Perfection isn’t the Goal
Most of us have hear the ad advice, “Practice makes perfect.” It’s a saying meant to inspire focus and dedication. But is perfection a helpful goal, or does it set us up for a lifetime of frustrating effort? When aiming for personal growth and achievement, the idea of perfection becomes a trap. Progress over perfection is a concept that is far more powerful and sustainable.
Perfection: The Enemy of Good (and Great)
Let’s be brutally honest: perfection is an illusion. It’s a constantly moving target. When you aim to be flawless, you raise that target ever higher with each step forward. There will always be more to improve, another way to get better, making he pursuit of perfectionism exhausting.
Perfectionism can become a self-sabotaging force. Fear of making mistakes can lead to procrastination, an unwillingness to start projects, or getting perpetually stuck in the endless cycle of tweaking and refinement. This year of failure can stifle creativity and prevent you from taking the risks necessary for genuine growth.
The Power of Progress
If perfection is unattainable, what should we strive for instead? Progress. Progress is about momentum and forward movement. It recognizes that growth is a process. Embracing a progress mindset encourages you to:
Take Action: Rather than worrying about the finished product, focusing on progress allows you to break things down into manageable steps. You’re more likely to dive in when you believe that each step counts, even if it’s initially imperfect.
Focus on Learning: Making progress centers around the act of getting better. It celebrates the act of getting 1% better each day as opposed to expecting to be instantly good (or great) at something.
Iterate and Improve: With progress as your goal, you recognize that the initial iteration of anything you attempt won’t be perfect. Instead, you can celebrate that initial effort, collect feedback to improve, and then try again.
Practical Strategies for Embracing Progress over Perfection
Here are ways to shift your mindset and cultivate meaningful progress, leaving the burden of perfectionism behind:
Small Wins Matter: Don’t underestimate the power of small, consistent steps. They build confidence, create momentum, and add up to significant progress over time. Break big goals into smaller achievable chunks.
Done is Better than Perfect: Aim for completion, even if it means sacrificing your initially grand vision. Remember, you can always refine and enhance work that’s already done. A project you never even started has zero chance of being great.
Feedback is Fuel: Don’t view feedback as criticism; view it as an opportunity to improve. See it as information to help guide your next steps towards progress.
Experiment and Learn: Try new things with the explicitly aim of learning and improving – and not needing perfection. This removes the pressure of performance and opens up avenues for innovative breakthroughs.
Celebrate the Journey: Progress often comes in unpredictable bursts and plateaus. Find ways to celebrate those little victories along the way, not just the ultimate finish line.
The Secret Ingredient: GRIT
Progress isn’t aways pretty or smooth. That’s where grit comes in, a trait that author Angela Duckworth has researched extensively and we recommend the read if you haven’t heard of it. Grit is the passionate perseverance that allows you to stick to your long-term goals. It’s the inner fortitude that keeps you going when progress feels slow or mistakes happen.
To cultivate grit, focus on deliberate practice. Engage in intentional improvement, focus deeply on the skill you want to build, and get outside your comfort zone. Progress, powered by grit, becomes self-reinforcing.
Permission to Be Imperfect
It’s not about being sloppy or settling for mediocrity; it’s about embracing the reality of the learning process. We are here because we choose to pursue relentlessly and while that may not settle with some, we hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Remember, progress over perfection isn’t just about achieving more – it’s about embracing the journey.
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