I struggle with perfectionism.  Not in all areas of my life (thank goodness) but certainly with anything creative.  So anything internet marketing related can be quite painful at times.

My first degree was in fashion and I agonised over my fashion notebooks going backwards and forwards over the pages.   If there was just one drawing  that I didn’t like, I would rip out the whole page and redraw it.  Then I would get upset because I would have a notebook with ripped pages – spoiling the entire look (or so I thought)  and then I would have to start the whole notebook again.  I actually made myself ill over it.  Complete madness.

I would love to say that I was twenty when this happened but I wasn’t – I was 37 and by then it was a well established habit and sadly I’m still doing it – but instead of notebooks I do it with web pages!

This was brought home to me the other day when Kyle suggested in the live chat that some of use might like to try some infographic software. ( Infographics for anyone who doesn’t know i are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge.)

I was in there immediately.  Something creative – brilliant – I couldn’t get there fast enough. 
Five minutes later I was away and started to create my first infographic about key factors for successful goal achievement  (ability, attitude and motivation) 

I played around that evening and into the next day.  I completed 5 in total and I agonised over each one, changing colours, text, pictures over and over again. Sometimes having those arty skills can feel a definite curse.

Eventually, I posted four on my blog and I told a handful of people about them – to show I had tried the software.  Every compliment I received  I kept saying things like ‘they’re a little bit naff’, ‘I’m going to take them down soon’ and I meant it.    Secretly I thought they were very mediocre indeed.

But actually despite what I said, they’re still there.  I have improved them all  but they’re still far from being  perfect and I am itching to see if I can make them better still.  However, I suddenly decided not to take them down.

I had to sit on my perfectionism and acknowledge they are engaging, there are some strong messages, they are visually pleasing and they are good and more importantly they really are ‘good enough’.  (even if I’m thinking ‘only for now’)

What bought about the change of heart? Two things. 
1.  Yesterday  I was helping a member of WA who was struggling with an issue and was saying they were useless and what they’d done wasn’t good enough. 

I wasn’t being glib but I reminded them that IM is a learning curve and they will make mistakes and not everything will be ‘perfect’.  You see as a trained coach I'm good at giving advice but not always so good at following it – especially my own.

2.  The second thing that happened was today when I was searching for a quote for a piece of writing I was doing and I came across one  which said  ‘Good is good enough when you’ve done your best’ (and no I don’t know whose quote it is)

A bit corny I know, but I thought – yep that’s the measure I’m going to use for myself in this instance.  I’ve worked hard on these infographics – put a lot of thought into them, they are good and so actually it’s time to stop and move on.

So if you’re like me and you have times when you’re perfectionism actually stands in the way of making progress – pull yourself up.  Doing sloppy work isn’t you – but there does have to come a point when you make that decision – that good is good enough.