Giving 110% Isn’t Worth It

The Struggle With Perfectionism

Some of the best advice I have ever been given was to stop trying to give 110% when the end user thinks my 80% is amazing! I have long been struggling with striving for perfection. I’m the type of person who could look at any of my photos and see 20 things I could change. The question is, as you’re scrolling through your Instagram or Facebook feed, how many could YOU spot? 

I understand that you always want to put your best foot forward, take pride in your work, and want to get better at whatever your craft may be. The question I have for you is, how much time do you put into taking something from really good to great. Chances are, to move the needle just a hair past really good, takes a lot of time. Are those changes even noticed? All that time and energy you put into turning something in your eyes from really good to great, what else could you be doing? 

As I reflect on this while sitting in a coffee shop, going on my 15th hour of being on the go today, what could I have stopped at good enough so I could spend time being a better friend, son, or sibling? We beat ourselves up thinking we need to keep grinding away, when the people around us were ecstatic with us a long time ago. 

How do we stop at 80%? Give yourself a deadline. Devote an amount of time to the project and then walk away. Be at peace with your decision. If you’re so compelled, come back at a later time, but be at peace that whatever you just did, is good enough. 

Strive to create happiness within, but remember people think more of you and what you do way more than you give yourself credit for.