Some years ago I was trying to deliver a product in the face of rampant perfectionism - the kind that never delivers - when, so the story goes, I said "There is a level of mediocrity people are willing at accept, and I'm all for delivering it."

I cringe every time it's quoted back to me - usually after I've heaped scorn on some prematurely released product. I was trying to make the point, of course, that after six months in the bat cave our product would benefit from some customers more than the customers would benefit from our product. (It's now #1 in its market thanks to those same customers).

Knowing when to pull the trigger is an art. There really is a level of "mediocrity" where no amount of spit and polish trumps getting a product in front of customers.