Here’s Why “Progress” Exceeds “Perfection”
In this video I argue why “Sloppy success is always better than perfect mediocrity.” Wouldn’t you agree?
Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach often says: “Choose progress, not perfection.” I encourage you to take Dan’s advice (in the New Year) and watch my video (below), so you too can become more productive faster, better and with less effort.
Watch this video and then please post your comment.
What To Do Now: Think of ONE project you’ve wanted to start – or finish – during the past year, but your perfectionism has crippled and even paralyzed your progress.
Whenever you find yourself paralyzed in a perfectionist moment, remind yourself why “Sloppy success is better than perfect mediocrity.
Here’s what I have written on my PC’s screen saver that assists me to blasts through my perfectionist moments … it’s a declarative quote I once heard from Tony Robbins: ”If I can’t, I must.”
Tags: alex mandossian, dan sullivan, Info Marketing, online marketing, presentation, publishing, strategic coach, tony robbins
Right on the money Alex. A lot of times people get stuck in starting and that is the biggest stumbling block for a lot of people.
As one of my good friends always says….
DECIDE then DO! You can always make changes
along the way!
Much success to all of you,
Cashflow Queen
Founder of
http://www.getmorecustomersnow.com
Alex — you are preaching to the choir on this! I’m a ‘jump in and try it’ person and have learned to let go of perfectionist tendencies that stop progress.
This is a great post that I will be sharing with my list. Thank you and keep the great advice and enthusiasm coming.
Tara
Taking action is the key. The size of the action step isn’t as important as taking the action. The action step can be microscopic and it will still progress you toward your goals and results. Microscopic changes and action steps are often time more long lasting because they are more likely to be done consistently.
Great post and video! There are other things that stop me from progressing, other than the all-too-common perfectionist tendencies. That includes the desire to protect your credibility with your market, providing real value, doing it better than your competitors, making sure your market wants and needs what you are creating and selling, etc. Come to think about it, all of these could be seen as different barriers to progress based on a desire to create the perfect products/services.
Alex,
great information, and fitting for me because I tend to procrastinate because I think something might not be perfect.
FYI, there’s a very important boo boo in your presentation…. Greg Lemond did not win the Tour de France 6 times. He won it 3 times. Lance Armstrong won 7 times, then there are 5 riders who won 5 times, then Greg at 3. I take cyclists to see and ride parts of the Tour!
I like your cycling analogy though!
Jennifer Sage
http://cyclingeurope.wordpress.com
http://www.vivatravels.com
Alex,
great information, and timely for me because I tend to procrastinate because I think something might not be perfect.
FYI, there’s a very important boo boo in your presentation…. Greg Lemond did not win the Tour de France 6 times. He won it 3 times. Lance Armstrong won 7 times, then there are 5 riders who won 5 times, then Greg at 3. I take cyclists to see and ride parts of the Tour!
I like your cycling analogy though!
Jennifer Sage
http://cyclingeurope.wordpress.com
http://www.vivatravels.com
“When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”
Alex,
Your e-mail popped into my mailbox at a perfect time today. I have spent two frustrating days moving my web sites to a more reliable host, and I became impatient with all of the little details that I had to figure out. When I finally got everything ready, I started working on my ASK campaign for my first teleseminar next week.
I got stuck. I am not sure where the next page I need is coming from. I started getting sleepy. “Maybe I need a little nap.” Just before I wandered off to bed, I stopped to read your note and watch your short video.
Once sentence made all of my sleepiness and desire for procrastination fly away:
“If you think you can’t, you must.”
So, my last act of procrastination and distraction is writing this note. As soon as I hit Submit, I am back to work and ready to tackle my problem.
Thanks,
jay
jaykoch@TTLSem.com
Alex,
This was a great post to begin the New Year. I have moments when I want everything to be perfect before I act. That’s when I tell myself there is not such thing as “perfect” so just jump into the game. I appreciate this video immensely!
