Do you ever find yourself struggling to complete a project… not because you don’t know how to complete it, but because you want so badly for it to be PERFECT?
If you’re anything like me, this has happened more times than I want to admit. A task that is supposed to take… SAY… 1 hour … INSTEAD takes 2-3 hours…or worse, sometimes it drags on for days because it’s not quite READY or PERFECT!
Somehow, maybe the process of analyzing, over analyzing, correcting, and re-adjusting is subconsciously REALLY REALLY FUN??! Hmmm.
Well, if that’s what you’re thinking, then I have some news for you. STOP!!!! There is no such thing as PERFECT!!
According to Alex Mandossian, sloppy success is better than perfect mediocrity.
Fact of the matter is, no matter how much time you spend on something, it will NEVER be perfect.
Sometimes, completing the task itself, even if not perfect, can be the most LIBERATING and IMPORTANT thing you do today toward achieving more success in your life. Just look at the picture. THIS CAN BE YOU!! =)
Sloppy success is better than perfect mediocrity. What does this mean? It means this.
Sloppy success (completing a task even if it is not perfect) is ALWAYS BETTER than perfect mediocrity (being paralyzed by perfectionism, ultimately leading to procrastination).
Does that mean that you have an excuse to produce really sloppy work or complete a project with minimal effort?
Yes and No. You should put forth a ‘reasonable amount’ of time/energy to complete the task at hand. Even though your final product might not be perfect, you can always come back at a later time and make revisions to the original. Spending an EXORBINANT amount of time trying to complete a task PERFECTLY is always sure to lead to delays in completing your goals. By completing a task, even if not perfect, you can always come back at a later time and make revisions. By doing this, you guarantee a few things:
1) The task gets done.
2) You avoid the trap of perfectionism which prevents many people from taking action and completing things.
3) You create positive habits that create momentum. This allows you to reinforce positive habits and experience the fruits of your labor. *Note: You get to be really happy like the picture above =)
So with that in mind, are there things in your daily life where you find yourself not getting things done because of your perfectionism? Starting today, what things in your life can you improve upon in order to implement the concepts behind the phrase “Sloppy success is better than perfect mediocrity”?
