Do you find yourself getting all stressed and anxious while working?
Or feel like you are never satisfied with your work even when it looks great?
You keep trying to work more and more at the expense of your well-being.
It starts when you set high standards that are difficult to meet.
You then become self-critical of yourself and spend much time on details. Yet, even with that, you feel unsatisfied with your accomplishments.
Perfectionism is a common challenge we face as entrepreneurs. It can drive you to excel in producing great results but can also lead to stress, self-doubt, and burnout.
At the same time, it can be crippling and prevent us from reaching our goals.
If you’re going through this right now, know you’re not alone.
So here are some strategies for unpacking perfectionism and gaining the confidence you need to succeed.
Are Successful Entrepreneurs Perfectionists?
Many believe successful entrepreneurs must be perfectionists, but this is not always true.
Most successful and famous entrepreneurs take risks and embrace uncertainties. As a result, they often fail, learn from their mistakes, and see them as opportunities to grow.
Indeed, some of the most successful businesses, such as Airbnb and Uber, arose from this process.
As a result, taking risks and making mistakes is an essential part of entrepreneurship.
So, do you have to be a perfectionist to be a successful entrepreneur?
No, you don’t need to be perfect as an entrepreneur.
In fact, no one is perfect, and trying to be one can hinder your progress and hold you back from reaching your objectives.
Perfectionism can be a barrier to success, leading to procrastination, indecision, and a fear of failing.
Entrepreneurship involves taking chances, attempting new things, and learning from mistakes.
You can achieve great things as an entrepreneur if you are ready to put in the time and effort and keep pushing forward.
Believe you can do it, and you’re already halfway!
How To Unpack Perfectionism And Be A Productive Entrepreneur?
Create Realistic and Achievable Goals
Setting unreasonable ambitions might lead to dissatisfaction and fatigue. Instead, set challenging but attainable goals.
- First, start by outlining your company’s vision. What do you hope to accomplish in the long run? What is your long-term goal?
- Once you’ve established a clear vision, divide it into smaller, more achievable goals. For example, develop Specific, quantifiable, and time-bound goals.
- Examine your available resources, such as time, money, and employees. Ascertain that your objectives are attainable with the resources at your disposal.
- Consider external elements such as market developments, competition, and economic conditions that may impact your capacity to fulfill your objectives.
Setting unattainable goals can lead to frustration, anxiety, and disappointment.
Write a Priority List
Taking up churns of activities at once can be overwhelming.
How about you breaking them into smaller ones?
Prioritize work critical to your company’s success and delegate those others can handle. This will allow you to concentrate on what is essential and lessen stress.
For example, start with the most important goals, then move on to the less important ones.
Write a list of tasks you need to do each day and tackle them one after the other by setting a time range for each activity.
Then, track your progress toward your goals regularly. Keeping a progress notebook can help you track your accomplishments and stay motivated.
In addition, it will assist you in staying on track and making the required adjustments.
Embrace Self-Compassion
When things don’t go as planned, be kind to yourself and practice self-compassion.
Treat yourself with consideration and compassion; be kind, forgive yourself, and don’t compare yourself to others.
After all, you’re human, and it’s natural to make mistakes, and being imperfect is okay.
You are worthy and deserving of love and acceptance even when things don’t go as planned.
Treat yourself with kindness and understanding. Care for your physical and emotional needs by getting adequate sleep, exercising, and eating healthy foods.
In the long run, taking care of your physical and mental health will help you stay focused and productive.
In addition, recognize and concentrate on your strengths rather than obsessing about your faults.
Remember that you are valuable in your own way. So channel your energy on your growth and development.
Avoid Negative Thoughts and Feelings
Instead of letting your inner critic take over, replace the negative thoughts with positive ones. For example, saying
- I can’t handle criticism
- If I make mistakes, I am a failure
- If I can’t do it perfectly, then there’s no point in doing it at all.
- I can’t show this to anyone until it’s absolutely perfect.
- I’m such a failure for making this mistake.” “I should have known better.
Blah, blah, blah, and you keep ranting about yourself. These thoughts make you feel inadequate and dissatisfied and start doubting yourself.
Instead, replace the negative ideas with positive affirmations and counter self-doubt.
Next, make a list of your accomplishments instead of focusing on what you still need to do.
Then, focus on your progress and embrace your imperfection as an opportunity to grow.
Remember to celebrate the minor triumphs along the road; even if imperfect, it is still progress. This will help you boost your confidence and self-esteem.
Accept Imperfection
Accepting that nothing is flawless is the first step toward overcoming perfectionism.
Perfectionism is typically motivated by a fear of failure or rejection, yet taking flaws can help us learn from them and move forward.
So reframe your thoughts and view failure as an opportunity to learn and progress.
Avoid External Pressure
Do what’s within your ability, and don’t let external pressure from others affect you.
That constant pressure to be perfect often leads to stress and burnout. Thus, achieving your objectives becomes overwhelming.
Practice Mindfulness
Don’t border about the past; instead, focus on the present without judging yourself.
Do your best, aim for improvement, and be satisfied with your achievements.
Experiment With New Things
Push yourself to move outside your comfort zone and attempt new things, even if they scare you.
Take action toward your goals, and observe progress, even if it’s a little step.
However, don’t overdo things and surround yourself with kind, encouraging individuals who will bring you up.
Don’t Hesitate To Ask For Help
If you are struggling with perfectionism, joining a community of like minds can help.
Be around people who will encourage you; reach out to other entrepreneurs who have gone through similar experiences. In addition, find mentors or coaches who can provide direction and assistance.
It might be beneficial to seek support from others. For example, discuss the problems with a trustworthy friend or family member or consult a therapist.
You can also get a coach who can provide you with guidance and support. You get to share your struggles, learn from others and get the help you need.
Final Thoughts
Overcoming perfectionism is a process that requires time and effort. So, be patient and gentle with yourself as you go through the process.
Also, don’t be too hard on yourself if you still have moments of self-doubt.
Continue to work towards excellence performing your best, and understanding when to let go and go on.
Remember, you can get the confidence to overcome self-doubt and achieve your goals with self-compassion and a willingness to embrace imperfection.
Finally, accept that not everything will go as planned and use failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.