I totally agree with you that publishing something is not the same as getting it done. But the done thing remains ever elusive. You can do lots of things but in the sense of done being the things that helps you reach your goals, it feels as if I am forever destined to be a thin lady with a sore throat.
As a former perfectionist who still sometimes falls prey to these tendencies, I totally relate.
Nothing is ever finished. There's always something to improve.
That's why a Definition of Done works even better when it doesn't only include what needs to be done, but also to what standard. Either by breaking the items up into such concrete steps that perfectionist tendencies can't get a hold, or by including very concrete 'acceptance criteria'.
For example, editing an article. Instead of including "article edited" in your DoD, get more concrete. Like:
- Edited for structure: argument flows from top to bottom.
- Edited for scanability: article broken up in sections, each with a SPEC-ed subhead that entices readers to stop scanning and start reading.
- Edited for voice: phrasing matches brand guide on voice.
I totally agree with you that publishing something is not the same as getting it done. But the done thing remains ever elusive. You can do lots of things but in the sense of done being the things that helps you reach your goals, it feels as if I am forever destined to be a thin lady with a sore throat.
As a former perfectionist who still sometimes falls prey to these tendencies, I totally relate.
Nothing is ever finished. There's always something to improve.
That's why a Definition of Done works even better when it doesn't only include what needs to be done, but also to what standard. Either by breaking the items up into such concrete steps that perfectionist tendencies can't get a hold, or by including very concrete 'acceptance criteria'.
For example, editing an article. Instead of including "article edited" in your DoD, get more concrete. Like:
- Edited for structure: argument flows from top to bottom.
- Edited for scanability: article broken up in sections, each with a SPEC-ed subhead that entices readers to stop scanning and start reading.
- Edited for voice: phrasing matches brand guide on voice.
- etc.