Perfectionism - Good or Bad?
Joining Wealthy Affiliate has been one of the best decisions I've made. I enjoy the training, the tools and the people. I've also learned how to become a better blog writer. I just published my most recent post to my site, finishing the 1 month homework with the Super Affiliate Training group with Kyle. Whew, I was busy this month!!
I don't know about you, but it takes me a couple days at least to write a post. I spend time researching so that I'm using correct information, make an outline with pen and paper, then write my post in site content.
After including all my relevant pictures and links, I was ready for the final check. Time to hit the spell check button. I had no mistakes. Wow, what a feeling!!
Now, I don't know when I started thinking about this, or where I might have read something on it, but I began thinking about perfectionism. Maybe this is part of the reason why it's taking me so long to write a post?
As I write, I have a tendency to re-read what I just typed out, and go back to fix any spelling errors or grammar mistakes. This takes time!! Why not wait until the end and let spell check catch them.
It's not important to get a "no error" answer from spell check. What's important is trying to make the best use of your time. Especially as our business grows, demanding more of our time.
Personally, I am going to try to just type away, and keep my re-writing down to a minimum. It makes sense to go over your work at the end of the article, to see if it flows and you've followed the outline you intended to use. And even then, don't worry so much about spelling errors. The spell check will catch it.
I wonder what other areas in my life..... no, that's a whole other topic. HaHa.
Are you a perfectionist? Does this affect your work?
Let me know so I don't get a complex and think it's just me.... :)
Your friend,
Suzanne
Recent Comments
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so true I find I have to just let things flow as you do this at your speed no one elses.
You’re right, but I was under the gun for February’s SA Training lol, so couldn’t go to slow. :P
It also takes me an average of a day or more to write a post and finish it off with images and links because I want it to be perfect before I move on to the next one!
But I'm learning to write the post, reread once and make corrections (I'm terrible at run-on sentences!), then publish. I take a break, come back and add images and links, submit to Google index, and move on.
I literally have to stick to that or I'll reread something to death and it takes forever!
I've wondered what it would be like to just type and not correct right away. I just checked what I typed... and again just now!
I don't think I can do it. The struggle is real! LOL!
Hlep! I neeed hepl!
~Bob
Hey Bob, you're hilarious! Oops, just corrected that LOL. Oh man, you're not kidding.
~Suzanne
Yes, I am. But that’s only a problem if it means you miss deadlines. As some say: an 80% solution today is sometimes better than a 100% next week!
You're right! I read that here somewhere, about an 80/20 rule. That it's better to publish at 80% than waste time getting to 100%. Tough lesson for me, haha
There are plenty of situations in which it should always be 100% - I’d rather that structural engineers are delayed, than a sloppy bridge be built! But at least with your blog content there is always a chance to return to make improvements later. :)
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Hi Suzanne, I've been a perfectionist my whole life, and like you I used to take pride in it! But not any more.
For the last couple of years, I realized that my perfectionist tendencies led me to procrastination. And "perfect" doesn't exist anyways! It's only a good thing when we use perfectionism as a motivator to become better at what we are doing, fully knowing that nothing will ever be "perfect"!
Now I go by the quote "done is better than perfect".
How many posts never got published because I kept tweaking them to make them better and then I got fed up? How many times I created something but never published it, because it wasn't "perfect"? How much wasted time doing what you describe - constantly checking my paragraphs while writing and taking up more time to finish a post than necessary?
No more! Time is the most precious currency, and we can never make more of it once we spend it. So I'm trying to use mine wisely, not letting perfectionism lead me to that analysis-paralysis mode where nothing ever gets done!
I enjoyed your post, have a nice productive week :)
What a great comment! I have been leaning towards your way of working, but the 'it's not good enough yet', still too often stops me from using my time as wisely as I should. I will adopt your quote 'done is better than perfect'. Thank you.
Hello Nicky!!
Oh, you have expressed this "perfectivitness" just perfect!!
Love the Quote "done is better than perfect".
Me too want to adopt this quote.
I will write it down with big letters and place it just before my eyes near to my computer.
Thank you so much Nicky, for sharing your thoughts and experiences.
:-)
You're welcome dear! Yes, that quote has helped me a lot :)
Have a productive week, kisses!
Hi Nicky....I LOVE the quote "done is better than perfect". I think I'm going to write it in big letters and tape it to my computer LOL.
Cheers,
Suzanne
Hahaha....I just read your msg after I wrote mine. I said the same thing.....
Great minds think alike :P