel like there has to be something between "good enough" and "perfect"... And I suppose that's sort of what I'm going for when I say "the best." I really do feel like most of the time "good enough" is settling, and we should move past that point to something better. But being really truly perfect is impossible. When I say I want to be the best in my endeavors, I really mean being the best that I can realistically be, which will never be perfect. :) I can understand why some people may have taken some of my comments as condescending, but I'm really just trying to be realistic. I work with a lot of library professionals, and with so many folks out there doing just the bare minimum to get by, I really don't find it all that hard to excel. The bar has often not been raised very high. I'd like to think, though, that in my desire to be the best at what I do, I can help motivate others to reach beyond "good enough" if only just a little. In doing so, maybe we can bring the profession a little closer to being the best it can be. Interesting that you should equate the idea of being “the best” with doing everything perfectly. I hadn’t thought of it that way. In fact, I’m the first one to tell you that not everything needs to be perfect. I feel like there has to be something between “good enough” and “perfect”… And I suppose that’s sort of what I’m going for when I say “the best.” I really do feel like most of the time “good enough” is settling, and we should move past that point to something better. But being really truly perfect is impossible. When I say I want to be the best in my endeavors, I really mean being the best that I can realistically be, which will never be perfect. :)

I can understand why some people may have taken some of my comments as condescending, but I’m really just trying to be realistic. I work with a lot of library professionals, and with so many folks out there doing just the bare minimum to get by, I really don’t find it all that hard to excel. The bar has often not been raised very high.

I’d like to think, though, that in my desire to be the best at what I do, I can help motivate others to reach beyond “good enough” if only just a little. In doing so, maybe we can bring the profession a little closer to being the best it can be.

]]>