Perfect is Boring

With the US Open in full swing, imagine watching the perfect tennis match. Every serve lands exactly where intended, every smash is returned, and every ball stays perfectly within the lines. No unforced errors, no frustration, no nerves. Doesn’t that sound perfect… for about a minute?

What makes tennis, and sports in general, so compelling is that they aren’t perfect. We know how hard the athletes have worked to get there and admire the talent and endurance behind every point. We share their disappointment when things don’t go as planned and their excitement when they do. Sports are perfect in their imperfections.

Yet in business, we often expect perfection. We wait to launch, post or give that important presentation until we feel everything is just right. The same happens when expanding internationally: we want to fully understand the market and have the right strategy and messaging before getting out there. Preparation is important off course, but you cannot perfect your international strategy from behind your desk.

At some point, you have to step onto the court, or get out of the garage, as I like to call it. Talk to customers, test your assumptions and learn from the market. International growth isn’t about perfection. It is about preparing well, getting out there, learning and adapting. Because perfection doesn’t create growth, progress does.

I am not looking forward to the day robots will play the perfect tennis match. For the time being, I don't think the pros at the US Open have too much to worry about.

If you have a few minutes, watch this YouTube video and enjoy some robots competing, stumbling and falling over. Ironically, it is their clumsiness that make them so much fun to watch.