Michael
Thanks for the inspiration, Alex. I am pressing onward in spite of obstacles I could never have imagined. My wife (and business partner) has been overcome by fear and frustration. She has informed me that she is pulling the plug on everything – the business, the dream of success, even our marriage – and getting a sales job in a furniture store because we need to make some money now. I believe we are right on the verge of breaking through and I refuse to quit. I hope she is there to share it with me, but I’m not quitting.
Thank you! This is something that I can’t hear enough. It truly is all about progress and not perfection. I know I can sometimes stop myself because I feel like I don’t know enough about a particular topic or way of doing something. I stop before I even begin. But it is in the learning and the acting that success happens, on all levels. I am also reminded of something that Harv Eker says, Correct and Continue. Simply learn from what is an isn’t working, make the necessary corrections and continue forward!!
Thanks for the reminder. Always good to hear.
Much love and aloha,
Dr. Amy
What a great source of encouragement to move on with my business. Just try things, get them out there, see what happens. If they work, fantastic, if not, just try something else. Just keep on showing up. After all, you only fail when you stop trying!
Cherry
Your Career Change Guide
Great video, Alex. Funny, we were just discussing this topic in a forum… here’s another great quote that I often refer to by Mike Litman which states, “You don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going.”
Good Alex,
We’re making progress, if anyone likes to
advertise on the internet in chosen zip codes
check out LocalAdlink.net/Goldenman
Have a great day !
Great video as always!
It is always the tendency of any content creator to be overprotective of their “baby” and want everything to do be perfect. But one’s work can never be perfect as there are always new insights and updates you’ll want to add (which with today’s electronic publishing and new media is easy to do).
You want someone to benefit from your knowledge today, not tomorrow. And you want to benefit from sharing your knowledge monetarily and emotionally today, not tomorrow!
Thank you for that excellent presentation! The info and format were stellar. I feel so vindicated for not suffering from “analysis paralysis” and while it’s not perfect, I’m happy, ecstatic to make progress.
Pedagogy is indeed a science and you’re one of the best at transmitting information.
As a previous TSS student, I was eager to take Alex’s course again…and again, and again. It’s my second time around and I’m listening with new eyes and ears.
I had to laugh when I read this blog post because I remember Alex saying it last year and it’s a phrase I’ve grown to “know, like and trust.”
To prove that I’m a believer in the idea that “sloppy success is better than perfect mediocrity” I launched my website a few days ago without everything perfectly in place and without some of the pages even completed! I’m looking at it this way-as new subscribers opt-in, they’ll just have that much more to look forward to once it’s completed!
Thanks for another great year of valuable content, Alex!
Debi Silber, MS, RD, WHC “The Mojo Coach”
http://www.TheMojoCoach.com
I really liked this video/presentation. The quotes were great, and it was just the Kick in the Butt I needed! And also helped me to realize, it’s ok if it doesn’t come out perfect the first time, I can learn from the mistakes and improve the next edition :)
Thanks Alex!
Alex,
You are an inspiration, a hero, and a true mentor. Thank you for all the great information you put out. Thanks for leading the way.
All the Best!
Dawn Nocera
Your Personal LifeSuccess Coach- Reprogramming your mind to the success you want in life!
http://www.DawnNocera.com
Your advice also falls in line with “analysis paralysis” (spending all your time trying to learn everything possible or trying to build a mitigation plan for every conceivable failure point). In each case there is no forward momentum and the chances for success diminish. ACTION and EXECUTION are the keys to achieving anything. Thanks for the reminder to focus on getting the right things done…perfect or not.
Scott Thomas
http://www.achieverslife.com
Alex: Your message about progress not perfection is one that I try to get across to my public speaking students who major source of fear is that they will not be perfect in front of their audience. Enjoyed your Wednesday Minute on Progress.
It’s that “perfectionism” that stops so many people from being creative….. in every medium. Like creating a painting, just start playing somewhere and it will reveal itself to you….or the painting will reveal YOU.
