The Exponential Curve of Excellence: When Enough is Enough

Take weight loss. Imagine you want to lose 100 pounds. You avoid sugar, count calories, and it yields big results at first. You lose two pounds a week. But, subsequent efforts yield smaller and smaller results. You then add more exercise or more research, only to find tiny returns.

When you plateau, doing more won't work. Pushing through the dip by maximising what you're already doing will help you get a tiny bit further.

There are two enemies of execution:

• Inaction. It breeds doubt and fear and stops you from achieving your goals.
• Perfectionism. It causes anxiety, tension, and stress.

The best place is just above "good enough," where you strive for perfection but accept that it's impossible.