When you search or aspire for the best, you are never sure that
you have got it – because it is likely that, somewhere, there is
better, since you cannot possibly have looked everywhere. If you
acquire or aspire for what is universally acknowledged as the best, there
is always a chance that it will get bettered in the next few days --- what will
you do then ? Go after the new best ? And when and how will this search
end ?
When iPhone came out, it was the best phone and there was a mad
rush for it till, very soon, its makers declared it obsolete and
said i2 was the best phone and there was again a mad rush for it to be followed
in quicker succession by i3, i4 and now i5 – so what happened to the
seeker of the “best’ – every time they got the best, they were nervously
waiting for the next best.
Look at Gillette. They started with one blade protected in a plastic
sheath saying this is the best (i.e. safest) razor for the closest shave.
Soon they obsoleted the buyer saying the twin blade gives the real close
“bestest” shave. Then, they went on to 3, then 4 and now 5 blades for
doing what earlier they themselves claimed their single blade could do.
And how does the 5-blade shave prove is it is the best of the best
? Have you ever been accosted by anyone who says, wow you have had a
5-blade shave, it shows. Or the reverse - oh man ! you have just
had 3-blade shave & it shows !
This is true, ad nauseum, for anything that you buy as the
best Unfortunately, this obsession for the best is
affecting our personal lives too. People are searching for the best
marriage partner – so they want good looks, nay the best looks, the best
figure, the best brains, the best dress sense, the best
voice, the best bank account, the best conversationalist and not
finding all these best qualities in one, renew their search with doubled vigour
for the elusive best.
Similarly there is the search for the best clothes, the best tailor, the
best hair stylist, the best cook, the best house, the best linen, the best sofa
set, the best paint, the best cutlery and so on for everything that forms a
part of our life.
However, when you look for the good there is no such confusion – because
when you say I am happy with what is “good” what you are saying is that
you are happy with what is “good enough”. This “good enough” is defined
by you and is therefore entirely in your control and up to you.
When a housewife goes shopping for vegetables, she doesn't search
for the best vegetable – she looks for what is good enough. She doesn't
look for the best tomato but is satisfied with what will serve her purpose –
e.g. even if she comes across slightly soft tomatoes , she will still buy it if
she is going to use it for making soup or Pau Bhaji, rather than keep
looking for the best tomato – red, firm and large.
You know what is “good enough” when you know what is your purpose
– and this is the nub of the matter. Those seeking and satisfied with
“good” know what their purpose is -- those seeking the best,
do not. Hence the best seekers remain forever “seekers” in
their lives but never arrive and that is why they are always a dissatisfied lot
– because they are never sure that what they have is the best and are always
scared that there is a “bester” out there which they do not have.
The "good" seeker simply says -- this is good
enough for me and that is the end of the matter.
Saying "this is good enough" requires courage,
for it involves making a commitment, and making a decision which
most of today’s younger generation are incapable of, having been
fed on the fiction of best, which always allows them to postpone making a
commitment or making a decision and allows them to, perennially, pretend
that they have such high standards that ordinary things and ordinary
mortals cannot match it."
Does this mean that I am
suggesting that one should not strive
for the best ? Does this mean that I am
suggesting that one should remain satisfied with whatever is one’s present
condition and not try to improve ? No,
absolutely not.
My thesis is, strive for the best, but do not pine for the
best. Always look to make your
performance the best possible ; however
do not get engrossed in trying to “acquire” the best available.
Improving your
performance, challenging your own standards to climb higher, run faster, last
longer is a journey towards excellence and must always be pursued, as this is the
path to improvement. However, getting entangled in always trying to acquire the
“best possible” or the “best
available” is a sure step towards
dissatisfaction and misery, since such “best” has no end and you are never sure
that you have actually got the best.
The best is illusory
and temporal ; the good is real and long - lasting. The seekers of the
best are always unsure and insecure and, therefore, more
often than not, rather an unhappy lot. Those that are
satisfied with good have no such doubts or insecurities and are, generally, a more
satisfied and happier lot.
The truth is -- there is no best, for there is always
better. However, there is always "good" because it is
encapsuled in "good enough", which is a matter of decision. If
only we learnt to be happy with what is good, there is always a chance of
making it better and never be worried about the best.
Mumbai
August 22, 2013
14 comments:
Well said.
The search for "the best" is what leaves so many people dissatisfied and frustrated. And also from having the resources left, say time and energy, to look for other things that are "good enough". In your search for "the best", you often miss out on so many other satisfying and fulfilling activities.
