Are you plagued with the idea of always having to get every detail of the job done “just right”? Well, here’s a quick little reminder of why that may not always be the best thing. Git ‘er done!
If you are aiming for success in life and business, perfectionism must be addressed.
The entrepreneurial mindset is concerned with quality, not perfection. So, how do you manage perfectionism?
One of my favorite self-management tools for perfectionism is what I call completion, not perfection. The time to practice it is when you find yourself spending too much time in the process of tweaking a certain project because you’re trying to make it “perfect.” (As if there really is such a thing.)
Instead of doing it and then re-doing it to the point of frustration and madness, try doing it once without over-thinking it. This will help you side-step some of the self-defeating self-talk that goes along with perfectionism, which can sound like a judgmental, scolding parent. That takes the fun out of any project and makes it more of a chore than a joy.
This type of perfectionism stifles creativity.
In order for creativity to flow naturally and freely, we need to give ourselves space to make mistakes and acceptance when we fall short. Chances are you are the only one who sees the so-called flaws in your work anyway.
Often, you will find that when you let go of all the pressure and expectation that go along with perfectionism, you surprisingly create something better than you imagined, simply because you have given yourself some space, freedom and permission to be less than perfect.
So, next time you find yourself caught in a cycle of frustration because you can’t seem to “get it right,” take a moment to breathe, go for a walk, or do something that feeds your soul, and come back when you are refreshed with an intention to COMPLETE the project. Then do it as quickly as you can without self-judgment… ONCE. You are likely to discover that you’ve done a great job, and without the energy drain of the scolding parent in your head.
This practice can go a long way toward bringing you into your own internal groove!