What is perfectionism?
“Perfectionism is a self-destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought: If I look perfect, and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame.” – Brene Brown
What is perfectionism? It’s when someone tries to make everything as perfect as possible. They want everything to be just right, without any mistakes or flaws. People who are perfectionists often set high standards for themselves and feel stressed and anxious if things don’t go as planned.
For an online entrepreneur, it might mean spending an inordinate amount of time making sure their website looks absolutely perfect. They could be very particular about the colors, layout, and even the tiniest details, wanting everything to be just right. Or maybe when they’re creating a product or service, they might constantly tweak and refine it, trying to make it flawless. They might refuse to launch it until they believe it’s perfect, sometimes causing delays.
Are you a perfectionist? In my younger years, I was one. It caused me a lot of anxiety and frustration and led to many strained relationships. Now that I’m older, I have to confess that I still spend too much time trying to create that perfect banner or sales page or whatever I happen to be working on but I’m not nearly the perfectionist I used to be.
It may seem like an oxymoron but perfectionism can hinder you from achieving excellence at anything you do.
Many times, perfectionists are procrastinators. They don’t start unless everything is just perfect. They don’t even finish a task. They keep on delaying and putting it aside because it’s not perfect yet.
Don’t fall into this trap. The most difficult step is the first. Don’t aim for perfection; you’ll never hit it. Imagine you have a business project you need to complete. A perfectionist might spend so much time planning and wanting everything to be perfect that they run out of time to actually do the project. On the other hand, if they started even with imperfections, they could have a completed project that might not be flawless but is still good and could be improved upon later.
You must start with whatever resources you have at hand, then improve and grow. You must jump into the field and gain experience that you would never gain if you stayed where you are.
Here is one of my favorite quotes:
“Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.”
— Pat Riley, Basketball Coach
Here are some strategies to help you overcome perfectionism:
Set realistic goals: Instead of aiming for perfection, set achievable and measurable goals for your projects or tasks. Break down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps, allowing yourself to make progress without feeling overwhelmed by the pursuit of perfection.
Embrace imperfection: Understand that perfection is often unattainable and that mistakes are a natural part of the learning and growth process. Instead of striving for flawlessness, focus on doing your best and learning from setbacks or failures along the way.
Prioritize tasks: Identify the most important tasks or aspects of your business and allocate your time and energy accordingly. Not every task requires the same level of attention to detail, so prioritize where to invest your efforts based on impact and value.
Set deadlines: Establish deadlines for completing tasks or projects to prevent procrastination and perfectionist tendencies from derailing progress. Having specific timelines can help create a sense of urgency and focus your efforts on moving forward rather than getting stuck in endless refinement.
Seek feedback: Share your work with others and solicit feedback from mentors, peers, or customers. Accept constructive criticism as an opportunity for improvement rather than viewing it as a reflection of your worth or competence. Learning to iterate and refine based on feedback can help you grow as an entrepreneur.
Practice self-compassion: Be kind to yourself and recognize that you are human, with limitations and vulnerabilities like everyone else. Acknowledge your efforts and accomplishments, even if they fall short of perfection. Treat yourself with the same understanding and empathy you would offer to others facing similar challenges.
Focus on progress, not perfection: Shift your mindset from striving for perfection to valuing progress and continuous improvement. Celebrate small wins and milestones along the way. Recognize that progress, no matter how incremental, is a sign of growth and development in your entrepreneurial journey.
By adopting these strategies and reframing your approach to productivity and success, you can overcome perfectionism and unleash your full potential as an entrepreneur.
In conclusion, overcoming perfectionism is not about getting rid of high standards or ambition; instead, it’s about finding a balance that allows you to pursue excellence while also embracing the imperfections and uncertainties that are a part of entrepreneurship. Keep your focus on making progress rather than nailing perfection. Then you’ll find yourself with more room to breathe, more creativity to tap into, and a whole lot more success coming your way.
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