So, as you said, it is "BEST" to be, and live, a balanced life rather than be fixated on the illusive search for "the best".
Or, is it that in our search for "the best" of anything particular - job, marriage partner, house, et al - we miss "THE BEST" of life itself?
Well written article with lots of merit. The only exception I see that when we chase the best - of that period - we progress & grow. Being satisfied with the 'good' at all times will slow the progress of society. Having said that, implementing it in personal lives will bring lot of peace to self..
Remember where you are, who you are, remove marketing from the product, who is marketing from where and why, then look about its long term use.
So called best will get out dated, decide what is good for your use.
Good article. Every one must know where to stop.
What's good or best may not necessarily be goog or best in the larger interest.
So calling or deciding 'this is good for me' without complacency need courage and conviction!
Hemen, you are exactly right about non-existence of "best". That is why - and this you know very well - Japanese believe in Kaizen or continuous improvement. Even though this is operational management in business, it should ALSO be practiced in our own personal lives.
However, I will very strongly disagree with the term “good enough”. There may be some specific constraints that may force us to choose something “good enough” – aka inferior to something better. But if those specific constraints are removed, why should we not choose something “better” that could be the “best” based on other constraints? In that sense, “good enough” is actually “Best” under constraints.
I see a caveat in this. The caveat is that most people accept status quo and are less than eager to remove such constraints because it takes some effort. I will submit to you that such a mindset inhibits improvement (contrary to Kaizen) and accepts what I call “excellence in mediocrity”.
So the dilemma is that should we remain content with “good enough” and maintain status quo or do we force Kaizen on ourselves? This is not meant to offend, but I personally and very strongly feel that one of the reasons why India is behind many other countries – in spite of ALL her potential – is a mindset of excellence in mediocrity. Too often I find that people glorify and glamorize to celebrate what are minor accomplishments by world class standards.
But you already know that.
Thanks Hemen for sharing this wonderful piece.
You hit the nail on its head by saying that you can decide about 'good enough' only when you know your purpose.
Good enough is good enough for cooking but corporate life is always scalable and challenging otherwise you will be lost. Aimimg to be the best always demand passing through good and better. Even housewives present their food now in home the best way they can to be better than outside world. Good enough will not hold enough. Trying to be the best is the great way of living.
Reach to the best,is the ambition of everybody. I appreciate that even the best will become better one day and further it will be good. Survival will be with all the best all the time to bear the most competitive edge. Good enough will only be helping and encouraging for satisfaction at the point.
Thank you for sharing food for thought. No doubt looking for best is always shows eagerness to achieve more and more. But getting good, doing better n better to achieve best is a real way of life, in my view.
Hemendra,
What you said in this article about the quest for the best has been a constant struggle all through mankind's history.
The best as you say is constantly changing and it always gets better. Since the best is never going to stay the best why not settle for the good.
Well, maybe for certain things like your wants and desires but to not strive for the best is going against our very nature of evolving.
I believe breaking barriers and crossing new frontiers is what makes our life better and that only comes with dissatisfaction with status quo.
Albeit,your arguments are compelling, I am faced with a gigantic dilemma in coming to terms with progress (and not settling for just the 'good') of which I am a strong proponent.
Mustafa Savliwala
Dear Sir,
Good thought!!! But in this era of competition, greed, never ending race, how do you think an individual decide what is good enough. Materialistic things can be or may be termed as Best or good enough. Now if you talk about the relegious scriptues of any relegion, they are the 'Best' according to me.
Good enough will bring complacancy however you will have peace of mind.
Dear Sir,
Thanks for this wonderful piece of advice, good enough would always get the things done, and meet the expectations. These holds true for all the individual decisions. However, when we talk about corporate culture, one has to look into the future, and has to ensure that whatever Capex that one does, should also be future proof, and should be scalable. Meeting the here and now requirement would give only a myopic view.
Thanks Hemen for a reasoned and thought-provoking article in support of being and going for 'good'. It aligns with and reinforces allied concepts such as, "Better is the enemy of good" and "From good to great" - I guess, al so with the essence of "5S" that you so dearly stand for. May I contradict myself by ending with "Best" wishes:)- Amar Nath Chatterjee, Sr Prof (OB/HR & Operations), Jaipuria Instt of Mgmt, Noida.
Yes Sir, I am Impressed by your article.
Two in pocket is better than 5 on tree. Achievers are always on the ground reality although they know the optimum.It is hard work in the right direction that gets result and lead to the Best.Results at right time are important. rgds. T B Sachdev
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