Practice makes perfect should be amended to say practice makes better. Perfect is too high a standard for anyone to really want to make the effort.
Malcolm Gladwell is often quoted as saying it takes 10,000 hours to master a new subject – it turns out that focused effort on getting better (technically, tactically) repeated creates real progress. How long it takes to “master” something, varies based on the something that you’re trying to master (and what is “mastery” anyway?).
10,000 focused hours may be more than most of us can commit to.
Getting better, though, ought to be enough – and it is definitely is a step in the right direction.
Practice may mean failure, too. When was the last time someone encouraged you to fail more? How can we learn without trying, failing and trying again?
Most mistakes are not terminal, so keep on trying (and failing if necessary). Practice more than the next person, and you may find out that you’re actually better than most at whatever you’re working on.
It’s not so important that we are perfect – that’s a on or off proposition (mostly off). It’s important that we try to be better, maybe even try to be the “best we can be”. What else can we do realistically?
Don’t let perfect get in the way of better. Practice, practice, practice.