i am a perfectionist.

i strive to get 120% of the answer and I don’t care if it takes 200% percent of the time. unfortunately, I’m not that great at getting even 50% of the answer and my co-workers care greatly about how long it takes. sometimes i wonder whether i’ve picked the right career.

fortunately, i’m at a place where i’m constantly challenged and the feedback is frequent and honest. most importantly, i’m starting to understand why it’s so important to be 80/20 in business. decisions are made at lightning speed. analyzing all the data could take years, so it’s critical that the most critical factors are identified quickly. ambiguity is what makes it so challenging.

it’s probably even more important for entrepreneurs, who operate without massive amounts of data and must move quickly to take advantage of changes in the marketplace. if i ever hope to start my own business, i’m going to need to get far more comfortable with imperfection.

here are 2 great tips on productivity that resonated with me (both courtesy of 37signals):

1. http://30sleeps.com/blog/2007/12/16/busy-vs-productive/
2. http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/908-tiny-projects-keep-it-new

UPDATE: I’ve been told that I’m too modest.  I’m actually quite good at getting the answer.  All I was trying to say is that I’m a perfectionist, and I move a little too slowly sometimes.   Don’t worry, I’m getting faster.  Someday you’ll be working for me, so start kissing my butt now!