That's the first time I've done that...again!!!
Mistakes
Have you ever thought about the vital role that mistakes play along the path to success? When a baby reaches for a toy he will be inclined to misjudge the distances involved and under- or overreach. Attempting to grasp the toy a second time, the baby will tend to overcompensate for the previous error and miss again. However, each attempt and readjustment will bring the baby closer to his goal. The baby is, literally, learning from his mistakes. My point is this, making mistakes is crucial for learning and achievement. The baby's success is a consequence of responding to, rather than not making, errors.
Notice that, just as importantly, the baby remains focused on the toy. If the baby began to 'zero in' on the mistakes he would lose sight of his objective and fail to achieve it. Acknowledge your mistakes, learn from them, but remain focused on your goals. And don't forget to also learn from the mistakes of others.
As adults we become conditioned to be progressively more fearful of making a mistake. Many of us spend considerable time and money learning as much as we can about our industry and pride ourselves on remaining up-to-date. However, when our fear of making a mistake prevents us from taking a crucial step towards success, all this effort is wasted.
One of my favorite quotes comes to mind. Ernest Hemingway, the great American author, observed that, "The first draft of anything is s@#&!" I love this quote because it forces me to accept the reality that, in order to write something of value, I must first pass through the valley of mediocrity!
Top performers are neither defined nor limited by their errors. They see them for what they are, an integral part of the process for achieving their true potential. They understand that mistakes expand their experience and enable them to attain their goals. They realize that the fear of making a mistake generally has far more negative impact on their success than the mistake itself. In contrast, less successful people see their mistakes as a sign that they should give up and go try something easier. When you look back on your life, the areas in which you've been most successful will also be the areas where you've made the most mistakes!
Perfectionism
So, fear of making a big mistake can prevent us starting the projects that would lead to our success. Fear of making even the tiniest of mistakes can prevent us finishing them. Perfectionists can waste their lives obsessing over the smallest details that other people neither care about nor notice. Minutiae that even they overlook when reviewing their work a few weeks later! When this relentless search for perfection is made a priority over all other goals it dramatically hinders effectiveness and productivity.
Here's a reality check for the perfectionists: No matter how much time you spend fiddling around, your results still won't be perfect! When it's possible to tick all the correct answers, such as in a multiple choice test, perfection is attainable. In a competition, it's possible to get a 'perfect ten'. However, outside of school and competitive events, perfection doesn't really exist. As the psychiatrist Dr. Arthur Freeman, points out; "Quite often, what we call perfection is simply a matter of opinion."
When we aim for perfection, we often completely lose sight of the bigger picture: the larger context into which our work fits. If you ever find yourself paralyzed by perfectionism then it's time to get a fresh perspective and see the bigger picture. Here are some simple strategies:
- Before beginning a project and getting enmeshed in a perfectionism anxiety spiral, it's important to decide just how 'perfect' this particular task needs to be. Rank it clearly, from just acceptable to perfection, score 1-5.
- Be acutely sensitive to the law of diminishing returns, it can provoke a change of outlook. Remind yourself of those times when you felt that you'd just done okay and others thought your work was great.
- No matter the time crunch, it's imperative that you take a break. The big picture grows dim when you stare at a project for too long and it becomes progressively more difficult to keep a balanced outlook on your work. Exhaustion breeds an unhelpful intensity and minuscule 'errors' metamorphose into frustrating 'disasters' when examined through the crazy lens of a tired mind.
Bottom line; Two simple steps that will dramatically improve your productivity: Get it started, get it done!
