When we think of procrastinating, a definite image comes to mind. Lying on the couch munching on snacks while picking a Netflix film to watch, or maybe endlessly scrolling through your Facebook feed, or taking a long nap to escape your busy reality.

Well, procrastination comes in various forms, and the most overlooked one is something that we sometimes grapple with from time to time, although we may be unaware of it. In this blog, I’ll share about how perfection is one form of procrastination.

Hold up, isn’t aiming for perfection good?

Sure, striving to be your best is always encouraged. But in the world of entrepreneurship, or in other aspects of life, for that matter, passing over ‘great’ to get to ‘perfect’ could do more harm than good. While we’re busy chasing perfection, we’re slowly losing productivity. As LinkedIn founder Reef Hoffman said, “If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.” To put it in simpler terms, if you wait for something to be perfect before introducing it to anyone or anywhere, you’ve probably missed your shot.

So, what’s the connection between perfection and procrastination? Often, the fear of not being able to meet standards that are set so high and the anxiety of failure result in perfectionists putting off tasks for as long as they can or delay taking the next step. When stuck in the perfectionism-procrastination loop for too long, real progress is stifled and productivity drops. Work towards excellence instead, where each undertaking, revision or decision is based on getting the best results with the resources you have at the point in time –with the bigger goal of incremental improvement.

What do I mean by this?

In order to stay relevant nowadays, you have to stop being such a perfectionist. Companies now invest in development teams to gather feedback from users once their product has been launched. This is referred to as rapid iteration. If you’re a smartphone user, you’d see how apps have these regular updates from time to time. They don’t release a perfect app right away! However, they do respond to user feedback in a very timely manner and act on it fast. This way, their app continues to evolve, depending on the preference of users.

Imagine if Mark Zuckerberg didn’t release Facebook until he was sure that it was perfect, he would’ve probably been overshadowed by another developer who had a similar idea. Zuckerberg was able to release Facebook with its basic features. When he saw that this wasn’t receiving positive feedback and clout, he added some alterations to its features, interface, and algorithm that have since led to the Facebook that we know and enjoy today. I’m quite sure that this will continue to change as time passes and as its developers strive to make it relevant to the present needs of its users.

Success is not so straightforward; while you always have your eye on the target, the route to getting there isn’t always linear, it’s not like a bulls-eye target that we have to hit. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. The important thing is that we learn from all the feedback and failures and move forward. If you adopt this approach, you will surely develop a more entrepreneurial mindset and confidence in your choices.

So, do I just take all the chances without thinking things through?

Here’s a caveat though; there has to be balance in everything. Yes, we don’t have to aim for perfection, but this doesn’t mean we settle for mediocre, slide into incompetence, or be driven into inaction. Remember that everything has a cost. For every loss that we encounter, there are consequences to be suffered, and this can take its toll on our brand image, employees, and even ourselves. So be smart in the chances that you take and ensure that the odds are somehow in your favour. Continue to give it your all and gather the courage to try again when it just doesn’t seem to work. When good or great seems even more out of reach, this should only compel you to act, not retract. Take steps – even small ones – to make sure you continually make progress.

Hopefully this has helped to open your mindset when it comes to productivity and how it often reaches its peak when not shackled by the idea of perfection, especially in the business world. Know that more than our talents and abilities, it is our resolve to get up, do better, and take action during times of failure that can really set us above the rest.

Aim for progress, not perfection.

To your success,

Mario

[Visit www.mariosingh.com now to enjoy a FREE e-book of my latest “37 Essential Principles for Massive Success” when you subscribe!]