One of the things my friend J.D. Roth has said in the past is, “The perfect is the enemy of the good.”
This is a well-known concept, and it’s one that resonates with me. The idea behind it is the fact that if you spend so much time trying to be perfect before you do anything, or waiting for something to be “just right” before you take a step, you’ll never actually accomplish your goals. You might not even start!
It’s important that you don’t be so afraid of failure that you don’t get started at all. In fact, concern that something be perfect can cause bigger problems than you might think, especially since most of us are incapable of being absolutely perfect.
The Problem with Perfection
You might be surprised at what you can accomplish when you stop worrying about perfection. When you are obsessed with perfection, you run the risk of physical and mental problems. Trying to be flawless can put a lot of pressure on you and result in a lot of stress and anxiety.
The rigidity that comes with striving for perfection can lead to continued to problems, and severe disappointments when things don’t work out. This can, in turn, strain your relationships and even affect your ability to be productive.
Finally, focusing on perfection means that you put of launching your business, a new product, or taking whatever leap you want to make in order to upgrade your lifestyle. If you want to succeed in your business, you need to just get started, and stop worrying about perfection.
How to Reduce Your Perfectionist Tendencies
Of course, moving away from perfectionism is easier said than done. It’s hard to just turn off the worry and start on your next project or jump into your business.
Here are some tips for helping you as you work to stop worrying about perfection:
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Recognize that getting started is better than being perfect.
If you really want to move forward, you need to get started. You can make mistakes and learn from them. It’s an important part of developing as a person, and as an entrepreneur.
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Acknowledge the difference between high standards and perfectionism.
You can still have high standards and strive for excellence — even if the result isn’t perfect. Know that there is a difference, and be satisfied with achieving something great.
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Accept that some things are outside your control.
You can’t control everything that happens. While it can be hard to let go, and to accept this, it’s vital that you do so. Focus on what you can control and change, and you’ll feel better about the situation, and worry less about things outside your control.
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Learn and practice relaxation techniques.
You can improve your outlook and your ability to handle stress with the help of relaxation techniques. Learn and practice these techniques to help you stop worrying about perfection when you start feeling yourself slip.
All of these tips take some practice, and it might even help you to work with a coach to help you learn better approaches to dealing with your tendency toward perfectionism.
With changes to the way you operate, you should be able to move forward with your business, accomplishing great things without being hung up on perfection.
