Yesterday I saw a status update on Facebook that said ‘Take Imperfect Action Today’ and it really got me thinking about how different life could be for so many of us if we weren’t waiting for things to be ‘perfect’.  So if you’re a little bit inclined to wait until things are just right before you take action, read on…

A Crippling Excuse

I’ve admitted on many occasions that I have a tendency to be a perfectionist, and in fact it’s something I believe held my business back for a while in the early days – I was waiting for everything to be perfect instead of just getting out there and getting results.

So when I read Taki Moore’s pearl of wisdom yesterday it was a great reminder to me of how different life can be when we push through the need for things to be a certain way.  I’m not talking about dropping standards, or compromising on quality, but rather knowing when you’re holding yourself, or your career or business to ransom just because you think things have to be perfect.  They don’t.

Here are some examples of where I’ve seen people hold themselves back because they’re waiting for the stars to align:-

• Weight-Loss: Not exercising because they couldn’t find the time to do a full hour at the gym.  So what?  Do 30 minutes instead – it’s better than nothing!
• Career Management: Not setting up a profile on LinkedIn because they’re not quite sure how it works.   Learn ‘on the job’ and dip your toes in now – nothing bad’s going to happen, but the upside of this handy networking tool can be huge!
• Relationships: Not going on a second date because the first date wasn’t ‘like in the movies’.  No-one’s perfect, and life isn’t a movie – give the girl/guy a second chance, you might come up trumps…
• Business: Not launching your business because your website isn’t 100% perfect.  There’s more to running a business than having a website – stop looking for excuses and instead bite the bullet! (unless your business is purely internet-based of course!)

If you’re using perfectionism as an excuse to stall, it’s time to be honest with yourself.  By continuing to hold back you are stopping yourself experiencing bigger and better results in life.  If you want to improve your career, relationships, finances, health, or business you MUST quit the need for everything to be 100% flawless before you move forward.

So if you were to take ‘imperfect action’ today, what would you do? Post a comment below and commit to something imperfect right now!

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Written by Faye Hollands – Director at Outshine Consulting. Faye is an accomplished Career Coach and Productivity Specialist who has successfully coached countless clients on how to create a career they love, get more done in less time, and achieve personal and professional success.

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You can contact Faye on +61 2 8323 4335 or email fayehollands@outshineconsulting.com