Pursuing unreasonably high standards flourishes when it’s backed by a culture that constantly stretches itself, learns quickly from what doesn’t work, and directs that effort toward the highest‑impact work. Together these principles keep the bar high without drifting into needless perfectionism.
Pursue Unreasonably High Standards
Raise the bar until it becomes the floor
We decide what quality we want to be known for. Every choice (big or small) signals the standard we’re willing to live by.
- No cracked doors, no squeaky hinges.
- Every interaction feels purposeful and polished.
- We set a benchmark that makes “good enough” feel unacceptable.
Details matter
Excellence over speed
What It Means At Corporate Tools
Pursuing unreasonably high standards isn’t about chasing the impossible; it’s about stretching the edge of what feels comfortable and turning that stretch into habit. When we treat every UI element, every email, every office space as a reflection of who we want to be, the experience we deliver becomes memorable and contagious.
The principle forces us to look at the tiny things – a perfectly sealed door, a scent‑filled lobby, a thoughtfully folded restroom roll – that compound into a reputation for excellence. By consistently delivering work that exceeds expectations, we raise the collective bar and create a culture where “exceptional” is the default.
Living this standard means we become the benchmark for one another. When teammates see a colleague obsess over the last pixel or the quietest hinge, they adopt the same mindset, amplifying the overall quality of the organization.
How This Shows Up In Your Day
You are living this when
- You release a feature and spot the minute details people comment on (aligned icons, silent animations).
- You voluntarily improve a process because a better way exists, not because it’s required.
- Colleagues ask you for advice on polishing their work.
- You celebrate successes by explaining why the detail mattered, not just the metric.
You are not living this when
- You accept “good enough” and ignore visible imperfections.
- You rush a launch to meet a deadline, leaving obvious errors unaddressed.
- You prioritize speed over craftsmanship, leaving teammates to clean up after you.
- You dismiss feedback that points out a seemingly small flaw.
The feeling should be quiet confidence - knowing every output you touch is unmistakably superior and that you’ve redefined what the organization expects.