What It Means
"Done is better than perfect" is a saying that puts finishing ahead of polishing. It holds that a piece of work that exists and can be used, shared or improved is worth more than a flawless version that never gets finished. The phrase is widely known from Sheryl Sandberg's book Lean In, where she describes it on a poster at Facebook.
Try It: Is This a Done-Is-Better-Than-Perfect Job?
Think of a task you're polishing. Tick what's true about it. These questions are Buhata's own.
Done is better than perfect. Finish it and send it.
Take the care. Check it properly, and ask a professional if you're unsure.
Nothing is pushing you. Set a deadline so the polishing has an end.
How People Say It
- "Just ship it, done is better than perfect."
- "It's 90 percent there, send it."
- "I can fix typos in the next version."
The Breakdown
How to put it into practice (Buhata's own steps)
- Write one line on what "done" means for the task: who it's for and what it has to do.
- Set a deadline or a time limit.
- Work to that definition, then stop.
- Share it and collect feedback.
- Improve the next version with what you learn, instead of guessing in advance.
Try it today. Pick the task that's been "almost finished" the longest and send it before the end of the day.
When it fits, and when it doesn't
| Fits well | Needs care first |
|---|---|
| A first draft, an internal note, a slide for a team meeting | A medicine dose, a car seat install, anything safety-related |
| A post, a newsletter, a sign-up form you can edit | A tax return, a contract, a legal filing |
| A household plan you'll adjust as you go | A payment you can't reverse |
This table is Buhata's own judgment.
Where It Comes From
Sheryl Sandberg wrote in Lean In about a poster on the wall at Facebook that read "Done is better than perfect," in chapter 9, where she discusses perfectionismPerfectionismHolding yourself or others to standards so high they can't be met, and judging yourself harshly when they aren't. See more. No established source dates the saying's first use, so this page doesn't name an originator.
Good to Know
The saying is aimed at perfectionism. Anything involving health, safety, the law or money that can't be undone deserves a careful review, and a professional's eye when you're unsure.
FAQ
Who said "done is better than perfect"?
It's best known from Sheryl Sandberg's book Lean In, where she describes it as a poster on the wall at Facebook. No established source records who used it first.
What does "done is better than perfect" mean?
That finishing and sharing good-enough work usually beats endlessly polishing it. Finished work can be used, get feedback and be improved; unfinished work can't.
When is perfect better than done?
When a mistake could hurt someone or can't be undone, such as health, safety, legal or money matters. Those deserve a careful check before you call them finished.
Do It in Buhata
Tasks and Focus
Add the task you keep polishing to Tasks in Buhata with a due date, and tick it off when it meets your one-line definition of done.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Perfectionism
Holding yourself or others to standards so high they can't be met, and judging yourself harshly when they aren't.
- Satisficing
Choosing the first option that meets your standards instead of searching for the best one, a term coined by Nobel laureate Herbert Simon.
- Procrastination
Putting off a task you intended to do, even though you expect the delay to leave you worse off, often to escape how the task makes you feel.
- Analysis paralysis
Overthinking a decision so much that you can't make it, often because you keep gathering information or comparing options.
Sources
Penguin Random House, "Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg: Reading Guide"
Last updated .