The BIGG Successs Show
Why Being Imperfect is Perfect
A simple affirmation to fight off your inner perfectionist. Read the show summary at biggsuccess.com.
Welcome to The Big Success Show. Today, we'll discuss why being imperfect is perfect. The Big Success Show, with George and Mary Lynn. Why being imperfect is perfect, huh, Mary Lynn? Yeah. I gotta tell you something. If ever I could consider myself an expert in something, I would have to say it's being imperfect. I'd have to agree, you know. I see, so thank you. But I'm right there with you, so. Well, you know, my dad was a perfectionist. And he was no one for his impeccable brickwork, just amazing what he could make a brick wall look like. The thing is, though, when he was working for himself, and if it didn't involve Brick Lane, I'd sometimes hear him say, it's good enough for who it's for. That is such a great little saying. And ever since you've told it to me, and I've heard you say it, you use it yourself, I will use that whenever my inner perfectionist kicks in. Well, the thing is, you do reach a point of diminishing returns, right? You can spend a whole bunch more time to get something a little bit better, or you can spend that same amount of time to get a whole bunch more done. And in most cases, getting a whole bunch more done is just more important than getting one thing a little bit better. - Yeah, you're right. In fact, you know, if you put a little spin on the old 80/20 rule, 80% of the things we do don't need to be perfect while 20% do. So you just have to think to yourself, how important is this? - Yeah, and if it's really, really important, then go for that marginal improvement. If it's not, get it done and remind yourself that it's good enough for who it's for. - Yeah, here's a prime example. I used to have this problem when I was getting ready for work. You know, I'd be trying to make my hair look just right. And I've got a lot of hair here. So it definitely takes some time. And I found that if I kept fussing with it, I'd be late for work. So sometimes I've got to accept the fact that I'm gonna have a piece of hair out of place, turn off the curling iron, pull the plug, and say it's good enough for who it's for. Well, Marilyn, let me tell you, the one thing I didn't like about that story. - What's that? - I only wish I had so much hair that I could fuss with it. (laughing) You know, I think I've come a long way towards overcoming perfectionism, but man, I did definitely battle with it. I remember way back when I was in college, and I first started to understand what a big problem perfectionism is. I saw this brochure that said that perfectionism caused people to procrastinate. That really hit home with me, unfortunately. - Well, it does make sense because you tend to put things off because you just have to have everything just perfect. - Well, and as an example of that, when I was writing a report back in school, I was never content with the amount of research I'd done, right? And the house had to be picked up, my desk was clean, man, I even had to be clean, you know? And so finally, I learned to say, it's good enough for who it's for, just get started on the project. - Yeah, but I wish you wouldn't have given up showering. - Oh, thank you. - You know, I'm just staring. Coming up, a technique to help you rebut your inner perfectionist. - Today we're talking about why being imperfect is often the perfect solution. And just remember this saying, it's good enough for who it's for. - There's a well-known technique for fighting off that inner critic. The next time you start doing battle with it, pull out a journal, write down this conversation you're having between your perfectionist self and your more practical self. - Yeah, and that gives you the ability to rebut your inner perfectionist, but it also helps you discover what is causing you to feel the need to be perfect. - So yes, we are telling you to talk to yourself. (laughing) - Yeah, but the thing is, you don't need a perfect reply to that question you ask. - You don't. All right, you can get a written summary of today's show on our blog at BigSuccess.com, and let's get our big quote for the day. - Our quote today is a shortened version of a quote by John Updike, and it's this, "Perfectionism is the enemy of creation." - So fight off your inner perfectionist with these simple words. It's good enough for who it's for. - And next time we'll talk about how to increase your profit year after year. - And until then, here's to your big success. - The Big Success Show at B-I-G-G Success.com. (crowd cheering) [BLANK_AUDIO]