Ganeshprasad Sridharan Explains Why Perfectionism Can Stop You From Growing Research is a continuous process, but knowing when to stop researching and put an idea into action is equally important. Ganeshprasad Sridharan, educator and founder of Think School, has highlighted the need to strike a balance between curiosity and judgement, warning that perfectionism can prevent good ideas from reaching their potential. In a LinkedIn post, Sridharan reflected on how research-driven work rarely reaches a point where there is nothing more to learn. Whether it involves studying companies, reading reports, exploring books or understanding an industry, there is almost always another source or perspective that can add to existing knowledge. He said this constant opportunity to learn is an inherent part of research and can help individuals and teams improve their work over time. However, the challenge lies in recognising when enough information has been gathered to move forward. According to Sridharan, repeatedly refining an idea in pursuit of perfection can become counterproductive. At some point, individuals need to trust the work they have completed, publish it and allow real-world feedback to guide further improvements. Sridharan emphasised that endless internal discussions cannot always replace the insights gained from putting work before an audience. Publishing an idea creates an opportunity to understand how people respond to it, identify gaps and make meaningful improvements. He encouraged his team to recognise the difference between continuing to explore possibilities and exercising judgement about when to act. While curiosity is essential for producing better work, the ability to make decisions and move forward is just as important. He also advised people not to hold back promising ideas simply because they are waiting for a perfect version. Worrying excessively about how others might react before the work has even been shared can become another obstacle to progress. Instead, Sridharan suggested that a degree of discomfort when presenting one's work can be a sign of growth. Putting an idea out into the world requires confidence in the effort invested, along with a willingness to accept criticism and learn from the response. The message is relevant to professionals, researchers, content creators and students who often spend considerable time preparing before taking the next step. Research helps establish a strong foundation, but delaying action indefinitely can limit opportunities to test ideas and improve through experience. Sridharan's advice is not to abandon research or compromise on quality. Rather, it is to recognise that improvement does not always require delaying publication. A well-researched first version, followed by thoughtful revisions, can be more productive than an unfinished pursuit of perfection. His central message is simple: keep learning, but do not let the search for more information prevent you from acting. Sometimes, progress begins when individuals decide that their work is ready to be shared, even if there is still room to improve it. As he concluded in his post, the goal is to trust the process, put the work out and learn from the feedback that follows. In short, his advice to his team was to “just ship it!” (Disclaimer – This article summarises a post by Ganeshprasad Sridharan. While Times Now has verified the public data presented, the interpretations of 'intent' remain those of the creator. This content is for educational purposes and does not substitute professional medical/nutritional advice.) Lakshima Sareen is a Senior Copy Editor with the Digital Education Desk at Times Now, specialising in education news, exam updates, and policy reporti... View More