The Art of 'Good Enough'

How Embracing Satisficing Can Unshackle Us from the Tyranny of Perfection

In the days before the pandemic swept through our lives like a tempest, altering the very fabric of our existence, I found myself in a hardware store, distracted by a cellphone conversation. Amidst aisles of handle sets designed for a house still in its embryonic stage, I casually remarked to my caller, "You know, we're aiming for an 80/20 split of perfection and adequacy for this new abode of ours."

Upon hanging up, my wife looked at me, her eyes ablaze with incredulity. "Eighty-twenty? Are you kidding? This is supposed to be our dream house!"

Ah, the eternal quest for perfection, a siren's call that has lured many a visionary—Steve Jobs comes to mind. But let's be honest, unless your home is doubling as a launchpad for the next groundbreaking innovation, does it really warrant such obsessive precision? A home, you see, should be a haven of comfort, not a museum of flawlessness. It should mirror the beautiful imperfections of life itself.

The concept I was unknowingly alluding to was "satisficing," a term coined by Nobel laureate Herbert Simon in 1956. It's the art of aiming for the 'good enough,' recognizing that the pursuit of perfection often leads to diminishing returns. In the grand journey of life, it's not the relentless chase for perfection that brings joy, but the acceptance and celebration of imperfection. So, why not apply the same philosophy to the very walls that house our dreams and fears?

In the end, happiness doesn't reside in a state of perfection. It thrives in the realm of 'good enough,' where the 80% that truly matters shines brilliantly, and the remaining 20%? Well, it simply adds character.

Embracing "Good Enough": The Power of Satisficing

Though the term "satisficing" was coined by Herbert Simon, it was Derek Sivers who breathed life into the concept for me, years after my hardware store epiphany. Listening to Sivers converse with Tim Ferriss, I felt a sense of vindication. "Yes!" I thought, "That's precisely the philosophy I was trying to articulate."

In a particularly enlightening exchange with Ferriss, Sivers recounted a day he spent with his son in London. They had plans—museum if it rained, zoo if it didn't. But upon arriving, his son suggested they simply walk around. What followed was an eight-hour meandering journey through London, culminating in a spontaneous visit to a West End musical. When asked about the best part of his day, his son didn't mention the musical but rather a huge cardboard box, found randomly along their path, he'd worn as a turtle shell. Sivers mused that had they stuck to their original plan, they would have missed out on this "unoptimized experience."

This story serves as a metaphor for life itself. We often make plans based on what we think will maximize our happiness or success, but as Sivers points out, "you keep getting new information moment to moment that helps you make the best decision for that moment, not what you thought would be the best decision earlier when you made plans."

Sivers extends this philosophy to his own living situation. He had the opportunity to move into a house that seemed perfect but realized he was already happy where he was. "Why am I spending a bunch of money if I'm already happy?" he questioned. His current house may not be optimized to his liking, but it's "good enough," and that's okay.

The crux of Sivers' argument is that we don't need to optimize everything in our lives. Some things can simply be "good enough." This resonates with the findings of Barry Schwartz in his book "The Paradox of Choice," where he introduces the concept of satisficing as an alternative to maximizing. Maximizers may make the "best" choices but often feel worse about them, while satisficers make "good enough" choices and feel much better.

So, where does one draw the line between what to optimize and what to satisfice? According to Sivers, if the process of maximizing is genuinely fun for you, then go ahead. Otherwise, recognizing that "good enough is a superpower" can be liberating.

In a world obsessed with optimization, from our work to our homes to our self-images, the idea of satisficing offers a refreshing counterpoint. It challenges the conventional wisdom that we must strive for the best in all things, suggesting instead that the pursuit of "good enough" can lead to a more fulfilling and less stressful life. And as Sivers wisely notes, "nobody cares what you're not good at." You'll be known for the few things you excel at, so why not focus your energy there and let the rest be "good enough"?

The Superpower of "Good Enough"

So there you have it. From the hallowed aisles of a hardware store to the labyrinthine streets of London, all the way to the philosophical musings of Derek Sivers, we've journeyed through the nuanced landscape of "satisficing." And what have we learned? That "good enough is a superpower," a mantra that can liberate us from the ceaseless treadmill of optimization and the relentless pursuit of the unattainable: perfection.

Now, you might be wondering about that house—the one that started this whole existential exploration. Well, let me assure you, it turned out to be pretty spectacular. It may not have gold-plated faucets or a built-in robot butler named Jeeves, but it's a home that feels like, well, home. And let's be honest, it's a far cry better than a cardboard box, even if that box provided a day's worth of turtle-shell adventures in London.

So the next time you find yourself agonizing over which brand of organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, fair-trade quinoa to purchase, or whether to optimize your sock drawer by color, material, and elasticity, remember: "good enough is a superpower." It won't just make your decisions easier; it might just make your life better.

And if you ever doubt the wisdom of this approach, just think of Sivers' son, who found unparalleled joy in a simple cardboard box. Or better yet, think of me, living in a house that's not perfect but is absolutely wonderful. Because, at the end of the day, isn't that what we're all striving for? Not a life that looks perfect, but a life that feels wonderful. Cheers to that, and may your own journey toward "good enough" be as rewarding as finding a spectacular house—or a really great cardboard box.

Bonus Content: A Personal Epiphany in the Throes of Preparation

Recently, I found myself submerged in the depths of preparation for an upcoming hearing where I was to be a witness. Picture this: 400 pages of deposition material, brimming with four years of intricate factual content. And, to add to the challenge, this was all uncharted territory for me, a veritable brain overload.

Initially, I was entrenched in the belief that I needed to get everything right. The task was daunting: remember, study, recount, and organize events from eleven years ago. It was like trying to navigate a labyrinth without a map.

Then, an epiphany struck. I asked myself, "What is 'good enough' in this scenario?" Just posing this question was like opening a window in a stuffy room. It allowed me to shift my focus from the overwhelming minutiae to what truly mattered. I realized that my brain, a remarkable organ, could fill in the details around the crucial points. I could trust it to perform as "good enough" while I concentrated on the bigger picture.

This realization was a testament to the power of 'good enough.' It's akin to having a superpower in your back pocket, ready to be unleashed when the world demands perfection. In this case, literally, I was grateful to myself for not forgetting this wisdom.

The outcome? I approached the hearing with a newfound clarity and confidence. By focusing on what was essential, I navigated the sea of information with ease. The experience was a powerful reminder that sometimes, our own wisdom is the best guide we have. And in this instance, 'good enough' didn't just suffice; it triumphed.