If you strive for perfection there’s no evolution. I believe that’s how all “progress” happens. …just got to take a chance!
Congratulations! You’re an idiot! What a preposterous thing to suggest. It’s little wonder the economy is in the hole with this kind of mentality….
Take the following as an example…
Bank Board Meeting Person #1: “We can’t lend these people”.
Bank Board Meeting Person #2: “Well since we have the money, and the only way we make money is to lend it, let’s do it anyway”.
Bank Board Meeting Person #3: “Didn’t Tony Robbins once say, ‘If I can’t, I must’”?
Bank Board Meeting Person #4: “Maud, call the press, tell them that subprime mortgages are the future for the US banking industry. Get every impoverished man, woman and child into a US bank so we can lend them our money”.
As the great Alex Mandossian once said, “it doesn’t matter what speed you are going if you are going in the wrong direction”. Perfectionism that stops you from doing something may just be a little voice inside your head saying, “hey dummy, spend a little more time and effort in the planning stages now, just to make sure when you are ready that you are going to do it right”.
…perhaps then we wouldn’t have this subprime mortgage mess to deal with.
Hello Alex,
Thank you so much for this short, informative message. I’ve been in study mode as far as internet marketing is concerned for 7 years and finally, I’m starting to implement all of what I’ve been reading, watching, and listening. I too was stuck in the perfectionist trap for years.
I’m a jazz musician by profession and now I’m starting to actually do something every single day to bring about progress in my music marketing. Getting started and failing forward is that golden key to success.
Thank You,
Andre Hayward
I’ve always been persistant and persevering and know these qualities have helped me follow thru on projects..some folks dont get that and call it being stubborn. The tricky part is knowing when to let it go when things arent working out well and to restart or not! So nomn attachment to outcome is as important as getting started and doing your best, so that u can c when things arent worth pursuing…
Alex,
We totally agree. If we wait for perfection, all we get is stagnation.
We find it totally amazing that when we focus on progress we reach more people and get more of them involved.
Not only does it expand our marketing reach, but it grows the number of people that get to know, like and trust us.
Even us creating these Spectacular Presentations for you, we have to remind ourselves that “Spectacular achievement is always preceded by spectacular preparation”, which in turn is preceded by progress and not perfection.
Thanks again from your Spectacular Presentations team
– Pat & Lorna
http://PatAndLorna.com
As a business coach, I have seen perfectionism stop whole organizations progress. Years ago I did an Outward Bound Trip. We would get stuck as a group at points looking at the map trying to figure out the “best” route. We would talk and talk, look and look and eventually our instructor would point out our “analysis paralysis”, and we would move on.
I have tried to live my life not getting stuck in that analysis paralysis, perfectionist slump, but it can be hard to do. I want my company to offer such stellar programs and coaching….but what I have found is that it is all a work in progress and with each implementation of a program there is learning. The thing is, if you get stuck and don’t move a project forward you miss the valuable lessons, the learning that happens as a result.
Don’t get stuck!! Keep it moving forward. New doors open that you never even imagined when you move. When you stand still the view remains the same…
Donna
Donna Price
Business Success Coach
Working with small businesses to close the gap between the vision and reality…
Northwest New Jersey
Thanks Tara.
“Jump in and try it” is a great 5-word mantra to beat the perfectionism cycle.
~ Alex
Evan,
You have an interesting point of view. How did you arrive at that conclusion?
One revision to your comment…since you quoted me: “The only thing worse than going in the wrong direction is doing it enthusiastically.”
That’s what I say. “Speed” has little to do with it. It’s “blinding enthusiasm” that’s crippling.
Anyway, I really can’t tell the specific point you’re trying to make, but I can tell that the word – “perfectionism” – has triggered you.
Thanks Debi.
If you’re reading this and you’re a mom living with kids (married or divorced), you’ll enjoy the Virtual Book Tour that Debi and I did.
Type in “Debi Silber” in the “Search this site” box and listen to our 60-minute call. It’s free.
