“Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralising

The moment you consciously or unconsciously become a perfectionist, you may just be running down the road of dissatisfaction. Because, a lot of times you will be disappointed!Doing the best you can, with what you have in the opportunity available is what Excellence is about. It is a more realistic approachPerfection on the other hand is a goal that is synonymous to chasing shadows.

Perfectionism Is Like Chasing Shadows

Perfectionists always want to have EVERYTHING they need before they start. But how do you start anything if you’re always looking for that perfect situation every time? Sometimes, all you have is enough to take the first move. Many successful professionals entrepreneurs will tell you this too. Take action now!

Perfectionism Never Lets You Start Many Things

Beware! Sometimes in the pursuit of attaining perfection, you incur more costs such as spending more money, engaging more resources and entertaining more delay.In fact, perfectionism leads to PROCRASTINATION! Could perfectionism be frustrating the completion of your objectives, goals and tasks? Why don’t you strive for excellence instead, with SMART goals - Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic and within a Time frame. The emphasis on REALISTIC!

Perfectionism Delays Accomplishment Of Goals

Not good enough…..not good enough…..not good enough…..not yet! These words can easily spiral you down the path of perfection. Guess what? It is exhausting, and kicks frustration in!This is why you should define your goals with clear metrics to highlight when you’ve hit your acceptable standard. Again, be realistic. Don’t trade your energy for impossible outcomes.

Perfectionism Wears You Out

Ever tried leading a team and telling team members what they have done is never good enough? You won’t get a better team or better outcomes. What you will get is tension and demotivation.A better approach is to motivate the team with a goal of excellence. That way they are inspired to put their very best in delivering exceptionally and improving at the same time.

Perfectionism Intimidates And Causes Tension

The origin of the word ‘excel’ is Latin and it means ‘out’ or ‘beyond’. It naturally represents forward movement, progression and motion. It is definitely both process and result oriented in its nature and that’s what makes it a powerful word.Let me remind you of this quote by Harriet Braiker, “striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing”.

But Excellence Is Motivating And Yields Better Results

In my experience of business, coaching and leading teams, I find it dangerous to focus on perfectionism. In these ideas, I have collated some thoughts and some tips I’ve learnt from others on the topic of perfectionism!

Business

Why Perfectionism is Dangerous

"Believe you can and you're halfway there"

Believe You Can and You're Halfway There

If you've played with toys in the last 40 years chances are you've interacted with at least one LEGO brick, probably more like hundreds. Behind these seemingly simple building blocks lies a powerful brand with a System of Play painstakingly perfected over nearly a century, with lessons to be learned about both personal and corporate productivity and the true meaning of perfection.

A Simple Little Brick

When Ole Kirk Christiansen founded his toy company in the 1930s, he coined its name by combining the Danish words "leg godt" meaning "play well". And thus "LEGO" was born. The very name signals a higher level of quality, and The LEGO Group's products have lived up to that name.

More Than A Name

The LEGO Group's motto in Danish is "Det bedste er ikke for godt". This has two similar but slightly different English translations, one more figurative and one more literal. Below will be each translation and my exploration as to how it can relate to productivity and perfection.

More Than A Motto

...is the more well-known "loose" translation of The LEGO Group's motto. This phrase can be very motivating when striving for excellence. It causes one to ask such questions as:• Is my (product, pitch, manuscript) the best that it can be?• What can I do to make it the best?• Am I performing at my best, and if not what do I need to change?

"Only The Best Is Good Enough"

While "Only the best is good enough" can push us further, the picture of stark perfectionism it paints is daunting, especially when we can't find the time, resources or motivation to reach the level of perfection we desire. We are human after all, and none of us are perfect.

Two Sides To Perfection

...is the more literal word-for-word translation of "Det bedste er ikke for godt". Working with the mindset that "the best" or perfection are accessible goals without ruthlessly racing toward them can lift a tremendous amount of pressure off a workload. Rather than asking "Is this perfect?" one can ask questions like:• Is this the best I can do with what I have?• Does this need to be absolutely perfect?• Is my standard for perfection unreasonably high?Questions like these can open the door for more honest evaluations of our own abilities and perceptions.

"The Best Is Not Too Good"

Realizing that we cannot be totally perfect is important, but we must also be wary that we don't lower our expectations too far and fall into mediocrity. There is a balance to be struck between the pursuit of perfection and burnout prevention.

Avoiding Apathy

"The best is not too good" can also work like a "You can do it!" to remind us that even if we aren't perfect, we should still give it the best we can.

Quality and heart go hand-in-hand. Consumers are smart. They can usually spot a quality product, and they know if it's made with love or just thrown together. LEGO is a family company, but it's also one of the biggest brands in the world. You don't get there by being mediocre (Only best is good enough) but you also can't get there by blindly rushing towards what may seem perfect at the time or is simply mainstream (The best is not too good).

Det bedste er ikke for godt.

Inspiration

The LEGO Brick, Perfectionism and Productivity

What, according to you, is perfect? Is it that character you saw in a movie or that lead in your favourite book? Is it that one person in your class/at work whom everyone looks up to.The idea of perfection varies from person to person and time to time. It’s a lot like coffee.Different people have different preferences when it comes to coffee and some don’t like coffee, it just goes with what you’re in the mood for.Perfection is just like that, everyone’s idea of ‘perfect’ is different, and it changes from place to place and time to time.

Perfect Is Different

To love yourself is the path to loving the world &amp; to love the world is to spread love, peace and happiness

And I want to encourage everyone reading this, take a moment and analyse yourself, what about you do you think is imperfect or doesn’t fit your version of ‘perfect’? What do you think is perfect? More importantly, why do you think it’s perfect? Why not put yourself into the idea of imperfect and love that? There is so much beauty in imperfections – in all our imperfections, it’s high time that we stop praising the idea of perfect and learn to love ourselves a little more each day and grow each day.

Loving Yourself Through Your Imperfections

Thought of this while going through a rollercoaster phase, hope it helps ♥️

Self care

THE IDEA OF PERFECTION

This is all about the distance between perfection and imperfection. Every man in the universe wants to be perfect but is it really important?

Imperfection

Perfection doesn't have a significant definition. Everyone has their own principles and beliefs regarding this. The more people read about a topic, the more people worked on a particular topic, the more people spent time with a topic, it changed their views on perfection. Simply experience plays a huge role in it. More working hours equals more experience, more experience equals more knowledge (Not only working on a particular subject gives you knowledge and experience. This is wrong. Your observation and understanding skills on that topic also plays an important role here).

What is Perfection - 

In our universe, no one is perfect. Everyone has flaws and mistakes in their own right. But if someone calls himself or herself perfect, it is his or her ego that drives him/her forward. You don't necessarily have to be perfect every time. It's good to be imperfect. But the main thing is to accept your mistakes and work on them for better improvement. And this is what is called self-cultivation. Revolutionary movement for your own self.

Nobody Is Perfect - 

A man is afraid to face reality and hence he covered himself in the darkest room. This is not good at all. Because he is not perfect, he is trying to hide from reality. But the truth is you can't hide from reality, it will find a way to touch you from anywhere. You can't defeat and change nature and its policies. Because you are also a part of this nature. If you want to change nature, just change yourself. Update your perspective on it. And that's it.

Look for Higher Level, not Perfection 

“ Face the reality, admit your mistakes, and work on them for better improvement. This is what will take you to a higher level...”

perfection

HARRIET BRAIKER

Why Perfectionism is Dangerous

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

Believe You Can and You're Halfway There

A Simple Little Brick

The LEGO Brick, Perfectionism and Productivity