Perfectionism
As a recovering perfectionist, I know all too well how easy it is to get stuck in the perfection trap—where nothing feels "good enough" to put out there. This is common for so many, especially those of us who have faced setbacks or just feel the need to prove something. And while striving for high standards can be healthy, perfectionism can keep us locked in place, more focused on avoiding mistakes than making progress.
Perfectionism often comes from a place of self-protection: if something is "perfect," it’s immune to criticism, embarrassment, or rejection. But ironically, that mindset keeps us from putting anything out at all. If you think about the people who’ve achieved great things, their work was often far from flawless! They've faced setbacks, public failures, and plenty of criticism. Still, they pushed forward, embracing progress over perfection. That’s how great work happens—not from aiming to be faultless, but from valuing impact over tiny flaws.
One way out of perfectionism is to practice putting work out there before it’s "perfect." For example, every time I send one of these newsletters, it’s a chance for me to share ideas, even though I know it’s not always going to be flawless. There’s a vulnerability that something might not be "perfect," but over time, I’ve come to realize that perfection isn’t the point. Real value comes from sharing ideas and moving forward, even if everything isn’t ideal.
Even the most celebrated books, movies, and projects have imperfections. In great films, if you look hard enough, you’ll spot plot holes or inconsistencies. In brilliant books, you’ll find the odd typo or error that didn’t stop the work from becoming iconic.
Progress is what matters. When we stop measuring success by an impossible standard of "perfection," we open ourselves up to growth, self-esteem, and even joy in the process. Focusing on progress instead of perfection means we’re more likely to keep going and actually enjoy the process. Plus, by aiming to just keep moving forward, we get better results.
My invitation to you: if perfectionism is holding you back, or if you have a specific situation you’re wrestling with, reach out. Let’s chat about how to break through those limits and start valuing progress as enough.