”Has working with such high precision made you more of a perfectionist?”
I got the question from a friend after having given a presentation about the work we do at Mycronic’s Pattern Generator division. I started answering:
”Actually, if anything I think I’ve become less of a perfectionist…”
I went on to explain my reasoning since I hadn’t reflected on the perspective posed by that question. (And in the nature of the topic I can only hope to give a good enough retelling.)
Working with requirements down to where each nanometer counts is certainly challenging – and rewarding if you like problem solving.
It certainly requires extreme attention to detail, patience, iterative improvements. But that’s the thing: You iterate over imperfection until you reach something that is good enough! Because it never becomes perfect and I’m quite sure it won’t be within my lifetime.
The line may look straight, but chances are you are not looking close enough.
So when we’re trying to make a straight line we try to make it as straight as required by the purpose it is made for. Don’t make it straighter than it has to be!
This goes for so many areas, not only optical lithography.
Creating a personal webpage and blog, for example.
I’ve had this thought for a long time, wanting it to be ”just right”, and I’ve been somewhat perfectionistic. But I’ve come to realize that more often than not perfect is just an obstacle to good enough.
If you want something done, sure – aim for perfection! Do it to the very best of your ability, iterate over it again and again, but eventually you’ll have to realize that you’re reaching diminishing returns and just have to let it be good enough.
Finding that sweet spot is difficult, but doable. And you’ll have a better chance of learning what is good enough if you’re doing a lot of whatever you’re doing – failing a lot and succeeding at times.
So personally I’m letting go of perfection (or trying to) and embracing good enough now!
Don’t make the line straighter than it has to be.
Let me know your thoughts!
David Luthman 