Don't let perfection get in the way of progress
Is the need to get everything "right" keeping you from moving forward?
Do you let perfection get in the way of your progress?
You may not even realize that you’re doing it.
I didn’t.
But the signs were all around me:
Procrastination: Putting off tasks or projects because you want to do them perfectly.
Lack of progress: Stuck in the same place and not making progress toward your goals.
Overthinking: Overanalyzing decisions and questioning whether you're doing things the right way.
Burnout: Feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or burnt out.
The ironic thing is, nothing will ever be perfect, no matter how hard we may try.
In fact, the pursuit of perfection can often get in the way of our progress and ultimate success. It usually leads to procrastination, lack of innovation, burnout, and missed opportunities.
I used to get frustrated with one of my former bosses when he’d say to me, “It doesn’t have to be perfect, Liz.” Now I’m seeing that he may have been on to something.
I’m currently reading a novel by a self-published author and, as an editor, I find the mistakes in it distracting. However, when I look at the book’s reviews online, it’s very well received, with more than 60 positive reviews and not one mention of errors in the book. The author has even won a book award for her work.
Conversely, I was so embarrassed when I spotted errors in my first book that I considered releasing a second, revised edition so I could fix it (in theory, making it “perfect”). Now I’m realizing that most people probably never even notice or care about a misspelling in a book.
I still have to stop myself from overthinking and/or overediting a project. There’s a point where I just have to say, “This is done, Liz. Walk away.”
Choose progress over perfection
By focusing on progress, rather than perfection, we can build momentum and achieve our goals more effectively, allowing us to learn and grow, rather than becoming stuck in the pursuit of an ideal.
Years ago I was writing for a website that produced massive lists. I asked my editor how I could speed up my production. She told me, “Don’t get lost or distracted in the research phase. You’ll fall down a rabbit hole of information.” She was absolutely right.
Ultimately, "progress, not perfection" reminds us that it's more important to take action and make progress, rather than be held back by the fear of something not being perfect.
How to choose progress over perfection
OK, so how do you actually put all of this into action?
I’ve read books about how to be more imperfect (I know, that sounds ridiculous).
For many years I’ve had a sign hanging on my office wall that reads, “Simplify.” It hasn’t worked, by the way. But here are some tips that may stick with you…and possibly me.
Set realistic goals: Instead of trying to write the perfect piece of content, set specific, achievable goals for what you want to accomplish with your writing. This will help you focus on making progress and improving, rather than trying to achieve an unattainable standard.
Embrace imperfection: It's important to remember that perfection is often unattainable. Instead of striving for perfection, embrace the idea that your writing will have imperfections and focus on continuous improvement.
Practice self-compassion: Be kind to yourself and remember that no one is perfect. It's okay to make mistakes and have imperfections in your writing.
Seek feedback: Instead of trying to do everything on your own, seek feedback from others. This can help you identify areas for improvement and help you make progress in your writing.
Set deadlines: Having a deadline can help you stay focused and motivated to finish your writing, rather than getting bogged down in the pursuit of perfection. I always set a deadline that’s a few days before my actual deadline.
How many times did I go back through this post and make edits? I’m a work in progress, folks.
Let me know if you have similar perfection issues. Maybe we can start a club. LOL.
Happy New Year!
—Liz