I remember this saying being delivered in the heat of battle, usually with a bit more colorful language replacing the word, "imperfections".

Consider the human tendency to not want to share or turn in work until it is done completely and perfectly.  The trait is admirable.  However, the cost of producing perfection with each and every deliverable approaches infinity.  Our customers, be they internal or external, seldom have the time or money to pay for perfection.

To keep a project running smoothly and on schedule, the work needs to keep coming.  Remember that the third basic consulting skill was "Deliver".

However, there is a fine balance between acceptable quality and delivering on schedule and on budget.  The only way the project manager learns that fine balance is to make decisions to accept work that may not be perfect and keep track of the quality.  The project manager will develop a sense over time about what the optimal balance of delivery speed and quality is for each individual on a team.

The consultant must persist in order to produce a timely delivery.  The project manager must show persistence with managing the team to keep delivering on time and budget so that the customer continues to engage to team rather than "killing the chicken."

Let me share a portion of Verse 30 of the Tao Te Ching*.

"A knower of the Truth does what is called for
     then stops
He uses his strength but does not force things
In the same way
     complete your task
     seek no reward
     make no claims
Without faltering
     fully choose to do what you must do
This is to live without forcing
     to overcome without conquering

Things that gain a place by force
     will flourish for a time
     but will then fade away"

* Tao Te Ching, The Definitive Edition, Lao Tzu, Translation and Commentary by Jonathan Star, Jeremy P Tarcher/Penguin, New York, 2001, 43