Is "perfectionism" keeping you from achieving success online?
By Derek Gehl
Can you believe I'm
still being inundated by comments and questions about my free "
Prerequisites to Success" report, a full TWO WEEKS after I released it?!
Interestingly, what's got most people buzzing is the list I included of
the 20 MOST important character traits you need to have -- or
develop -- in order to succeed with your own online business.
(
Click here if you haven't downloaded your copy of the report and self-evaluation yet).
In short, it seems many of you didn't agree with a couple of the points I put on the list!
Take this one, for example:
"You recognize that perfectionism can be the worst enemy of progress, and you don't always need to be perfect."
"But Derek," many of you asked, "what's the point in trying to start a business, if you're just going to do things half way, or if you always settle for second best? Don't all wealthy entrepreneurs aim for excellence every single day?"
So let me just clear up one thing...
When I talk about perfectionism, I'm NOT talking about the healthy pursuit of excellence. I'm talking about
the unhealthy fear of making even one tiny mistake!
See, perfectionists are typically SO concerned with being "wrong," or making errors, that they
waste HUGE amounts of time obsessing over tiny details that, in the long run, aren't that important.
And you might be surprised to hear that perfectionists are also some of the biggest
procrastinators I know!
That's because they're literally PARALYZED by the fear of not doing something perfectly. In order to avoid failure, they just keep putting off doing ANY of the things they need to accomplish...
... and inevitably, just
sit there spinning their wheels, never getting anywhere with their businesses!
Now I think you'll agree now that those are NOT good traits, right?
But the good news is that, if YOU happen to be a perfectionist, it
doesn't mean you can't be successful online! Here are
five strategies you can use to overcome your perfectionist impulses, and become a more balanced (and happy) achiever...
Strategy #1: Be realistic about what you can achieve
Many
perfectionists set themselves impossible deadlines, or take on tasks they can't reasonably hope to complete on their own.
Then, when they inevitably fail, they beat themselves up for not being perfect, which just makes them procrastinate further, or be even MORE obsessive with the
next task.
So take a long, hard look at what you want to accomplish during any given day. Ask yourself if your goal is reasonable and realistic. Is it something somebody else would be able to accomplish?
If the answer is no, then break the goal into smaller "chunks," and focus on completing one small piece at a time.
Strategy #2: Set strict time limits for each of your projects
A great technique for heading off the endless wasted hours working on trivial things is to give yourself a limited amount of time to complete any given task.
Decide how much you want to spend on a certain project, and then STICK to those limits. Be firm!
This will keep you from burning up an entire day hunting for that "perfect" image you want to add to your site, when you could have been doing something with that time to
complete tasks that would add considerably more value to your business.
Strategy #3: Think of failure as a learning experience
It's inevitable: some of the things you try with your site simply won't work!
So instead of thinking about a salesletter that didn't convert the way you wanted it to as a sign that you're a failure at writing salescopy, look at the "failed" letter as
the perfect opportunity to understand your market better.
By evaluating why the letter didn't work, you'll gain a better understanding of your audience, which will help you in many
other aspects of your business as well.
Strategy #4: Celebrate your successes
When you're a perfectionist, it's easy to focus on the fact that you haven't yet achieved some of the goals you set for yourself, which can feed into your fear of failure.
So, rather than taking a negative view of what's NOT done yet,
take some time to look at all of the smaller things that you HAVE accomplished while working toward your goals.
Remember that it's not just the end goal that matters. The smaller milestones you complete along the way are successes in themselves.
Strategy #5: Don't be afraid to admit you need help
Believe me, YOU are the only person who expects you to have all the answers!
I know from personal experience that
taking advice and direction for your Internet business from people who have already figured it out, is a HUGE advantage...
... and NOT a sign that you're a failure!
By recognizing that YOU are your biggest critic, and understanding that 'good enough' is BETTER than perfect, you'll be well on your way to a stable, successful -- and more importantly -- HEALTHY and HAPPY business!
To your success,
Derek Gehl
