If you answered "yes," could your perfectionism be holding you back in business?
One of the definitions of perfectionism at Merriam-Webster Online is "a disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable."
Admittedly, perfectionism has some positive attributes that can be helpful to a business - namely, a focus on high quality products and services. However, uncontrolled perfectionism also has some very negative effects. It can lead to frustration ("nothing I do is ever good enough"), procrastination ("it just needs one more fix"), and even depression ("I'll never get it right").
I have to confess. I struggled with perfectionism for years. When I was growing up I never felt like my honor roll grades were really good enough because I just knew that if I had worked a little bit harder I could have done better. I even felt this way when I had the top grades in the class!
Over the years I've learned to ease up on myself (most of the time), which is a good thing because now that I work for myself there are plenty of opportunities for unchecked perfectionism to keep me from reaching my goals. Here are three excellent posts that can help work-at-home moms put perfectionism into the proper perspective:
- From the Positivity Blog, 8 Powerful Ways to Release Pressure from Your Life. Notice point number two.
- From About.com, Overcoming Perfectionism, How To Develop a Healthier Outlook. This post highlights the importance of viewing your achievements realistically rather than idealistically.
- From WebWorker Daily, Tip of the Week: Become an Imperfectionist. This post explains that perfectionism is common among women and is a major contributor to work-life balance problems.
If you feel comfortable talking about it, leave a comment and let us know.
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I tend to have some major problems with perfectionsim . . . to the point where I get paralized about even starting something because I feel like there's no point unless the finished product is going to be perfect. Learning that there really is no such thing as "pefect" has helped a bit. It's riduculous to constantly strive for something that is impossible. It doesn't always work, but reminding myself of this can make a difference.
Posted by: lornadoone | November 9, 2007 3:46 PM | Permalink to Comment