Why Quantity Sometimes Beats Quality in Achieving Success
Striving for perfection can paralyze progress, while focusing on quantity leads to iterative improvement, tangible results, and eventual mastery.
This article was originally published in 2014, and has been updated in 2025.
In a recent reflection inspired by Jeff Atwood’s article Quantity Always Trumps Quality on Coding Horror, I was reminded of a fundamental truth about progress: execution beats perfection every time. This isn’t just a catchy mantra—it’s a mindset that has transformed how I approach work, creativity, and problem-solving.
We’ve all been there—caught in the endless loop of trying to make the perfect decision or create the perfect product. But more often than not, this pursuit of perfection leads to stagnation. You end up with nothing to show for your efforts except frustration. The real question is: Is it better to have something imperfect but functional, or nothing at all?
When I started building ReplyWire, I wrestled with these very questions. Should I use the latest design pattern? Was my chosen programming language outdated? Should I switch frameworks? These debates consumed weeks of my time—weeks during which I had no tangible progress to show. Finally, I realized that none of these decisions mattered as much as simply creating something usable.
So, I stopped agonizing over tools and techniques and focused on building a prototype with the skills and methods I already knew—even if they weren’t cutting-edge. Within a week, I had something tangible. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked. And most importantly, it was something customers could pay for. Refinement could come later—when there was revenue to justify it.
This shift in mindset isn’t just about software development; it applies universally. Consider this: What’s more impressive—a portfolio with 100 completed projects or one with five “perfect” ones? Most of us don’t scrutinize every detail in a large portfolio; we’re simply impressed by the sheer volume of work. Similarly, when you see a company with dozens of satisfied clients, countless blog posts, and an array of white papers, you instinctively trust their expertise—not because every piece is flawless but because their output signals competence and consistency.
The Power of Repetition
Beyond delivering tangible results, focusing on quantity has another significant advantage: it makes you better over time. The more you do something—whether it’s writing, coding, or public speaking—the better you become at it through repetition and iteration. Let me share a few personal examples:
Diving: While training for my PADI Open Water Instructor exam, my friend Pete and I spent hours practicing in a pool, passing a weight back and forth in shallow water. By the time the exam came around, I had mastered buoyancy control so well that I could hover effortlessly without touching the bottom or breaking the surface.
Blogging: My first blog posts took over an hour to write as I agonized over every word. Now, after years of practice, I can draft a post like this in 30 minutes—and I’m aiming to get even faster.
Programming: When I first started working with JavaScript, I was slow and inefficient. But through consistent practice and rewriting code repeatedly, I became proficient enough to rewrite ReplyWire’s integration code in just two hours yesterday.
Life: Even life itself follows this principle. The more you experience and learn from your mistakes, the better equipped you are to handle future challenges.
The common thread here is that improvement comes from doing, not from waiting for inspiration or perfection.
Breaking Down the Myth of Perfection
The idea that quality is inherently more valuable than quantity is seductive but misleading. Steve Jobs famously said, “Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is better than two doubles.” Yet Jobs himself didn’t achieve success by aiming for perfection from the outset. Apple’s revolutionary products like the iPad didn’t emerge fully formed—they were preceded by failures like the Apple Newton in the 1990s. Each “swing and miss” laid the groundwork for future breakthroughs.
Yes, hitting a home run feels great—but you only get there by swinging repeatedly. Every attempt teaches you something new and brings you closer to success.
Practical Takeaways
Start Small but Start Now: Don’t let fear of imperfection hold you back. Launch that project, write that blog post, or build that prototype—even if it’s rough around the edges.
Focus on Iteration: Treat every output as a stepping stone toward improvement. Each version doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be better than the last.
Measure Progress by Output: Instead of asking whether something is perfect, ask whether it exists at all. Tangible results matter more than theoretical plans.
Embrace Failure as Feedback: Every misstep is an opportunity to learn and refine your approach.
Leaving Thoughts
At its core, success is about momentum—building brick by brick until you have something substantial to show for your efforts. Quantity isn’t just about producing more; it’s about creating opportunities to learn, improve, and eventually achieve quality through persistence.
So stop waiting for the perfect moment or perfect plan—just start swinging!