When I launched my first event, it was good. But after I produced several events, over several years, our events got better and better. As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you’re probably always striving for excellence. It’s a great quality to have, but when that search for excellence turns into an unattainable quest for perfection, you might be causing more harm than good.

Let’s explore why perfection can actually hold you back and keep you from achieving your full potential.

Perfection keeps you from making progress

When you’re always striving for perfection, it’s easy to get caught up in making everything flawless rather than taking action. You might spend hours perfecting an email or redesigning your website instead of actually launching your product or service. In the end, you haven’t made any progress because you’re stuck in the cycle of perfection. It’s important to remember that launching something that’s good enough is better than never launching at all.

Perfection keeps you always looking at others

When you’re obsessed with perfection, you’re constantly comparing yourself to others. You might spend hours scrolling through social media, looking at how your competitors are executing their marketing strategies or redesigning your website to make it look like someone else’s. This not only wastes your time, but it also takes away from your own creativity and unique approach. Instead, focus on your own goals and vision, and strive to create something that’s authentic and true to your brand.

Be grateful for what you do have

Perfection often stems from a sense of inadequacy or feeling like you’re not good enough. It’s important to take a step back and appreciate what you do have. Celebrate small wins and accomplishments, and remember that progress is a process. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that you’re doing the best you can at this moment.

Focus less on what you’re not good at

Perfection often leads us to focus on what we’re not good at or where we’re lacking. Instead, shift your focus to your strengths and what you excel at. Build on your strengths and seek help or support in areas where you need improvement. Remember that no one is good at everything, and that’s okay.

Launch and then improve

Instead of waiting for perfection, launch something that’s good enough and then improve from there. Get feedback from customers or clients, and use that feedback to make improvements and adjustments. This allows you to continuously improve and grow, rather than being stuck in the quest for perfection.

Perfection might seem like a great goal, but it can actually hold you back and prevent you from making progress. Instead, focus on taking action, appreciating what you have, and building on your strengths. Launch something that’s good enough, get feedback, and continuously improve from there. You’ll be amazed at how much progress you can make when you let go of the quest for perfection