EMAIL# 233- 16TH SEPTEMBER 2023- # "STRIVE FOR PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION"
Having high standards and an eye for detail has great value. Constantly seeking perfection does not.
I derive a great deal of enjoyment from writing these articles each week because it helps satisfy my need for personal progress. I know these snippets of wisdom are far from perfect, and that has never been the point. Consistent progress, little bit, by little bit is the point.
I love a routine and getting stuff done and I am drawn towards other “high functioning “people. Equally I have a low tolerance for incompetence or for people that lack a can-do attitude. So, I guess I could be called a “progress junkie”.
“Anything is possible when you have a path, a plan and a desire to take action.” Dean Graziosi
In previous articles on this topic # 190 “Perfection is a blessing and a curse” I outlined that we all have perfectionist tendencies that are largely inherited from our parents and our upbringing. But perfection is typically unattainable and striving for it can be quite damaging because it places too much pressure on yourself and makes you feel inadequate when you constantly fall short.
# 192 “Consistency Beats Talent” explained that success is rarely the result of talent alone. It is consistency that drives success. Repetition, practice and consistency is vital for growth and achievement, but it comes at the price of real effort and determination. Consistency is quite simple, you either do the work and move forward or you do not.
“My two Favorite things in life are libraries and bicycles. They both move people forward without wasting anything. The perfect day: riding a bike to the library.” Peter Golkin
Your goals should encompass a simple plan for achieving your desires, but perfection should not be part of this plan. Your goals should be long term and flexible, so you are free to adjust your plan and your expectations without feeling like you have failed. Rigid rules and a perfect routine generally don’t work and often do more harm than good.
Achieving big goals is all about playing the “long game” and avoiding burnout and despondency. We are all human and we all have good days/weeks and bad days/weeks and embracing this natural inconsistency is necessary for achieving long term goals.
Remember that every step taken towards achieving your goals is a step in the right direction, even if it is only tiny and imperfect. It is all about progress.
Thanks for reading.
Stay safe and take baby steps.
David
