You know you could have done better. And given more time—should have done better. You achieved the minimum requirement. You delivered a performance that ticked all the boxes. You got a result. You’re through to the next round.

Satisfactory sets the minimum standard. A tick in the box. A compliant document. A ministerial code of conduct.

But can you imagine?

A satisfactory place of work.

A satisfactory education.

A satisfactory leader.

A satisfactory pay check.

A satisfactory holiday.

How uninspiring is satisfactory!

(It doesn’t get me out of bed.)

Satisfactory is acceptable—as a minimum standard. It helps to communicate what we expect from others, and what we expect from ourselves.

But we shouldn’t dismiss it altogether.

There are situations when we may need to acknowledge and embrace satisfactory. In turbulent times. A clock ticking down. A finite budget. We know we can do better, but this time, it’ll get us over a line.

ACTION 4

Set a minimum standard.

Think about one area of your train set.
Define the minimum standard for what’s acceptable.

Write it down.