7 Steps to Silence Your Inner Perfectionist and Get Things Done
Today’s post won’t be about settling for mediocrity. It’s not about encouraging solopreneurs to settle for ‘good enough’ when we know you are made for excellence.
But if this mentality is holding you back or has become your go-to delaying tactic, it’s time to put your reins on perfectionism and take control of it.
Why Strive for Perfect?
We put in our best effort because we don’t want to look back and say we could’ve done better. When people pay for what we do, it is through our work that we can translate our value.
Not all will see us for what we’re worth but when our best efforts land in the hands of the right person, we will receive our reward.
The Problem with Perfectionism
When we over-think things and can’t decide on the matter at hand, we face a problem with perfectionism. It’s when we use perfectionism as a reason to procrastinate does it backfire on us.
We wait for that aha moment but in the process do nothing. We search over and over for that golden nugget of information without realizing it’s a time-consuming effort of uncertain results.
The Golden Mean
Is it possible to put the bit in the mouth of perfectionism? If we can control a horse with a small metal bit in its mouth, we can control something as ambitious in ourselves as perfectionism. Here are some ideas for inspiration:
1. Give it a deadline.
Okay, perfectionism, you have until X o’ clock to do your thing, after that, I’m pulling you out. When you give perfectionism a crunch time, it’s either you unlock your peak productivity or you give it the respect that it needs before you shut it down for a period.
2. Say no to more.
Know when your plate is full and decline other opportunities so you can focus on projects you value most.
As solopreneurs, we don’t want to say no to clients, activities, and business proposals but if you feel that your work will be compromised, then put your foot down.
3. Leverage FOMO.
The Fear of Missing Out can be used to your advantage. Think: What will you lose if you continue down this path of trying to get this task unrealistically perfect? Will you miss out on time with your family, an opportunity for growth, or a big event you want to enter into?
Consider that while you are trying to fine-tune your business proposal, a quick-acting solopreneur may have already gotten the bid. When you have nothing to show for when the client expects a deliverable, you risk losing their business.
4. Adopt a growth mindset.
Come to peace with making mistakes, learning from them, and growing in your journey. At times, perfectionism gets in the way because we fear failure and embarrassment.
We want to avoid a negative impact at all costs. But when we realize that the inevitable is an opportunity for growth, we stop beating ourselves over not being perfect.
5. Realize that the perfect result is time-sensitive.
Even the most viral news and latest fad wears out in time. Our outcomes get outdated fast. By the time we launch our product, new ideas come in on how to improve it. Your next big thing awaits.
So while we must make sure to deliver the best quality every time, we must be open to evolve and upgrade.
Look back on your past projects, in particular, those that you knew at the time passed your standard of perfection. You’ll be surprised to see that you still feel the need to tweak them here and there.
6. Come to terms with faultfinders.
People who uphold a high standard will soon come face to face with others who have a higher standard than they do. Naysayers may or may not be able to achieve that level of perfectionism but they will look down on you if you fail to meet their level of satisfaction.
It’s one thing to motivate others to outdo themselves, and another to constantly nitpick at the smallest details. Give room for error unless, of course, if it’s a life or death situation.
7. Stop making a blank page look perfect.
Solopreneurs should not get bogged down by the tiniest details.
From writing emails and drafting proposals to writing a thank you note to your valued customer, don’t let the smallest tasks take up more time than it needs. Just start writing from the top of your head and give it a once over before you hit send.
As they say, don’t sweat the small stuff. Allow your communication to have the authenticity of not being over-analyzed.
Over to you
Perfectionism is like aging wine. It takes time and is a long wait. Not everything has to be like aging wine. Fast food is high in demand even if it’s not the type that Italians would make and eat.
Look at perfectionism as a process. Every product you launch, a new seminar, or closed deal is a step towards perfecting your brand. All the work you do will fall into place one day as puzzle pieces to the big picture that is your brand, your business, and your success.