Success v Perfection

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
- Michael Jordan


Could there be a more successful athlete? As a person who really doesn't like basketball that much, I still liked to watch Michael Jordan play. The man was amazing. I don't think anyone would argue with that. Michael Jordan is the epitome of success. So what was his secret? Why did he do so well? What sets him apart? Is it all of the amazing achievements? Sure. Is it all the awards and championships? Certainly. Is it the tongue hanging out slam-dunk from the free-throw line? Maybe.

However, upon closer examination, it is and was his relentless pursuit of being the best, not perfect. If he sought perfection, he would've had to give up LONG ago. Look again at the quote: missed 9,000 shots! Lost 300 game?! Was trusted with the game winning shot 26 times and blew it!? (Which I would have him take at least 27.) And he admits that he has failed over and over again. This is not perfection. This is not pure. This is real. This is a pursuit and a willingness to never give up, and do whatever you can to be the best ... whatever that means.

I had heard once that before Thomas Edison successfully made a light bulb that lasted 13.5 hours on Oct. 22, 1879, he went through thousands of bulbs and combinations. Even if it were hundreds... After the first 100, I wonder how many of us would've given up and said "It can't be done". But he believed in himself and the dream he had. According to Robert Friedel and Paul Israel (historians), there were 22 people who made incandescent lightbulbs before him. Edison would even later make it even more "perfect" and be accredited with the invention of the lightbulb ... which will soon be replaced by the more energy efficient CFL.

Try it... fall flat on your face, then get back up and do it all over again... that's success. Sometimes it will work... "perfectly". Sometimes it will blow up in your face. Sometimes it will illuminate the entire room.