How do you handle knowing "It Could Be Better"?

[John Posada <JPosada -at- book -dot- com>]

I just got out of my third document review...this time with my manager and
his boss.

3 months into the project, 1200 pages and four books in, and they are
thrilled with what they see at this point...and I still have about 2 months
to go. 

OTOH...every day I address some section of the doc set, I become more and
more depressed. 

Why? Because -I'M- not thrilled.

I know that regardless of what I have to this point, it could be so much
better if I understood the application to greater depth...lead-developer
depth.

I know, I know....learn more...learn faster...ask questions.  OTOH, this is
a pretty obscure application (anyone familiar with e*Gate) using
technologies not used in any mainstream application I've ever see before, so
this knowledge becomes learn as you go. 

I use all the tricks...get on  developer discussion lists and EVERY time
something goes by that I don't understand, ask about it. I have access to
the development environment and spend about an hour per day of my time using
some part of it I'm not familiar with...after working an average of 9.5
hours per day documenting other areas. I print out emails containing
discussions and reports, go to the developers and we discuss parts of it I
don't understand  They explain whatever I ask.  However, I'm still impatient
to know it faster and deeper.

I discussed this with my boss after the meeting today. His response? "We
want the best you can do. This system is a result of 20 different
application teams from 20 different companies, working independently of each
other at different times over a three year period...NOBODY knows everything
about it. We're not looking for perfect...we're looking for a sold base upon
which we can build"

How do YOU handle this....do you just push on and know that even if it isn't
to your standards, it is to the client?

Inquiring minds want to know.

John Posada
Senior Technical Writer
Barnes&Noble.com
jposada -at- book -dot- com
212-414-6656
 "Be accurate...the 4am wakeup call you prevent could be your manager's"



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