Quantity Over Quality: The Secret to Overcoming Perfectionism
About the Author
Bayu Prihandito is the founder of Life Architekture, a Certified Psychology Consultant and Life Coach for Men. Bayu empowers his clients to navigate life's challenges with clarity, confidence, fulfillment, and true meaning. His expertise has been featured in CNN, Fortune, Vice, Daily Mail, Metro, Cosmopolitan and many more.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Quantity over quality emphasizes consistent practice, allowing you to learn and grow by doing more rather than waiting for perfection.
- This approach is effective for building skills, forming habits, and sparking creativity, as repeated effort yields gradual improvement.
- While quantity inspires growth, certain areas like relationships or decisions demand quality, making it important to find the right balance.
“Quantity over quality” is a way of thinking that focuses on producing more, rather than obsessing over perfection. The idea is simple: the more you do something, the better you’ll get at it. Instead of waiting for the "perfect" moment or product, you focus on showing up, trying, and improving through repetitive effort. While it may sound counterintuitive in some areas, this mindset often leads to better results over time, especially when building skills or habits.
What Does Quantity Over Quality Actually Mean?
Quantity over quality means focusing on doing something more frequently, even if each attempt isn’t perfect. It’s about valuing repetition and practice rather than holding out for an ideal result. By prioritizing quantity, you give yourself more opportunities to learn, improve, and grow.
Here’s a classic example: imagine learning to draw. If you try to make one perfect drawing, you’ll likely spend hours stressing over every line. On the other hand, someone who produces 20 sketches in the same time will probably learn more through trial and error. Each attempt gives them a chance to tweak their technique, and they’re less attached to the outcome because their focus is on practice, not perfection.
Scientific evidence backs this up too. According to psychologist Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset, consistent effort allows people to build skills and adapt over time. It’s through repetition that you create room for improvement and innovation.
Quantity also works because it reduces the fear of failure. The more you try, the less intimidating each attempt feels. Instead of fixating on a flawless outcome, you’re focused on showing up and doing the work, which builds momentum and consistency. This approach doesn’t mean quality doesn’t matter at all; instead, it’s a reminder that quality often comes as a byproduct of quantity.
The Benefits of Quantity Over Quality
Focusing on quantity over quality has some surprising advantages, particularly when it comes to personal growth and skill development. Instead of feeling stuck chasing an unreachable ideal, you give yourself the freedom to keep moving forward. Below are five practical benefits of this mindset:
- Builds skills faster: Repetition reinforces learning, helping you refine techniques with each attempt.
- Encourages creativity: When you’re not aiming for perfection, you’re free to experiment and try out new ideas.
- Boosts confidence: The more often you do something, the more familiar and less intimidating it becomes.
- Breaks perfectionism: You move past paralysis caused by trying to make everything perfect.
- Creates momentum: Small wins and frequent attempts keep you motivated to keep going.
By focusing on “doing more,” you may even stumble upon breakthroughs you wouldn’t have otherwise discovered by obsessing over one perfect outcome. It’s a mindset that shifts the focus from fearing failure to embracing progress.
When Does it Work Best
“Quantity over quality” shines in situations where practice and experimentation are key to improvement. It’s ideal when honing skills, testing ideas, or building habits. Instead of waiting for perfection, it’s about showing up and trying repeatedly. Below are some examples of where this approach works best:
- Skill-building: Skills like writing, cooking, or public speaking improve with repetition. The more you do, the more you learn from each attempt.
- Creative projects: Artists, designers, or writers often find that producing more work leads to better results over time, as creativity flows with practice.
- Learning new things: Whether it’s learning an instrument or a new language, frequent practice boosts retention and fluency.
- Building habits: Focusing on small, consistent actions (like daily exercise or journaling) creates long-term routines.
- Problem-solving: Brainstorming multiple solutions to a challenge helps you explore new perspectives and uncover workable ideas.
Quantity works best in areas where growth comes from gradually refining your efforts. Each attempt builds on the last, bringing you closer to mastery or fresh insights through a cycle of trial, error, and improvement.
Exceptions and Limitations
While focusing on quantity is useful in many areas, there are times when quality matters more. Some situations require precision and careful attention to detail, where producing large amounts carelessly can lead to poor results. Here are a few exceptions and limitations to keep in mind:
- Relationships: Building meaningful connections prioritizes quality. Investing time fully in a few strong relationships can be more rewarding than spreading yourself too thin.
- Critical decisions: When making choices with significant consequences, careful consideration and quality analysis are essential.
- Health and safety: Any work involving health, safety, or technical expertise should prioritize quality to avoid potential harm.
- Avoiding burnout: Chasing quantity can lead to exhaustion if you’re not pacing yourself or focusing on things that truly matter.
- Certain creative work: There are moments when depth and intricate effort create masterpieces—not everything benefits from speed and volume.
Finding balance is key. Knowing when to prioritize quantity and when to slow down for quality can help you allocate your energy wisely, avoiding frustration or diminishing returns. It’s not about choosing one over the other but understanding when each mindset serves you best.
Life Architekture as Your Life Coach
Balancing quantity and quality isn’t just a concept—it’s a skill, one that requires self-awareness and guidance. At Life Architekture, I work with individuals to explore where each approach fits into their personal goals. Through life coaching, I guide people like you in structuring their lives to maximize growth while staying grounded in their values.
For example, someone aiming to develop a new skill might benefit from incorporating quantity-focused practices, like consistent daily actions, to build momentum. At the same time, we’d discuss areas in life—like relationships or self-care—where quality takes precedence. It’s about recognizing that life isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Coaching provides a safe space to evaluate where you’re stuck, where you want to go, and how to get there with realistic strategies. Whether you’re trying to break free from perfectionism or figure out how to balance competing priorities, a life coach can help tailor the process to your unique situation.
Final Thoughts
Quantity over quality is a reminder that growth often comes from consistent effort rather than perfect results. By trying more, you create opportunities to improve, learn, and adapt. That said, balance is key—knowing when to apply each mindset helps you make steady progress without losing sight of what matters most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "quantity over quality" mean?
“Quantity over quality” is about focusing on producing more, even if each result isn’t perfect. This mindset helps you grow through repetition, learning from each effort, and creating opportunities for improvement instead of waiting for flawless outcomes.
When should I apply quantity over quality?
Quantity is useful when practicing skills, building habits, or sparking creativity. It works well for areas where improvement comes through repeated attempts, allowing you to refine over time, such as learning an instrument, writing, or trying new problem-solving approaches.
Does quality also have its place?
Yes, quality matters in areas like relationships, critical decisions, and work involving health or safety. These situations require careful focus, where precision and attention to detail are far more impactful than a higher volume of attempts.
How can I balance quantity and quality?
Balancing quantity and quality involves recognizing what’s needed in a specific situation. Emphasize quantity when you need practice or experimentation, and switch to quality when focus and depth are required to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Can quantity help overcome perfectionism?
Yes, quantity helps bypass perfectionism by shifting your focus away from achieving a flawless result. The act of doing more allows you to make mistakes and learn from them, freeing you from the pressure of getting it “just right” on the first try.
