Are beginnings tough for you? If they are – don’t worry you’re not alone! 

Recently I was coaching a client (let’s just call him Bob) who had identified a project that would make a big difference to his business. Each week he would come to the coaching session not having done any work on it but still very committed to the idea, promising that “this would be the week” to get it started. We’d spend some time mapping out the next steps and defining the tactics to move forward. Well… you guessed it – another week and still no forward progress. 

By now you’re either reflecting on a project or issue you’ve been putting off or wanting to know what ever happened to Bob. I’m pleased to say that with some coaching, Bob did get going on his project and as expected, it made a big difference to his business. Working with a coach is great for dealing with stuck places of inaction. 

I’m often amazed at the angst we cause ourselves when we hesitate and hold ourselves back from beginning something – even when it’s a very positive ‘something’. Although there is no pat answer, one thing for sure, we just need to begin – even if there is no perfect starting place. Because there is real power in just getting started and once we do then momentum takes over.  A single brick can hold a standing train in place. But when the train gets moving and gains momentum it can crash thru a solid wall of bricks – becoming unstoppable. 

Momentum has the same power in you. Just get started and get ready for your breakthrough. 

This week, notice places where you hold back from starting and challenge yourself to just begin – do one simple thing (it doesn’t have to be perfect - read my July 13th post) and you’ll be amazed at the result – not to mention the energy gain! 

I believe in your success,
Sue

Recently I came across a postcard that said, “Perfect is the enemy of good.” At first, I thought: now wait a moment – isn’t perfect good? I was brought up believing that doing something perfectly was… well, good. It was, after all – perfect! Now before I get carried away here splitting hairs between perfect and good, I must admit I’ve been a victim of holding back, waiting till everything is absolutely right before I begin or complete a task. 

I used to be proud of my drive for perfectionism. But now, thinking of all the ways I held myself back and all the things I didn’t do in fear that they would be somehow flawed, I query the cost. Even this article is a prime example. I kept putting it off again and again because nothing I wrote ever seemed, you guessed it – perfect.

I believe procrastination is born out of an excessive drive to perfectionism. Often, when we feel we don’t have the time, energy or resources, it seems better to put off taking action or to take no action at all rather than risk being imperfect. Over time, we build the habit of procrastination and end up paralyzed by inertia.

So what is the answer? I’m not suggesting we throw caution to the wind, surrender our standards or accept shoddy work. But can we agree that not quite perfect is often good enough? Could it be that as long as, moment by moment, we aspire to do our best, accepting our flaws and inadequacies along the way, it is enough? That striving for and reaching “good” is a noble goal? Think for a moment of what more you would do if you surrendered the notion that everything needs to be absolutely, utterly perfect.

I can’t begin to measure the amount of time I’ve spent dwelling on something. I’d be disappointed or embarrassed when in hindsight I realized that it wasn’t perfect. But no longer – I’ve decided that things just need to be “good enough”. Perhaps, I’ll hold onto the belief that really big or important things need to be perfect – but not at the cost of doing them. Because, you see perfect really is the enemy of good.

In the coming week ask yourself…