Phil Rosen's Blog

Phil Rosen's Blog

Share this post

Phil Rosen's Blog
Phil Rosen's Blog
The Meaning of Progress and the Shortcomings of Perfection
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

The Meaning of Progress and the Shortcomings of Perfection

Phil Rosen's avatar
Phil Rosen
Nov 09, 2020

Share this post

Phil Rosen's Blog
Phil Rosen's Blog
The Meaning of Progress and the Shortcomings of Perfection
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

In a world as imperfect as this one, perfection should never be the goal. How could it be? It simply can’t be, because perfection never lasts. Aiming for a goal that has no staying power, that isn’t evergreen, is a waste of energy. 

Lasting change doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from the small and daily deposits. The 1% that remains imperceptible to all others except for the individual measuring it.

Stumbling forward with an inch of progress here, a half-inch there—that's where lasting change is made. 

The reason slow progress lasts is because it isn't perfect. Imperfections give us something to fight, a necessary uphill. The necessity for consistency, for patience— this is the source of both greatness and wisdom. If each of these could be earned overnight, then everyone would have both attributes.

And attributes that everyone has are no longer as attractive or worthy of the commitment. 

Counting in inches, focusing on pieces of a puzzle rather than the puzzle itself, that's where lasting progress is made. Sure, there can be missteps in focusing too much on the trees rather than the forest. But, at the same time, any attempt to grasp an entire mammoth of a goal all at once will leave one flailing about in their own shortcomings.

That’s a spot no one benefits from and no one should be recommending. 

Too often people are aiming for perfection as if perfection would bring happiness, meaning, into an otherwise distressful livelihood. But it isn’t ever perfection that provides the antidote to distress. It’s improvement. It’s progress. It’s working meaningfully towards a goal that is attainable and measurable and realistic. The antidote lies in the work it takes on the journey toward achievement, not in any illusion of perfection. 

Progress, for all its shortcomings, means change and growth—two things perfection could never offer.  


Subscribe to Phil Rosen's Blog

Essays at the intersection of work, business, and personal growth from the desk of an award-winning journalist building a financial media startup.

Share this post

Phil Rosen's Blog
Phil Rosen's Blog
The Meaning of Progress and the Shortcomings of Perfection
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

Discussion about this post

User's avatar
I asked 2,800 people for the best life advice they’ve ever received. This is what they said.
The wisdom of crowds is rarely wrong. Here's what 2,800 people told me about the best life advice they've ever heard.
Jan 1, 2023 â€¢ 
Phil Rosen
7

Share this post

Phil Rosen's Blog
Phil Rosen's Blog
I asked 2,800 people for the best life advice they’ve ever received. This is what they said.
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
The Genius of Mad Men: How Don Draper tells his own story to create meaning from nothing
The brilliant story of how one man uses storytelling to control everything and everyone - and what it means.
Mar 7, 2023 â€¢ 
Phil Rosen
2

Share this post

Phil Rosen's Blog
Phil Rosen's Blog
The Genius of Mad Men: How Don Draper tells his own story to create meaning from nothing
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
George Orwell lays out 6 rules for clear writing and forceful communication
One of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century prioritized clear communication and warned against complex language.
Jan 16, 2023 â€¢ 
Phil Rosen
1

Share this post

Phil Rosen's Blog
Phil Rosen's Blog
George Orwell lays out 6 rules for clear writing and forceful communication
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Ready for more?

© 2025 Phil Rosen
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Create your profile

User's avatar

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.