Perfection is enemy of good

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In life, we find many people who are waiting for the perfect moment to change their lives.

They wait for the perfect job so they can succeed.
They wait for the perfect life partner.

But in the end, they never move—they stay stuck in life.

In software development, there is a term:
“Ship it — imperfect is better.”

Let’s see how we can apply this idea to our personal lives.

Hello friends,
My name is Ali Raza Zaidi. I am an ERP consultant, software developer, and part-time content creator.

When I was relatively new in my career, I worked at a place where Oracle was implemented. One of their ERP implementations had failed. Then a new IT manager was recruited, and he started working on fixing things.

He decided to develop a custom warehouse management solution for the organization. With three months of effort, we were able to build a solution.

At that time, the solution was working, but it had many bugs.

The IT manager decided to launch it anyway.

We were afraid—what would happen?
There were issues in the system. We thought end users might lose confidence in the software.

But we launched the product, and users started using it.

We found many issues, but with another three months of effort, we fixed them one by one. Slowly, things improved, and the system became stable.

They called it a mature system.

💡 What did I learn from that lesson?

Sometimes, perfection makes us stuck.
We become unable to deliver.

When we keep seeking perfection, we end up delivering nothing.

I saw a similar example in real life.

One of my college fellows came from a wealthy family. When we graduated, I couldn’t find a job in a big company, so I started with a very low salary.

Meanwhile, my friend kept complaining:
“The salary is too low. I’ve spent a lot of money on my education.”

He never started his software career.

Eventually, he moved to the US and ended up working as a cab driver. I believe he is still complaining about life.

⚡ The reality is:

In life, we need momentum, not perfection.

We don’t need the perfect time to go to the gym.
We can start small—just go and begin.

If you miss a day, go the next day.
Keep trying.

I have another friend who is a very good writer.

One day, he shared his diary with me. His writing was excellent.

But he never started a blog or a YouTube channel.

Why?

Because he was waiting to write something perfect.

🧠 What I believe:

A not-perfect post that is published
has more value than a perfect one that is never posted.

As a software architect, I have faced many situations where things didn’t go as planned. There is always negative feedback.

But in reality, customers don’t want a perfect feature after three months.
They want something useful that works today.

That’s why in software we use Agile:

  • Decide a small portion
  • Build it
  • Test it
  • Deliver it

Delivery is important. Until we deliver, we cannot get feedback.

And feedback is the source of improvement.

There is also a possibility that the paragraph you delete
might have resonated with a reader.

There is an 80/20 rule which says:

80% of progress comes from 20% of effort.

Perfection usually takes much more time than “good enough.”

🚀 What does “Ship it” mean?

It does not mean you ship garbage.

It means:

  • Functional over flawless
  • Useful over perfect

We need a mindset shift for that.

Instead of waiting for the right time,
set a clear deadline.

Instead of focusing on being flawless,
focus on being useful.

Instead of worrying about critics,
focus on early adopters.

Instead of polishing the edges,
make sure the core works.

🔥 The bottom line:

Done is better than perfect.
Momentum is far better.
Momentum is a better teacher than stagnation.

When you deliver something imperfect,
you are not failing—you are starting.

So:

  • Write the draft
  • Write the code
  • Do basic testing
  • Send the proposal

The world does not need perfection.
It needs your contribution.

From Gautama Buddha:

“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”

Overthinking is a trap.

Presence + Action = Progress

There is a Japanese concept called Wabi-Sabi, which means finding beauty in imperfection.

It teaches us:

  • Nothing is perfect
  • Nothing lasts forever
  • Nothing is ever complete

The thing you are spending too much time perfecting
may not be as important as you think.

And after delivering it, you might discover something even better.

🌿 Final Thought

Flaws are not mistakes — they are character.

