The chef who puts everything into your dinner, but by the time it’s ready you’ve already given up and left.
The website that really encapsulates what you stand for, but took a year longer and ran over budget.
The builder who does an amazing job, but finishes six months late.
Perfectionists have a narrative. A narrative that “if something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well”.
But that’s a narrative that’s stuck with our society for too long; and – when unquestioned – is full of pitfalls.
Just think:
- Can a fabulous birthday cake really be perfect if it wasn’t ready in time for the party?
- Can a website really be perfect if it doesn’t suit the timelines and budget in a business’ strategic plan?
- Can a house you need to move into really be perfect if you can’t live in it until six months later than planned?
Because really, perfection isn’t just about quality. It’s about balance.
It’s about understanding what’s enough to meet the needs of your customer. Not what’s enough to satisfy your ego.
So, when thinking about our perfectionism, here’s a question we could choose to reflect on:
“Is my perfectionism serving my needs, or the needs of others?”