Posts

Per-fectly Fine… Until It Wasn’t : Defect vs Perfect-A Two-Letter Mystery (10)

/0 Comments/in /by

Have you ever stared at a brilliant plan, only to watch it unravel faster than a cheap jumper in a tumble dryer?

You’re not alone.

Turns out, the line between defect and perfect is thinner than we think ; just one tiny prefix, in fact.

Both words come from the Latin ‘facere’, which means to make.

So “fect” is just the thing being made. Then comes the twist:

  • Add “de-” and you’ve made a defect. Something’s wrong. Off. Missing a piece. Probably squeaks when it moves.
  • Add “per-” and you’ve got perfect. Complete, works like a charm, might even sparkle a bit.

The difference? Literally a couple of letters.

But the result? Worlds apart.

It’s like giving Voldemort and Harry Potter the same wand and asking them both to build a team.
One ends up with loyal friends, a bit of chaos, and eventual success.

The other ends up with a snake, questionable leadership choices, and no nose.

And here’s the thing: in our personal and professional lives, we do this to ourselves all the time.

We know what needs to happen. We’ve got the strategy, the plan, the slides, the stakeholder sign-off.
Then somehow, between the knowing and the doing… things go sideways.

Suddenly, what was meant to be perfect starts to crack.

Maybe the communication wasn’t clear.
Maybe the rollout missed the mark.
Maybe someone decided to change the brief after everything was built.

Whatever the reason, the end result gets labelled a “defect” ; even if it started with the best of intentions.

This, friends, is the infamous Knowing–Doing Gap. Where ideas go in shiny and come out slightly disappointing.

It’s not always because people don’t care or don’t try. It’s just easy to trip over that tiny prefix ; to slide from “Per” to “De” without even noticing.

So next time something feels off; whether it’s a personal misstep or a business idea that didn’t quite stick, don’t be too harsh on yourself. Often, what looks like a flaw is just the starting line. The real journey begins when we notice the gap, take ownership, and work with intent to close it; bit by bit, day by day

In both life and business, “perfect” isn’t a fixed point; it’s a moving target shaped by clarity, action, and growth. And the good news? Defect doesn’t disqualify you from the journey. In fact, it starts it.

What if every so-called defect was just a perfect excuse to begin again, this time with more purpose?

❤️ASB

Am I on the Right Path? (1)

/0 Comments/in /by

It’s a question that comes back to haunt all of us at different stages of life, career, or business:

Sometimes it whispers. Sometimes it screams. And often, it creates unnecessary anxiety because somewhere deep inside, we’ve been conditioned to believe that the right path is a single, straight, unchanging road.

But what if that belief itself is flawed?

The Myth of the Fixed Path

We live in a world that idolises clear roadmaps.

  • Start here.
  • Do X.
  • Accomplish Y.
  • Reach Z.

Certainty is comforting. Predictability feels safe. But the reality of life, leadership, and enterprise rarely works this way.

Paths are not railway tracks.
They are more like rivers ; meandering, adaptive, shaped by the terrain they flow through.

Rigid attachment to a fixed path often leads to frustration when life throws up unforeseen bends. Industries evolve. Technologies disrupt. Personal priorities shift. Global events reshape the playing field. The destination you had in mind at the start might no longer even exist by the time you’re halfway there.

The path is simply how you’re trying to get there. And that can, and often should, change.

  • A business model might need pivoting.
  • A career trajectory may demand reinvention.
  • A product may evolve into a service.
  • A personal ambition may mature into something deeper.

Staying rigid on the path often closes doors that may actually be better suited to fulfilling your original desire.

Flexibility Is Not Failure

Too many people confuse flexibility with weakness.

They say:
“But if I change course, does it mean I failed?”

Not at all. Flexibility is a sign of intelligence. It reflects awareness, adaptability, and an ability to navigate reality rather than fight it.

In my own journey; whether building businesses, guiding leaders, holding public office or growing intellectually , I’ve seen that my intent stays largely consistent, but my methods evolve continuously.

  • The brands I build today are different from what I envisioned years ago.
  • The frameworks (PIFFLE®, Intentonomics ®, Route to Shopper ®, K.SA.R™) emerged as my understanding deepened.
  • The markets I serve expanded as opportunities unfolded.
  • Even my personal priorities shifted as life progressed.

The desire to build excellence, create impact, and help others strengthen their choices remains intact. But how I do it? That’s fluid by design.

The Real Danger: Quitting vs. Adapting

Let’s make one distinction very clear:

  • Changing direction is adaptation.
  • Giving up entirely is abandonment.

The danger isn’t that you’ll change direction ; the danger is that fear or pride will make you stop moving altogether.

Keep moving. Keep recalibrating. Hold the intent tightly, but hold the method lightly.

Excellence is not found in perfect plans.
Excellence is found in the intent to continue, adapt, and grow.

– Ankur Shiv Bhandari (ASB)