Today, you'll learn how to banish perfectionism in one swift blow, and start taking imperfect action more often.

Getting out your own way...

Most entrepreneurs are perfectionists. They want everything they do to be perfect, and this can often lead to them delaying projects or not starting them at all. This is a lethal combination for an entrepreneur because the fear of not being perfect can paralyze them from taking any action. In this article, we will explore the mindsets and habits to overcome

Perfectionism is the need to have everything perfect. For entrepreneurs, this often means that they want their businesses to be perfect and they want every task to be completed perfectly.

This can lead to a lot of stress and frustration. Most entrepreneurs don't have the time or resources to do everything themselves, so trying to do everything perfectly can hinder their progress.

There are a few key reasons why perfectionism is so harmful to entrepreneurs:

• It leads to procrastination. When you're trying to do everything perfectly, it's easy to get overwhelmed and bogged down in the details. This can lead to procrastination and a lack of progress.
• It's a form of self-sabotage. Perfectionism is often rooted in fear. Fear of failure, fear of making mistakes, and fear of not being good enough. This fear can lead to procrastination and indecision, which can sabotage your progress.
• It's unsustainable. Trying to do everything perfectly is simply not sustainable. No one can do everything perfectly, and trying to do so will only lead to burnout.

The effects of perfectionism on entrepreneurial success are both subtle and not-so-subtle.

On the more subtle side, perfectionism can lead to what is known as "analysis paralysis." This occurs when you overthink things to the point where you can't make a decision. And since making decisions is a key part of being an entrepreneur, analysis paralysis can be pretty crippling.

On the not-so-subtle side, perfectionism can lead to a fear of failure. This fear can keep you from taking risks, which is essential for any entrepreneur. And if you're too afraid to take risks, you'll never achieve anything great.

The first step is acknowledging that you have a problem with perfectionism. Once you realize that your need for perfection is holding you back, you can start to make changes.

Here are some mindsets and habits to help overcome perfectionism:

• Be a scientist: instead of viewing your work as a reflection of yourself, start viewing it as an experiment. This will help you detach yourself from the outcome and allow you to take risks.
• Be okay with making mistakes: accept that mistakes are part of the process and learn from them.
• Adjust your standards: don't strive for perfection, strive for progress.
• Delegate and collaborate: don't try to do everything yourself, delegate tasks to other people, and work collaboratively.
• Take breaks: allow yourself time to relax and de-stress so you can come back to your work with fresh eyes

• Get an outside perspective: ask for feedback from an expert to get a different perspective on your work. You may find that your work is not as bad as you think and may even be good enough to launch.
• Embrace imperfection: Understand that mistakes are a normal part of life and learning. When you accept that mistakes happen, you'll be less likely to obsess over them.
• Set realistic goals: Don't try to do everything at once. Start with small, manageable goals and work your way up.
• Practice self-compassion: Be gentle and forgiving with yourself. Recognize that you are human and make mistakes sometimes. You don't have to be perfect to be successful.
• Define a minimum viable product: start with a basic version of your product or service and then build upon it. Don't try to create the perfect product from the start, that's not realistic.
• Take action: don't wait for everything to be perfect before you take action. Get started and then make improvements along the way.

Remember, perfectionism is a mindset that can be overcome. With practice, you can change the way you think and start achieving greater success.

To banish perfectionism with only one swift blow, it is important to remember that you are not your business. Your business is an entity separate from you, with its own goals, objectives, and mission.

Take Todd Herman's advice and develop an alter ego for your business that's a mix of visionary, scientist, resilience, playful, and confidence. You can even name your alter ego! 🙂

As you're working ON your business, be this detached alter ego and allow it to take imperfect action.

Tiny Habit recipe: After I [hear negative selk-talk], I will take one deep breath and ask myself one of these "what if" questions:

• What if I could give myself the same compassion I so easily give to others?
• What if I could be confident and successful no matter what?
• What if I could trust myself implicitly?
• What if I could be kind and forgiving to myself, even when I make mistakes?
• What if I could be gentle and patient with myself as I learn and grow?
• What if I remembered that most successful have or had imposter syndrome and did it anyway?

• Possibility: What if you didn't need to be perfect?
• Identity: Try on the identity of a scientist. How many ways can I model being an experimenter vs a perfectionist?
• Beliefs: List 3 beliefs you have about perfectionism. What new and fascinating beliefs make it easy to take imperfect action?

Define your minimally viable product or service and what it does NOT need to include.

Look around nature and see the perfect in the imperfect. There are no perfect leaves, rocks, or animals. Yet, we still find them beautiful.

What if nature waited to be perfect before it took action? How long would we have to wait for a tree to grow?

Nature is the ultimate experimenter. Every day, it's trying new things and seeing what works.

Take imperfect action towards your goal today and let go of the need to be perfect. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish!

Question: What small action I can take right now towards completing your minimally viable product?

Let go: Take 10 deep breaths: 4 seconds in and 8 seconds out

Question: How freeing does it feel to let go of the need to be perfect? How much energy and time will you save by not being a perfectionist? How much faster will you reach your goals?

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