You know the old slogan ‘When it rains, it pours‘? That’s what it has felt like the past year as I moved my mother (and her possessions) 3 times, and also cleared out her home to put it on the market. And then, for the past 3 weekends, I have been helping my husband as he clears his father’s house. All of which has brought me face-to-face with one of my pet peeves: WASTE.

My father-in-law was a child of the Depression, and I don’t think he ever threw anything out. Add perfectionism to that trait, and you have a recipe for disaster. Case in point: when my mother-in-law became ill and was no longer able to drive, her car sat in the driveway for several years. It was a fairly recent model, in good condition, with low mileage. It was offered to various grandchildren, but was declined. No one drove it; it sat in one place, and the paint started to fade.

At the time, there was a fabulous non-profit in the area called Many Motors. They provided donated cars directly to those in need of transportation, including women making the transition out of domestic violence, veterans, homeless people seeking to get back into the work force, and youths emancipated from the foster care system. I suggested the car be donated to Many Motors. My father-in-law was willing, but insisted he needed to tune it and replace a belt first : i.e. make it ‘perfect’. Even after being assured that Many Motors would have a mechanic make any needed repairs before it was given to its new owner, my father-in-law still wanted the car to be perfect before he donated it.

So what happened? Nothing. My father-in-law was caring for a sick spouse, and had many other demands on his time, and making the car ‘perfect’ just fell to the bottom of his list. For 10 years. Until all the tires went flat, and the car ceased to work altogether. We actually had to pay to have it towed to a junkyard.

Which was a terrific WASTE. For many people, a lack of transportation is what keeps them jobless. That car could have been a lifesaver to a woman making the transition out of domestic violence, a veteran, a homeless person seeking to get back into the work force, or a youth emancipated from the foster care system. Instead it sat and deteriorated, unused, for over 10 years.

Does this happen in your business? What projects and opportunities are on hold until they are perfect, and therefore going to WASTE? Take a good look (and ask your employees to look also and report back to you). If  perfectionism is playing a role, ask yourself ‘Is good enough, good enough?’ Or is it time to allow someone else the chance to make good use what you are not?  It just may allow creative space for a new project or opportunity.

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