2520 “Done Is Better Than Perfect” – Why 70% Is Enough to Start

 

Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook famously said, “Done is better than perfect.”
It’s a powerful mindset shift—especially in Japan, where many young professionals hesitate to share their work unless they feel it’s flawless.

I’ve written about this before, but now that it's June, I feel the need to revisit the idea. Many new employees who joined companies in April are likely struggling with the same issue my team member Kenji recently faced.

The concept is what I call “70%ism.”
In short: Don’t aim for 100% perfection from the beginning. Aim for 70% completeness. Why? Because that’s often good enough to start meaningful discussions, receive feedback, and move forward efficiently. And most importantly, it avoids unnecessary delays caused by chasing perfection.

When experienced professionals prepare a slide deck or a concept note, 70% completeness can often be achieved in 2–3 hours—even for heavy topics. On the other hand, pushing from 70% to 90% or more usually requires double or even triple the time. That extra effort upfront isn’t always justified, especially if the direction might change after feedback.

A few weeks ago, I asked Kenji, a new graduate who joined in April, to explore business ideas outside of our current shisha bar operations. I asked him to summarize a business flow that our IT team could use to begin prototyping a new service.

I expected something rough within a week. But three weeks passed, and nothing came.
Kenji was stuck—he felt he couldn’t present his idea unless it was polished and complete. To him, even producing something 70% done felt like showing 90% of his full effort—and he wasn’t confident enough yet.

So I gave him a new target:
“Forget 70%. Just give me 40%. Spend no more than two hours. Don’t overthink it—just get the idea out.”

He looked a bit embarrassed, but smiled. Two days later, he submitted a few memos and gave a verbal explanation. It wasn’t fancy—but it was clear enough. And our IT staff immediately understood the direction and got started.

If you’re managing new graduates, you might face a similar situation. Perfectionism holds people back—especially when they’re just beginning. For first assignments, I actually recommend aiming for “40%ism.” It encourages early output, builds confidence, and prevents the paralysis that comes from trying to be perfect.

Perfection can wait.
Progress starts with action—even if it's only 40% complete.

2519 Looking Back to Look Forward: A Reflection Inspired by Life Shift

Since relocating to Osaka, my days have been packed with launching a new business in Kyoto, stepping into a new consulting role, and occasionally indulging in my weekend hobby—motorcycling. In the midst of all this, I realized I had stopped making time to read. But this weekend, I reminded myself: without reflection and learning, there is no growth. So I picked a book off my shelf—Life Shift by Lynda Gratton.

This global bestseller had been recommended to me many times, and I now understand why. Among its many insights, one passage in particular struck me like a message written directly to my present self:

"I want to turn time upside down and ask you this question—not how your 20-year-old self would view who you are now, but how your 70-, 80-, or even 100-year-old self would reflect on the decisions you’re making today. Will the choices you're about to make stand up to the judgment of your future self?"

It’s easy—too easy—for us humans to forget why we made certain decisions at pivotal moments in life. I’ve found myself recently, as I have many times before, wondering: Was this the right move? Should I have stayed in my comfortable, stable role instead of choosing change?

This quote brought me back to the decision I made last summer. I knew I could continue in my previous role and enjoy a stable life and well-balanced routine. But I asked myself: What actions must I take now to live the life I want to look back on with pride 20 or 30 years from now?

Life Shift reminded me of that moment, and why I chose the more uncertain path. It wasn’t about immediate comfort—it was about investing in my future self.

Reading this book again became more than just a weekend habit; it became a reaffirmation of my commitment to a multi-stage life. It reminded me that growth isn’t always comfortable, but it’s always worth it when it aligns with your long-term vision.

So here I am, back on track, embracing the shift.