Perfection is the surest path to mediocrity. Now that I got your attention, read on.

This seems contradictory, yet the truth of it can be seen everywhere. No more evident was this than the "Dot Com Boom" of the late 90's and early 2000's. New websites and technologies were popping up everywhere. Ideas were coming into reality at an unbelievably fast rate. Companies that tried to make their product perfect were left in the dust... only to be surpassed by anybody who did something faster with "Just good enough" quality.

The theme was "Ready, Fire, Aim."

The product or website didn't have to be perfect. It had to be good enough to capture interest, gain users or customers, and then leverage that interest to create a better product. I watched several companies and startups during that era, and I watched them all go under. They suffered a very simple problem: They tried to do the same thing as other companies, but better.

They tried to be perfect at what they did. It didn't work though because the other companies that were faster and used the extra jump on their competitors to get feedback, make mistakes, adapt, and then move forward quickly with the next version of their offering. They had the advantage of momentum and growth on their side.

The same is true of our personal transformation.

Many times we have an ideal vision of an outcome. We define what we want and we draw it out in detail. If not on paper, at least in our minds or in our hearts. We get clear on the things we want that would make our lives better. We make resolutions.  In the case of transforming our inner world, we start to see who we want to be. These dreams and goals are all fine and wonderful.

However, we must understand that it is not necessary to have perfection before we take the first step towards those goals. We don't have to have a "business" plan before we start following our passions and dreams. We can take one small step today. Every small step matters.

What we must have is the willingness, courage, and perseverance to grow into that person. The world belongs not to those who seek perfection, but rather, those who seek growth. Those who are willing to take the first steps into an unknown territory and trust that they can learn what they need to learn.

The most important skill, or perhaps attitude you can have, is the one that you will grow and learn from all your experiences.

Allow your mistakes to be what they truly are: opportunities to refine yourself, your vision, and your plan. Allow them to teach you and help you grow into the person you need to be to reach those fantastic dreams and goals of yours. With this perspective, your mistakes become stepping stones that bring you closer to your goals one step at a time.

Mistakes also have another hidden gift that we often forget. They give you direction.

Without mistakes, you wouldn't know where and how to improve. In my opinion, growing through mistakes is the path of "true perfection." It is a path in which perfection is not judged against others, but rather, against our ability to try again.

Though if I were to advise at all, for now I would say to let go of your old ideas of perfection. Let go of the idea that things must look or be a certain way before you can begin living your life and going after your biggest dreams. Sanctity. Own the moment. Take charge of yourself. And allow the perspective and opportunities of growth to be what guide you.

The time will never be "perfect" to start on the path of your dreams.

The time will never be "just right" for all the conditions to make your life easy.

Growth only occurs when there is challenge, and challenge only occurs when the conditions are not "just right." When you wait for that perfect moment, you'll be stuck in a state of inaction. You'll be stuck in the deep recesses of your mind imagining what might be, what could be...

Instead of creating what is and what will become.

God bless you!

In Mary Help of Christians,

I remain,

Fr. Jim McKenna SDB

Director