At a recent podiatrist appointment I was told it’s not a good idea to have nail polish on all the time, she said “Nails need to breath.”
Fast forward 2 weeks and having admired the colour of a colleagues nail polish she said “I always wear nail polish, especially to cover up my funny looking toenails; I need to be perfect”
“Really?” I thought, and actually being an extrovert I actually said it out loud “Really? You need to be perfect?”
Enthusiastically she replied “Oh yes, I need to be perfect”
It’s been a while since I’ve heard anyone talk about their need to be perfect, maybe it’s the company I keep?
Honestly, I just need to fess up right now: I don’t want to be perfect. I have never wanted to be perfect. I cannot imagine how much pressure it would cause to be constantly striving for perfection.
And I have always had this curiosity about: What is perfect anyway? Who gets to say what actually is perfect?
Some hold the belief that “we are all perfect” and a part of me subscribes to this belief that we are all, in fact, quite perfect. My version is a sort of perfectly imperfect!
I’ve spent years working with people in Corporates, in small businesses, with solopreneurs and from time to time this “perfection” topic comes up.
What is interesting for me to note that in more than a year of interviewing successful people for my podcast “So You Want to Start a Business” and asking the question “What characteristics have contributed to your being successful in your business” not one person has mentioned being a perfectionist as being some thing that has contributed to their business success.
I actually believe that perfectionism is probably one of the least useful characteristics for some one wanting to get started in their own business.
I meet people all the time dreaming about starting their own business and they tell me they need to have “the perfect business idea”, they need to have “the perfect logo” and “the perfect finished product”, the “perfect plan”
If we think of any product or service available on the market, they are a constant work in progress just to stay relevant. As technology changes and new discoveries are made, the next version of the “perfect” product or service is produced.
My research shows that 3 different types of perfectionist have been identified:
- Self-oriented: who expect perfection of themselves
- Other oriented: who demand perfection from others
- Socially prescribed: who think others expect perfection of them
While it is admirable to set high goals and strive to create and produce your best effort, not being able to achieve some unreasonable idea of perfection can result in hours, days, weeks of rumination and critical self-evaluations. None of which is truly useful! And certainly will not contribute to creating a successful Business StartUp
There are enough challenges when some one is getting started in business and striving for perfection is likely to hold you back
The photo with this article is of a rose. Roses are beautiful. This photo was taken this morning in my neighbours garden. Last night we had a huge storm lasting a few hours, torrential rain with high winds and this photo is how this rose looks this morning.
Want perfection? I’m thinking this rose goes pretty close to being perfect…..
I’m Ingrid Thompson and thank you for reading this post.
My guess is that you are here because you are curious about what it might be like to start a business?
Perhaps you’ve been wondering if you have what it takes? If your idea will work or even how much it actually costs to build a successful business?
I’ve written a book that can answer pretty much all your questions “So You Want to Start a Business” and you can download the first 20 pages at www.thestartupsteps.com
15 years of experience working with start up businesses are condensed into this book.
It’s your step by step guide to launch your business smarter and faster and I’m so excited to be sharing it with you and can’t wait to hear about your progress.
Are you ready to grab your excerpt? Click here www.thestartupsteps.com
Happy reading!