Debi has a great new look to her website, so all moms who are reading this comment, make sure you take a peek at http://www.TheMojoCoach.com <– Go
Great quote and the video was cool. My question: One advantage of a blog is to get picked up by search engines. Do videos help with your search positioning? Can the search engines see the video content? Do they see the transcription? If so then you have the best of both worlds a great presentation and method to repurpose content and a tool to improve your ranking.
Once again, a perfect message for going into the new year. As the investing gurus say, “The enemy of a good plan is the search for the perfect plan”. Same thing in diet. Same thing in life. Hate to get all Nancy Reagen-ish on you, but this is really a case of “just do it”. Shoot first- we’ll fix the aim and the details later on
great blog, my friend
warmly
jonny
Hello. My name is Susan. And I’m a recovering perfectionist :-)
My recovery program began in January 2006 when I underwent emergency surgery without which I likely would have died. It was a long road back and I had to stand and watch as other people, sometimes complete strangers, did things for me…not the way I would have done them mind you, but they got done, nonetheless. And the world didn’t come to an end. And I lived to tell this story.
I came to realize that the only one who demands perfection from me…is me! So I try to cut myself a break as often as I can.
Having said that, bookkeeping is something that unfortunately demands perfection. I am currently working on the year-end books for our corporation and have been trying for the last three hours to find $55 within the pages of my billed services account. I wonder what the accountant would say if I handed the books to her without having balanced the necessary accounts and said, “Well, they’re almost perfect and that’s good enough!” :-D
Would that I could. Your video was a welcomed distraction, and an excellent reminder that any journey begins with the first step — even when that first step lands in the mud…and now, I must get back to my books.
Thanks.
Susan
Alex
The new opening sounds to me to be a bit like a “side show” attraction selling “snake oil”, however, your content is, as always, worth listening to as well as reading. I’d like to be able to download these sessions so I can play them at a later date, so a (.wmv type) file would add more value.
Regards
Frank Green
While I agree that perfectionism can be crippling it is important to plan to some extent so that you can have a road map to guide you. Of course I haven’t done a whole lot of planning with my blog I just kind of go on the fly and oddly it seems to be going well for me.
However, in light of the recent information I just read about the Orphan Works Bill I should stick registering my brand with the trademark office into my initial 2009 planning. I also need to do a few other things to get my brand registered as a Legit business in 2009, however I think that is about as much actual planning I will get done.
I am so over powerpoint presentations. I quit half way through the presentation and skipped to the end. The talking head may not be the perfect idea, but I like it better than feeling like I am sitting in a conference room. Perhaps you need something that combines the two – talking head and powerpoint. Otherwise it is just another techno presentation. FWIW
Outstanding content and presentation Alex! Get up, Get dressed and Get going to GIVE. You are awesome! Keep up the great work. Thank You
A great piece of advice. I’ve made a lot of money following this advice, and it’s how I develop my entire business. Slowly, but I am getting where I want to be.
Franck
“Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection.” -Kahlil Gibran, “The Visit of Wisdom”
Alex, thank you for this post. What a great reminder! I find this quote from Kahlil Gibran puts your two concepts together in a beautiful way.
When my clients come to me the are often deeply immersed in the pursuit of perfection and yet upset they seem to be getting nowhere with their goals.
When we boil it down and strip away the excuses and fluff, it comes down to being MORE committed to something other than the goal they have set for themselves. For instance, a person who sabotages their financial goals by eating out too often, buying expensive gifts, and failure to plan are often committed — at a deeper level — to comfort, being taken care of, the perception of wealth, and denial… just to name a few.
While it is wonderful work to dig deep into some of these truths for ourselves, ultimately we have to ACT. So for all of you out there, delaying action by perfectionism and over-analysis of ‘why I do what I do’, try acting and see your mindset shift, imagination free up, and dreams begin to come true.
There is nothing like the present!
