The Perfectionism Trap: Done is Better Than Perfect

In this thought-provoking episode of "Get Over Your Shit," Malinda Watt addresses a pervasive issue that plagues many entrepreneurs—perfectionism. As someone who has grappled with the relentless pursuit of flawlessness, Malinda shares practical insights and strategies for overcoming this notorious mental hurdle. She explores how the desire for perfection can sabotage productivity and delay critical business milestones.

The episode delves into the dark side of perfectionism, revealing how it can lead to procrastination, missed opportunities, and even mental health struggles. Using relatable anecdotes and effective exercises, Malinda presents a compelling argument for adopting the mindset that "done is better than perfect." Listeners are encouraged to set realistic goals, shift their focus to continuous improvement, and practice self-compassion.

Key Takeaways:

• Perfectionism can hinder productivity and mental well-being, making it essential to find a balance between striving for excellence and achieving progress.
• Setting realistic goals and deadlines and breaking down large tasks into manageable steps can combat perfectionist tendencies.
• Emphasizing continuous improvement instead of perfection allows for faster execution and amplification of learning opportunities.
• Practicing self-compassion can help entrepreneurs recognize their value without succumbing to impossible standards.
• Tools like human design can offer valuable insights into personal productivity patterns and preferences.

Episode Links & Mentions:

• Human Design Resource: My Body Graph

"It's not about being perfect, it's about making progress, learning from your experiences, and continuously improving."

Additional Links & Resources:

• Stop letting content keep you stuck—jumpstart your website planning with clarity and confidence! Get your content organized in just a few hours: https://malindawatt.com/planner
• Try Siteground, my favorite website hosting company: Siteground.com
• Learn more about me and my work at malindawatt.com

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Get Over Your Sh!t! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a rating or review. Share this with someone who needs a push to start taking action—because we’re all about moving forward together!

Hosted by Malinda Watt
Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios
Music License purchased from stockmusic.com

Transcript

0:00:00 - (Malinda Watt): Welcome back to get over your shit, the podcast dedicated to helping digital course creators, entrepreneurs, and small business owners stop overthinking and start executing. I'm Melinda Watt, your host and fellow overthinker, here to guide you through the maze of self-doubt and procrastination that keep us stuck. Today, we're diving into a topic that hits close to home for many entrepreneurs, myself included.

0:00:23 - (Malinda Watt): Perfectionism... perfectionism is something that almost every entrepreneur has dealt with at some point. It's that nagging voice in your head that tells you nothing is ever quite good enough. I'd be willing to bet the voice is most likely your own, but it may also resemble the voice of a friend or family member. While striving for excellence can drive success, there is a point where it becomes counterproductive. That's why today we're going to talk about the idea that done is better than perfect, and why this mindset can be a game changer for your business and your sanity.

0:01:00 - (Malinda Watt): Let's talk about the dark side of perfection. On the surface, it might seem like a good thing. After all, who doesn't want their work to be perfect? But the truth is, perfectionism can wreak havoc on your productivity and mental health. When you're always chasing perfection, you're more likely to procrastinate. Trust me, I know. You might find yourself endlessly tweaking, editing, or rethinking your work because it doesn't feel ready just yet.

0:01:30 - (Malinda Watt): This can lead to missed opportunities, whether it's launching a new product, sharing your ideas with the world, or even just finishing a project on time. Because really, perfectionism, trying to be perfect and get it just right for some, equals success. If I get this just right, it will get lots of likes, comments, views, go viral! Six figure launch is guaranteed! If I get this perfect, then it will bring me to new clients!

0:01:59 - (Malinda Watt): If I get this perfect, I can't fail. Which just means we're robbing ourselves of the opportunity to get better and better at learning how to do the things that we're trying to do right the first time. You don't step back and watch a child take their first steps and knock them over when they didn't get it right the first time, they're up on their feet. I've seen this play out time and time again in the entrepreneurial world. For example, I know business owners who've spent months or even years perfecting their course or product, only to see competitors bring similar ideas to the market while they're still tweaking the fear of releasing something that isn't flawless often stalls progress and keeps you stuck in a cycle of endless preparation.

0:02:47 - (Malinda Watt): So how do you break free from the perfectionism trap? Here are some practical steps you can take to embrace imperfections and focus on progress instead. First, set realistic goals and deadlines. Give yourself a finite amount of time to complete a task and stick to it. The idea is to make progress, not to achieve perfection on the first try. Next, shift your mindset. Instead of aiming for perfection, aim for continuous improvement.

0:03:17 - (Malinda Watt): Each iteration of your work should get better, but that doesn't mean each version has to be perfect. This approach helps you get your ideas out into the world faster and allows you to learn and improve along the way. Another helpful strategy is to practice self compassion, recognize that nobody's perfect, and that includes you. It's okay to make mistakes. That's how we learn and grow. The key is to keep moving forward.

