The Pursuit of Perfectionism: How It Can Sabotage Success for Small Business Owners

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Have you ever been caught in the web of perfectionism? It seems harmless at first, even admirable to some–the pursuit of excellence, polishing every detail–but before you know it, you become paralyzed. The constant tweaks, the constant revisions become this crippling kryptonite. Progress is lost, procrastination ensues and there’s a little voice that keeps telling you nothing is ever quite good enough.

As the owner of The Sunburst Strategies Collaborative, a mom, a wife, a homeowner and a creative, I’ve definitely been there. I’d absolutely be lying if I didn’t tell you that it’s something I actually struggle with every single day. I’ve delayed launch dates, stalled projects and even burned myself out creatively so many times that it’s kinda embarrassing to admit. 

You know that feeling? That feeling of not being able to tell the world about your business or release your next best idea or taking months on something that really should have just taken a week or two. We hold these things so precious and so close to us that it becomes something that can’t have any mistakes or our audience won’t receive it the way we intend or they’ll think we’re not worthy of what it is we’re trying to convey. 

Well, as I’m “giving you this advice” and simultaneously looking in the mirror, talking to myself, know those feelings are valid, but it’s time to break free from this perfectionist trap. Let's learn to embrace "good enough" and move forward with confidence. Let's make progress, not perfection, the new top tier standard. So take my hand (please, I need all the support I can get, too!) and let’s jump into it.

Understanding Perfectionism in Small Business Ownership

The Impact of Perfectionism on Mental Health

Feeling like everything has to be flawless is more than just a little stress. Perfectionism digs into our mental health, cutting down our creativity and making decisions harder than they have to be. It's like having a critic constantly sitting on your shoulder, questioning every step you take. This constant pressure can lead to anxiety, depression, and even burnout (*raises hand*).

If you're anything like me, you definitely know this is what decision-making feels like for a perfectionist business owner. The fear of making mistakes or failing can freeze you in your tracks, stopping progress before it even starts.

Common Signs of Perfectionism Among Entrepreneurs

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you often procrastinate? It sounds backwards, but perfectionism can lead to putting things off. When there's a fear of not getting it right, you'd rather not start at all.

• Is your planning getting out of control? Excessive planning is another clue. It's important to be prepared, but if you're constantly planning and rarely acting on those plans, perfectionism might be to blame.

• Do you find it hard to delegate tasks? Believing that only you can do the job right creates an exhausting & insurmountable workload and can stifle the growth your team is working so hard for.

• Do you fear failure? When we obsess over every tiny detail, the risk of messing up can keep us from moving forward.

These behaviors aren't always easy to admit, but recognizing them is a critical step toward finding a healthier balance in business. Remember, progress beats perfection, every single time.

Overcoming Perfectionism as a Small Business Owner

Set Realistic Goals

Imagine climbing a mountain. You wouldn't expect to get to the top in one bound, right? Instead, you'd take it a step at a time, adjusting your path as needed. That's the mindset we need when setting goals.

• Begin with the End in Mind: Visualize reaching the top of whatever your mountain is. If we start with seeing the goal accomplished in our mind’s eye, we give ourselves a fighting chance; we can already see ourselves making it happen.

• Start Small: Begin with objectives that are within reach. Just like grabbing the low-hanging fruit first, these smaller accomplishments build confidence.

• Set Deadlines: Give yourself timelines to keep moving forward. With a time limit, you’re less likely to linger endlessly over details.

• Tweak and Adjust: Goals are not set in stone (you're the biz owner, remember?). As you progress, don't hesitate to revise them. Adjust your aim as you learn more.

Delegate to Your Team

Delegating isn't about lowering standards; it's about sharing the load. Consider these steps to foster effective collaboration:

• Identify strengths within your team and assign tasks accordingly.

• Communicate your vision clearly to ensure alignment.

• Provide constructive feedback and be open to receiving it yourself.

• Trust your team and give them room to shine.

We’re HUGE proponents of collaboration (I mean, it’s in our name afterall). Check out these reads to learn more about leading a team that collaborates effectively. And check out this blog post to see what being a servant leader who celebrates collaboration is all about.

Embrace Imperfection

Perfectionism often tricks us into thinking that anything less than flawless isn't worth it. But here's the secret: progress is always better than standing still. So, how do we shift our mindset?

• Learn from Mistakes: Remember, every error is a chance to learn. Just like how a musician learns from hitting a wrong note, missteps in business can teach us valuable lessons.

• Celebrate Successes: Every small win deserves recognition. It's like adding fuel to your fire, stoking your motivation to continue.