Thanks again, Alex…
A recovering perfectionist,
Lara Vander Ploeg
Life Coach – Keyonote – Radio Show Host
Linda,
Your point is noted. I want to get a few more comments to make a decision. I think this format works really well for “Quick Start” programs for HOW TO course like the one at:
http://www.TeleseminarSecrets.com/blog
I can not agree anymore!!! I’ve been a victim of perfectionism and it keeps you STUCK. As a results business coach I work with the independenct professional (corp. sales reps, coaches, speakers, network marketers, 100% commission sales reps.). I urge them to take action don’t put things off waiting until there perfect.
Darryl Jarmosco
http://www.darryljarmosco.com
Alex,
Wow! Thank you for that, that fits me exactly. I tend to get stuck in perfectionism, trying to have everything organized and figured out before I start something or working on my business. In reality I think that is just my fear of failure that manifests itself in getting caught up in the ‘details’. So thank you very much, I plan on putting ‘Go for progress not perfection’ and ‘Plan, act and study the results’ on my computer so I can see it everyday. Merry Christmas!
Jennifer
Joe,
Great point.
In my Module 2 of TSS, I mentioned a Robert Schuller quote: “Spectacular achievement is always preceded by spectacular preparation.”
To quote another thought leader and friend, Keith Cunningham … he says: “Practice doesn’t make perfect; practice makes permanent.”
Thanks for your insights in looking at another facet of the “perfection” diamond.
~ Alex
Donna, thank you for your insight.
In my experience, just being “conscious” of my perfectionism tendency can be curative. Getting unstuck is the first step to progress :-)
~ Alex
Alex, thank you for your wise advice…continue with the new way…audio/video way…it is better
Alex,
I know you have a ton of comments, but one more can onl help. This is exactly what I needed to hear as a recovering perfectionist. BTW: Love the new format. I may have to steal the idea.
Alex,
This was just what I needed to hear! I know that I hold myself back in my business seeking a level of perfection that is not necessary. My mantra for 2009 is “ACTION, ACTION, ACTION!” Forget the the perfection!
Julie Van De Wyngaerde
http://www.SelfCenteredMoms.com
“Progrss vs perfectionism” … we need both: progress, meaning we are able to take the first steps, even if they are not normally what we would want to do -
after all we do have to make the “bella figura” –
But striving to the do the best we can (my definition of perfection)can only be done when start doing something (progress).
All the best to every one for a progressively better 2009!
Eileen O’Neill
bambooing with the blogs:
http://englishsuccessstrategies.wordpress.com
http://askthebusinessexperts.wordpress.com
Alex – thanks for distilling this. Since watching this I find I’m asking myself when I’m thinking about doing something – am I going for progress or perfection. It helps to melt away the ambiguity.
For my business, I work with musicians making physical CDs and DVD as well as help them move into a digital delivery of their work as well as physical. Most are waiting to have a perfect understanding of mp3 and all the digital outlets before taking action. I think sharing this information will assist them in making an easier choice to start to benefit from adding digital formats into their marketing. It certainly is a freeing approach.
Thanks.
The link for the video on your website is not working??
Alex I truly agree. Waiting for perfection often leads to no action. THe first step to success is to just start.
Ms. Michael C. Redmond, PhDc Psychoneurologist
Coach and Therapist
http://www.solutionfocusedcoaching.com
Alex -
Thanks again for the “reminder”. During TSS 2008, you kept saying “sloppy success beats perfected mediocrity.” That saying helped me work through the anxiety and fear of doing something I’d never done before (i.e. launching a simple wordpress blog)at the risk of falling on my face publicly. It’s amazing what we hem & haw about despite prior successes and ‘knowing’ better.
If one likens perfectionism to alcoholism, those of us afflicted are in a constant state of recovery…
Thanks for the reminder,
Marian
You wouldn’t believe it but I have wasted all day digging for some articles about this. You’re a lifesaver, it was an excellent study and has helped me out to no end. Cheers,