How we think, and how actually happens

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During the Eid holidays, I had set out to accomplish a few things — most importantly, finishing the custom module I had been working on. But as always, when the time actually came, laziness crept in. Family obligations started to pile up, and I found myself wanting to simply enjoy the company around me. After all, these were Eid holidays.

Still, I pushed myself to stay disciplined and put in the effort. In the end, I managed to complete about 70% of what I had planned.

And that, perhaps, is the gap we rarely talk about — the distance between how we plan things, and how they actually unfold.

Saying no is choice

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Many times in life, we feel, depress low and disappointed. not because you did not welcome a lot things in life, but not due to saying no what is not important too.

Is it life really all about saying No or yes. Or all about priority Lets discuss this.

If we talk about Stoic Philosophy
Seneca said that
“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”
It means, we waste a lot of time in task or things, which has no value. If you want to live well, you have to restrict a few things.

“Part of the perfection of one’s Islam is leaving what does not concern him.”

(Hadith – Tirmidhi)

In my life, there was time, when I said everything yes. As result I become some ones else life priorities. The mental stress I face, when I try to make happy those people who think and prove that they are better than me. And I feel very low after that. Its natural. That is not a problem. In some sense they are right. Their sense of superiority lies in suppressing mine.

Later, I realized that life is really about priorities.

But something interesting happens when we set our priorities: we automatically start saying no to many things.
Buddah said that
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

The truth is that all of us have limited time and limited resources. Because of this, we must learn to organize and use them wisely.

Similarly there is hadith

“Your body has a right over you, your family has a right over you.”

(Hadith – Bukhari)

This hadith also remind us the balance and boundaries.

Sometimes people come to us asking for help. If we have the time, we should help them. But if we don’t, it is perfectly okay to say sorry. We should not sacrifice important tasks that truly matter to us just to avoid saying no.
Buddisim teaching
“Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.”
When we say no to something, we are actually saying yes to many things that are more important to us.

The reality of life is simple:

  • We cannot say yes to everything.
  • We cannot accept every opportunity.
  • We cannot do everything.

But there are a few things we can do extremely well if we focus on them.

In the end, saying no is not rejection.
It is simply a way of saying yes to what truly matters.

Why we share our problems with others ?

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Troubles are like babies, they grow larger by nursing -Lady Holland
We often share our problems because we seek relief. We want someone to listen so that our stress feels lighter. Sometimes, we believe that by sharing, our problems will be solved—or at least become easier to accept. Speaking about them gives us a temporary sense of comfort.

But the reality is different.

Everyone carries their own burdens. Most people are not truly interested in hearing about others’ problems. People usually meet to relax, to laugh, and to momentarily escape their own worries. When we repeatedly share our troubles, others may feel irritated, emotionally drained, or begin to avoid us altogether.

This is why silence is often wiser than sharing.

I once read that worries increase when we share them with others, but decrease when we sit with them in silence. Silence forces us to face the problem directly, rather than spreading it outward.

Many times, those who seem eager to listen are not genuinely concerned. Some people are drawn to stories of struggle because it reassures them that someone else is stuck, failing, or suffering. They may enjoy the information, not your healing. They care less about what happens to you and more about the fact that you have problems. Sharing with such people only deepens our vulnerability.

This is why Gautama Buddha taught:

“Speak only if it improves upon the silence.”

If speaking does not bring clarity, peace, or wisdom, then silence is the better choice.

Stoic philosophy echoes the same truth: focus only on what is within your control. If a problem is beyond your control, worrying about it—or discussing it endlessly—serves no purpose. Accept it, and redirect your energy toward what you can change.

Similarly, some Sufi saints advise:

Share your problems only with Allah, in prayer. Do not share them with people—because no one can truly solve them for you.

Prayer, reflection, and inner dialogue strengthen the soul. Complaints weaken it.

In the end, silence builds resilience. Awareness brings acceptance. And responsibility for our problems always begins—and ends—within us.

Cold turkey and incremental change

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To overcome any addiction or bad habit, there are generally two approaches: cold turkey and incremental change. Both have their own strengths and limitations.

