Perfect Isn’t the Goal

Are you a perfectionist? I would say the majority of high achievers are, at least most of the time. We all want to do great work. We all strive to be great at what we do. Although an admirable quality, being great doesn’t mean being perfect. Whether it’s drafting an email, doing a presentation, having a difficult conversation with a colleague or client. It doesn’t matter the situation. You don’t have to be perfect. They say “practice makes perfect.” I believe this is a misguided statement. Preparation and practice brings you closer to success, but perfection is a difficult achievement. How often does an Olympic Gymnast score a 10.0? Not often and they can still win a Gold Medal. Are the Gold Medal winners that score 9.9’s perfect? Absolutely not, but they’re pretty darn successful.