“The decent method you follow…” is a powerful reminder that imperfect action beats perfect planning every single time.
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Meaning
It means that a good-enough strategy you actually stick with is infinitely more valuable than a flawless, “optimal” strategy that you eventually abandon because it’s too complex or demanding.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out a thousand times, both in business and in life. We get so caught up in analysis paralysis, searching for the perfect diet, the perfect marketing funnel, the perfect workout plan. And we burn all our energy and motivation just *planning*. The real magic, the real results, they don’t come from the plan. They come from consistent execution. A “decent” method—something that’s maybe 70-80% of ideal—but that you can actually do day in and day out without burning out, will completely run circles around the “perfect” one that you quit after two weeks. It’s the core of what actually creates compound growth.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (4154) |
| Category | Personal Development (765) |
| Topics | consistency (67), discipline (267), habits (96), imperfection (19) |
| Literary Style | aphoristic (209), plainspoken (12) |
| Emotion / Mood | calm (561), encouraging (329) |
| Overall Quote Score | 77 (181) |
Origin & Factcheck
This quote comes straight from Timothy Ferriss’s 2010 book, The 4-Hour Body, published in the United States. It’s a cornerstone of his philosophy in that book. You’ll sometimes see similar sentiments floating around, but this specific, elegant phrasing is 100% Ferriss.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Timothy Ferriss (145) |
| Source Type | Book (4816) |
| Source/Book Name | The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman (53) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1995) |
| Original Language | English (4154) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4816) |
Author Bio
Timothy Ferriss writes and builds systems that help people work less and achieve more. He broke out with The 4-Hour Workweek and followed with books on body optimization, accelerated learning, and distilled tactics from top performers. He hosts The Tim Ferriss Show, one of the most-downloaded podcasts globally, and has invested in notable technology startups. The Timothy Ferriss book list continues to influence entrepreneurs, creators, and professionals seeking leverage. He studied East Asian Studies at Princeton, founded and sold a supplement company, and actively supports psychedelic science research.
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram | YouTube
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | The decent method you follow is better than the perfect method you quit |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2010; ISBN: 978-0-307-46563-0; Publisher: Crown Archetype; Pages: 592. |
| Where is it? | Chapter: The Slow-Carb Diet; Approximate page from 2010 edition: 89 |