One of the most significant struggles as an entrepreneur can be the continuous attempt to be perfect in what you do and how you do it. Every task, goal and dream is created with the intention of achieving the best outcomes possible. However, even though wanting to achieve perfection has some obvious merits, it can also result in low confidence and paralysis stalling you from taking any further actions.
Perfectionism leads to the path of self-destructive behavior.
Dissatisfaction is often responsible for self-sabotage, incomplete goals and other self-destructive behaviors. For many perfectionists the pressure of achieving meticulous results all the time cannot be sustained long term. It becomes impossible to experience satisfaction because there’s always some part of the process that could have been better or been done differently. There’s often a hind sight realization that casts a shadow on the accomplishment and lessens the impact of having achieved your success. Your life experiences are what molds you into who you are, what you do and who you want to be.
Can mistakes and failures lead you to success?
It is so important to take action and move forward no matter what obstacles or judgements stand in your way. Just because the task or project isn’t perfectly executed doesn’t mean it won’t accomplish some remarkable results. A less than perfect result is still a result. And, it is an important step in the long term journey of becoming successful. When you realize and accept that any progressive action is better than taking no action, it becomes easier to look beyond any limitations and disappointments that have been getting in your way. As an entrepreneur you will always have setbacks and failures as you build your business and try to balance your life.
What is more powerful than releasing perfectionism?
It is your perseverance to keep going despite disappointments and obstacles that will separate you from the ordinary entrepreneur and establish yourself as an extraordinary one.
Consider whether or not it could be just as valuable for you to create with excellence, purpose and a big vision. There are many advantages in letting go of the need for perfection. However, there are none more powerful than releasing the performance pressure it can cause.
Perfectionists are more likely to struggle with debilitating symptoms.
A report in the Review of General Psychology reports that perfectionists are more likely to struggle with depression and anxiety. And, in extreme cases of perfectionism, there is a higher rate of suicidal thoughts among those individuals that participated in the study.
Achieving success doesn’t need to be stressful. It takes effort and consistency but it doesn’t need to come at the cost of your mental health and well-being. If the results of your actions aren’t exactly what you were expecting, then those results become information you can build with for your future endeavors.
Focus on what went right and on what lessons you learned.
Outcomes that are different than what you originally intended don’t automatically mean failure. Just think of how far you could go and how fast you could get there if you did everything you said you were going to do. With each action you take you progress closer and closer to accomplishing your goals. Don’t get into the habit of waiting for the right conditions, the right timing or the right feelings. By doing your very best work instead of constantly trying to create perfect work you’ll discover that there’s a whole world of situations derived from non-perfect results that are worth experiencing.