Zen in the Art of Archery

By Eugen Herrigel

I’ve found this proverb to be true in endurance exercises and work.

The Seattle to Portland bike race is 200 miles. Like most, my friend and I did it over two days. The first day we did 120 miles thinking it best to have an easier second day.

90 miles? No problem. 100 miles? It was maybe 105 or closer to 110 miles when I started to really want to be done with that bike ride.

I also remember that the marathon I did – all good until about mile 24.5. That last 1 or 1.5 miles… My body (and mind) felt… abnormal.

This proverb is only more true when it comes to software development. Like a math problem, a program is nothing until it is 100% done and working. Zero points for 99.99999% done. Not working is not working.

This current project… it was a full year ago when I thought I just needed to do one more big push. Turns out that “big” wasn’t exactly the right adjective. Praise be unto Jesus, The Buddha, Mohammed – all of the holiest of holies – I hope that I’m about “done done” with Phase 1 now.

P.S. It’s been brought to my attention that I am a “producer type”, which means that I think I can do something faster than I actually can. Unfortunately I must admit there is truth to this judgement. I still allocate about five minutes for getting ready and leaving the house. I am fashionably late. Always.