if you always want the best, you will never reached your goal.

You can always think about something and optimize it. But it takes time… And time is money.

So, i prefer doing a good job than a perfect job.

Perfection isn’t healthy.

In math-logic there are no such terms like ‘absolute optimal solution’ - you always have to define your criteria(and their priority) for optimization and when you did so, you should clearly realize that in 99% of all possible situations: to increase one of them you have to decrease all other.

basic management task - to balance: quality, budget and time.

The are no ‘the best’ - the are ‘the balance’.

> What’s the best way for me to make an extra $10,000 as quickly as possible?

IMHO, the only one correct example:
goal: 10.000
optimal by: time

I bought a book on speed reading. I found that I could double my reading speed from 250-300 wpm to about 600 wpm. I also know that there are people who can read 1000+ wpm. I figured “Well, I’m already doing better than the average, so I’m doing good enough.”

Similarly with my time. I’ve found that it is important to value your time. I blocked out a portion of my days to certain tasks and found that I can get them done quickly. I make appointments with myself and keep them. I show up on time to work. All good things that help me keep me getting things accomplished. Unfortunately, I haven’t really pushed myself to do more, such as ask myself, “I’ve optimized my time some, so now how do I do even better?”

I like to think that I can look back and say that I’ve at least tried my best in my endeavors. It isn’t enough for me to say, “Well I’m better than my immediate peers” and definitely not good enough to say, “I’m just as good as person X.”

Steve, your blog is great at picking up on certain ideas about person ability. I only wish there were more links in your resources section on the topics covered.