Cold turkey means making a firm decision and stopping the habit completely—at once. After that decision, there is no negotiation. Cravings appear, cues arise, but you take no action. This approach demands strong willpower and consistent effort. It is not easy, but it can be very effective. It is often said that it takes around 21 days to build a habit, and in a similar way, it takes time and discipline to break one.

The second approach is gradual or incremental change. In this method, you slowly reduce the habit instead of stopping suddenly. This usually involves less pain and feels more manageable. For example, my best friend quit smoking using this approach. He was addicted to finishing an entire pack of cigarettes in a day. Over time, he reduced the number little by little—until it eventually reached zero.

In my view, incremental change works well for building good habits, because it feels sustainable and gentle. But when it comes to breaking a bad habit, the cold turkey approach is often more effective. It may be harder, but with the right attitude and commitment, it brings faster clarity and lasting change.

Living in the Present Moment

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I am learning to live in the present moment, though I find it a little difficult.
My mind often wanders into the depths of the past, trying to understand why things happened.
At other times, it jumps into the future, worrying about what might happen next.

But when I consciously practice staying present, I begin to feel calmer and a little happier.

The truth is, we cannot change the past.
We can only accept it as it is.

As Lao Tzu said:

“If you are depressed, you are living in the past.
If you are anxious, you are living in the future.
If you are at peace, you are living in the present.”

Sometimes the present feels like standing on a staircase.
From there, you can see both what lies below and what lies ahead—the past and the future.
Yet, your feet remain firmly on the step you are standing on now.

The mind constantly jumps between the past and the future, but I gently bring it back to the present moment.
I focus on what I am doing and how I am doing it.

While traveling, I recite holy words and give them my full attention.
When chanting, my mind becomes completely absorbed in the sound of the words.
This presence keeps me free from thoughts of the past and worries about the future—and brings a quiet sense of peace.

Comfort Zone is Death Zone.

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Once, I was comfortable with my work. I worked hard—day and night.
Over time, that comfort turned into a routine. The same kind of work kept coming, and I was only fixing familiar problems.

Then a new technology arrived. I didn’t get a chance to work on it.
I started asking why. The answer was simple but painful:
New work is for new people; old work is for old people.

Again, I was comfortable—but this time, it was clearly a comfort zone.
Slowly, I began to stagnate.
That’s when the fear of becoming obsolete started to appear.

Ironically, that fear gave me the push I needed to step out of my comfort zone.

You know, the comfort zone is a death zone.
It keeps shrinking day by day, and one day, it disappears completely that day you die.
The toughest moment is when you finally get the chance to step out.

Many people who stay stuck in their comfort zones eventually become obsolete and are forced to move in another direction.

ہم کون ہیں

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یہ سوال ہمیں اپنے آپ سے ضرور پوچھنا چاہیے جب ہم غصّے میں ہوں۔ یہ ایسا سوال ہے جس کا کوئی سیدھا جواب نہیں، لیکن یہ ہماری سوچ اور سچائی کو بدل سکتا ہے۔ اور جب آپ یہ سوال اُس وقت پوچھتے ہیں جب آپ کسی وجہ سے پریشان ہوں تو اس کا اثر اور بھی گہرا ہوتا ہے۔

صوفی، سنت اور فقیر یہ سوال اُس وقت پوچھتے ہیں جب اُن کا ذہن شور مچا رہا ہوتا ہے۔

ہر چیز سوچ سے شروع ہوتی ہے، اور سچائی کو بھی سوچ کے ذریعے بدلا جا سکتا ہے۔

تو آج کا لاگ یہیں ختم کرتے ہیں۔ اس سوال کو اُس وقت استعمال کریں جب آپ ڈسٹرکٹ ہوں، ذہن کو کنٹرول کرنا ہو، یا غیر ضروری خیالات چل رہے ہوں۔