0:03:44 - (Malinda Watt): And just so you know, we all have that one friend who will point out the spelling mistake. We're just going to have to be okay with it. If you've been dreaming of crossing finnish website off your list of things to do but don't know where to start, I've got just the thing for you. Whether you're overwhelmed by all the tech talk or just short on time, listen up, because this could be the game changer you've been waiting for.

0:04:11 - (Malinda Watt): One page website success the easy, step by step guide to creating a professional website in no time at all, you'll discover how to design and launch a beautiful, functional site without tech overwhelm. Perfect for busy entrepreneurs like you, this program is designed for women over 40 who want a no fuss approach to getting their website online. Whether you're brand new to building a website, or you've tried before and felt stuck and hesitated to promote your site because you're embarrassed with the result, I'll guide you through the entire process of building that very first page.

0:04:47 - (Malinda Watt): Imagine, no more staring at a blank screen wondering where to begin. No more endless hours googling tutorials that just confuse you even more. Instead, you'll have the clarity and confidence to launch a one page website that captures your brand and connects you with your ideal customers without ever feeling lost. Ready to ditch the overwhelm and finally take your business online? Head over to onepagewebsitesuccess.com today.

0:05:16 - (Malinda Watt): You'll be surprised at just how simple it can be. That's onepagewebsitesuccess.com, your roadmap to a professional website in less time than you thought possible. Let's get your business online the right way. Now let's get practical. I want to share a few exercises that can help you identify and combat perfectionism tendencies. How are you laying out your tasks on your to do list? Did you put finished course on your list for the day, or have you actually broken down all the steps it takes to get to finished course?

0:05:56 - (Malinda Watt): I know that when I've added something on my to do list, I prefer to work backwards. Set a date for when you want it to be done, and then work backwards to understand visually if it's possible to meet that deadline. Are you giving yourself enough downtime between all the steps? Do the tasks have reasonable start and end point so that when you come back to the work, you're on to the next task? Instead of wasting time getting reacquainted with the work where you left off last, using the stopwatch feature on your phone.

0:06:29 - (Malinda Watt): Hit start, flip your phone over so you can't see the time slipping by so quickly, and then tackle one of the tasks that is on your to do list on a daily or weekly basis. Try to stay focused on the task without too much distraction, and when you're done, check how much time that actually took. Ask yourself, did I get distracted by research or social media? Did I put another load of laundry on or distract myself with cleaning off my desk?

0:06:58 - (Malinda Watt): No? Good. Now take a note of how long it actually took to do that. Put it on a post it note or in your to do list software so that you don't forget. You'll start to be able to gauge how long it should actually take you to complete these things in your business, which also helps when you've decided to add too many things to your listen, maybe you're trying to catch up or work ahead. Give yourself some grace and some space.

0:07:24 - (Malinda Watt): Even though you might have five, six, or 20 things on your list that you've decided that you must get done that day. Falling into perfection and letting your mind take over that it isn't possible is going to slow you down and keep you from getting any of it done first. Try this next time you're working on a project, set a timer for 30 minutes. When the timer goes off, stop what you're doing and assess your progress.

0:07:50 - (Malinda Watt): Ask yourself, is this good enough to move forward, or am I nitpicking? This exercise helps you become aware of when you're spending too much time on details that just don't matter. Another powerful tool is journaling. Take some time to reflect on your perfectionist tendencies by writing them down. Here are a few prompts to get you started. What does perfect mean to me, and is it a realistic goal? How has striving for perfection held me back in the past?

0:08:20 - (Malinda Watt): What would happen if I embraced good enough instead of perfect for me? Personally, I know without fail, if I've had a super productive day, the next day isn't going to be as productive. It's as though I need a break to sit with the progress and then come back to it. You may or may not have heard of human design. I'm a fan of human design as it's allowed me to better understand how I show up and honestly, has helped me to stop beating myself up so much.

0:08:50 - (Malinda Watt): Specifically about sometimes feeling lazy and unmotivated. I'm a projector. I'm not great at checking off a lot of tasks each day, two days in a row, so I tend to change the spot I'm working in around my house. Slow down or do something that needs me but doesn't require such deep work. If you haven't looked up human design, I would encourage you to check the show notes for a link mindbodygraph.com.

0:09:18 - (Malinda Watt): also, I highly encourage you to look up your partner and your children's human design. I promise you there are probably some big aha's waiting for you in understanding how they show up in the world, too. By engaging with these exercises, you can start to shift your mindset and focus more on progress rather than perfection. To wrap up today's episode, let's recap the key points. Perfectionism might seem like a positive trait, but it often leads to procrastination, missed opportunities, and unnecessary stress.

0:09:51 - (Malinda Watt): By embracing the idea that done is better than perfect, you can make more progress in your business. I encourage you to take the strategies and exercises we discussed today and start applying them in your daily work. Remember, it's not about being perfect, it's about making progress, learning from your experiences, and continuously improving with that. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of get over your shit. Keep pushing forward and don't let perfectionism hold you back.

0:10:19 - (Malinda Watt): And always remember, progress over perfection. You've got this.