(Source and inspiration for this post: Get Rich Slowly)
More options lead to more complication.
More complication requires more time and effort devoted to analyzing and choosing the perfect option.
More time required to find the perfect option can lead to procrastination.
Procrastination invites anxiety, fear, and doubt.
Anxiety, fear, and doubt cause us to second guess ourselves and open us up to regret, or, worse, prevent us from ever starting in the first place.
This is as much a reminder and mantra for myself than anything else (hence, the above photo of a Post-It on my desk). The pursuit of perfection or a better option doesn’t necessarily equate to more satisfaction or a better outcome.
If the pursuit of perfection causes anxiety or regret, we may be happier simply knowing what constitutes “good enough” in our minds and aiming for that. This isn’t to say that we should divulge ourselves of all standards, but rather, reframing our expectations to be satisfied with an “A” instead of “100%”. Knowing what meets our standards for “good” makes it easier to get started, frees up more time to pursue other interests, allows us to focus more on the positive qualities of our decision, and lessens the likelihood that we look for flaws and regret our decision in the end.
With that said, here are the stories that caught my eye this week:
MONEY: How Much Money Do You Need to Be Wealthy in America? (Bloomberg)
Short answer…$2.4 million. The study shows that we, the public, think $2.4 million is the amount of money we need in order to not have to worry about money in our everyday lives. I don’t know about you but that number seems a bit daunting (read above text about the pursuit of perfection). How we personally define wealth is more important than any number. When wealth is defined, it is more attainable.
LIFE: Great Things Take Time (Of Dollars And Data)
Wow! A great story of one man’s determination to make a better life for his family and his village by single-handedly moving a mountain (literally). Over the course of 22 years, he removed 270,000 cubic feet of rock with only a hammer and chisel to cut a 360-foot long road thru a mountain. Why? To create a safer and shorter passage for everyone in his village.