• Seek Inspiration: Look at other entrepreneurs who have faced similar struggles. Many of the greatest business stories started with imperfect beginnings. Especially this one.

I know embracing imperfection can feel like letting go of a part of yourself, but it's more about reclaiming your time and energy. It's time for us to start appreciating the beauty in the messiness of growth. Think of these objectives as stepping stones. They don't have to be perfect; they just need to move you forward.

The Benefits of Letting Go of Perfectionism

Letting go of perfectionism might seem daunting, but it's a step toward freedom, creativity, and balance in both life and business.

Increased Creativity and Innovation

When we shake off the shackles of perfectionism, something magical happens: our creativity flourishes. Why? Because we allow ourselves to think outside the box without fear of judgment. 

• Freedom to Experiment: Without the fear of failure, you're more likely to try out wild ideas, which can lead to great innovations. Some of the best ideas come from the messiest drafts!

• Encouragement of Original Thinking: Perfectionism can often suffocate originality. When we stop aiming for "perfect," our true, unique voice shines through.

• Discovery through Mistakes: Mistakes aren't the enemy. They're the path to something greater. Each small failure is a lesson, guiding you toward a better solution. We’ve even found that some of the mistakes we’ve made are the solution!

Improved Work-Life Balance

Have you ever noticed how perfectionism sneaks into our personal lives, blurring lines between work and home? Letting go can restore balance, giving us back our evenings and weekends.

• Less Stress, More Peace: The constant pressure to be perfect can be exhausting. Letting go reduces stress, leading to a healthier mindset.

• Time for Personal Growth: When you're not stuck reworking small details, you'll have time to focus on hobbies and relationships that bring you joy.

• Setting Realistic Goals: Perfectionists often set unattainable goals. By being more realistic, we can achieve success more frequently, boosting satisfaction and confidence.

Releasing perfectionism doesn't mean embracing mediocrity. It's about understanding the value of progress over perfection. Trust me, your business—and your well-being—will thank you.

Stepping away from the perfectionism that often grips us as small business owners is liberating. The pursuit of flawless outcomes can sometimes end up as the very thing that holds us back. When we recognize this, we can start making more realistic decisions, allowing our creativity and innovation to thrive.

Growth waits on the other side of action. I encourage you to take that next step, even if all the pieces aren't perfectly in place. Reflect on how holding onto perfectionism might choke your progress, and consider the benefits of embracing imperfection.

Can you imagine the possibilities? Start small and watch the brilliant beauty of the world you can create.

Need some guidance on creating a plan and actually putting it into action? Check this out.

So, now what? The biggest factor in achieving your big, lofty biz goals is creating a foundation from which you can jump to the heights of your version of success. We’ve got a few FREE tools for you to help make that happen!

Money makes the world go ‘round, right? We’ve got you covered on making an organized plan, sticking to it and giving each dollar a name in your business. We’re talking FLOW OF MONEY so you know where each dollar should go and how to pay yourself, figuring out your MONTHLY FIXED INCOME + EXPENSES and how to track them, combing through your year to discover your NON FIXED EXPENSES so they aren’t a surprise, plus an ANNUAL BUDGET WORKSHEET to map out all the aforementioned pieces to finish off your Biz Budget Template puzzle.

The great work you’re doing doesn’t matter if no one knows about it, right? LET’S TELL THE WORLD! But let’s be strategic about it, ok? (After all, “strategies” is in our name!) Enter stage right, the Content Calendar Template. This is where all that hard work of yours gets to put on a show for your audience and open the doors to new audience members. In this free download, we have the entire year built out for you. Whether your creation starts from a blog, a social media post, a podcast episode, a pin on Pinterest, or an email to your community, we’ve got you covered on organizing all of your content. Each week across all of your marketing channels is going to be strategically scheduled to save you time and create a beautiful cohesiveness that your audience will love, no matter what platform they find you on. We know you and we know that there’s always a method to the madness; so put that madness to work and get organized around putting your content out in the world!

Ahhhhh, your cozy spot on the internet…. Where the colors are your favorite, the pictures make you smile and the words on the pages are your voice speaking to your kinda people. We’re talking about your website, of course! Whether it’s intricately designed, a single landing page or somewhere in between, we’ve got you covered on allllllll the things you should pay special attention to. This free downloadable checklist includes reminders & reviews like link checking; UX design; category, page title and image alt text optimization; brand cohesion; and lead generation & SEO integrations. Whether you’re wearing the website designer hat in your business, or want to make sure your web developer is doing everything they’re supposed to, the Website Audit Checklist is for you!