The Pain of Perfection


The Time-Optimized Newsletter

Helping move time from finite to infinite (issue 164)

The Pain of Perfection

The phase “production before perfection” has been a proverb for many years.

Are you stuck in the endless cycle of planning, tweaking, and never launching?

For 15 years, I’ve carried one powerful phrase from Tony Jeary’s Strategic Acceleration that focused my approach to my career: “Production before perfection.”

This simple concept has saved me from:

- The paralysis of overthinking

- The anxiety of never feeling “good enough”

- The burnout of chasing flawlessness

I’ve discovered that embracing imperfect action creates more quality time, reduces stress, and generates real progress. The most common question I ask myself now? “Why didn’t I start sooner?”

I’ve outlined 10 practical strategies to help you shift from perfectionism to productivity without sacrificing quality.


Featured Free Resource

Procrastination Time Analysis (PTA)

The (PTA) asks you to evaluate how well you manage through personal, planning and professional aspects that can cause delay.


Recent Articles

The Power of Guilt Free Personal Time

I battle work guilt. During my personal time I can let work invade and feel a sense of need to interrupt my time off and engage back into professional activities. In this article I discuss how to plan for guilt-free personal time.

* Ruthlessly Prioritize and Protect

* Create Deep Work Blocks

* Have Beginning and End of Day Habits

* Know What You Will Do After Work

Adopt these and you’ll have quality time in both sides of life.


Shifting the Self Worth Equation

Is Your Self-Worth Equation Dominated by Work? 🤔

The average person's often looks like:

Self-worth = (80% Professional Life) + (20% Personal Life)

This imbalance isn't just about hours—it's about energy. While work consumes 40% of our waking hours, it drains disproportionately more of our mental and emotional resources.

I've found through my time management assessments that what we call "work-life balance" is actually a mirage.

Life doesn't maintain equilibrium—it pulls us in different directions, with work typically taking precedence.

Are you sacrificing personal care and sleep to compensate for an overloaded schedule? It might be time to recalibrate your self-worth equation.

Curious how to create a formula that encompasses all aspects of your existence?

Read the full article to discover practical strategies for enhancing quality time across your entire life.



A Life Without Titles: An Identify Crisis or Opportunity?

What will be your title when you are not working? Think it is not important? Think again. The transition from a title-driven identity to retirement often blindsides even the most prepared professionals. Whether a loss of a job or retirement, you will encounter:

* The Status Shock to the System

* Filling the Identity Void

* The Power of Preparation

* The New Life Title

Check out the article to show you solutions to a life without titles.


The Problem of Splintering Time

🚀 Time management can either propel you forward or hold you back like a splinter in your foot. In my latest article, I share a childhood experience that taught me the importance of managing time effectively and avoiding painful disruptions. 📅 Discover five essential principles to master your time:

1. Planning

2. Prioritizing Tasks

3. Maintaining Focus

4. Staying Organized

5. Personal Care

Don’t let time be a painful splinter. Learn how to manage it wisely and achieve a more productive and balanced life. Read the full article for insights and actionable tips!


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Dave Buck

⌚Providing senior business professionals with a post-career lifestyle strategy of purpose, fulfillment, ease and joy. ⏳Start your journey by taking the Retirement Time Analysis (RTA) Lifestyle Quiz. https://infinitylifestyledesign.com/rta/

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