I wouldn’t be successful if I weren’t such a perfectionist.

Right? No. Wrong!

"The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it."  

- Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies

I was having a discussion with one my friend a couple of days back. She is a budding entrepreneur. Has all the right kind of products to sell. She is one of the most creative and talented women I have come across.  But, there was one factor that was stopping her. She is obsessed about perfection.

So this article is for her! And also for all those who believe in perfectionism and thus fail to succeed.

Most people experience an inner drive to improve their performance on some tasks, whether be it in completing a given task or even just being a friend/home maker/mother/wife etc. 

How far can you go on being a perfect person?

Perfectionism on one hand makes you strive for excellence and on the other hand, results in struggles with self-doubt and fears of disapproval and rejection. Therefore you should learn where to draw a line.

When you are eying at perfection, ensure that it is in a healthy way and do take a genuine pleasure in trying to meet high standards. When the pleasure becomes a pressure, re visit the standards you have set for yourself.

Signs to look out for which indicate an obsessive perfection:

• You are always working to reach the finish line.
• You are never satisfied with your work.
• The standards are beyond reach and reason
• You become depressed and feel a heavy heart when faced with failure or disappointment
• You are preoccupied with fears of failure and disapproval
• You see your mistakes as evidence of unworthiness
• You tend be overly defensive when criticized

How to overcome the above symptoms while still aspiring to succeed:

• Have high standards but see that they are within you reach and ability
• Keeping increasing the standards slowly and steadily, and not in one shot.
• Enjoy the process as well as outcome.
• Have connections/ friends who will help you to bounce back quickly from failure or disappointment.
• It’s ok to feel anxious and fear about the failure’s. Every one experiences that. But let these feelings do not take over you. Have control.  
• See the mistakes as opportunities for growth and learning
• Take criticism in your stride.
• Meditate on positivity. Keep telling yourself that you are going to do your best and whatever be the result/outcome you are going to like it.

Having said that about perfectionism, now let’s move a little further to discuss about “being successful”.

There’s a common myth. “I wouldn’t be successful if I weren’t such a perfectionist.”

Agree, disagree?

Well according to a lot of successful persons… Although some perfectionists are remarkably successful, what they fail to realize is that their success has been achieved despite—not because of—their compulsive striving. There is no evidence that perfectionists are more successful than their non-perfectionist counterparts. In fact, there is evidence that given similar levels of talent, skill and intellect, perfectionists perform less successfully than non-perfectionists.

To be successful, you need four things essentially –

1)      A vision,  

2)      100% involvement,

3)      Be willing to go beyond your comfort zone and dare to change.  

4)      And believe in your vision.

How to become successful without being obsessed about perfection but still striving healthy to be nothing but the best? Isn’t that a dream come true?

How do you go from a dream to reality?

Simple steps: 

1. Ask yourself, often…… 'What do I need to do right now, today, this month, in this project…..that will bring me closer to achieving my dream?', This exercise will bring you closer to your subconscious mind and it will help you to come up with ideas to help you. The more precise you are consciously, the more likely your subconscious mind is to turning it into reality.

2. Explore those ideas by writing them all down. Be specific, set deadlines, and take action every day. Discover a direction and visualize the outcome of your dream.  

  

Remember, if you know exactly what you want to accomplish then you will find a way to make it happen. Believe in your heart that you can do it.

Dream It, Begin It, Do It! Let nothing stop you. 

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About Me:

I am Padmaja Duvvuri, a double MBA by qualification, Goldman sach’s – IBM certified women enptreprenuer by profession, 11 year experienced IT service provider, and a mother of two children.

My Wish:

With the experience, knowledge and insights I learned through my life (I am still in the learning phase), I wish to help the budding entrepreneurs, my peers, and friends understand the business challenges and needs and I wish to work with you to discover cost-effective solutions.

Wherever required I will share with you my business approaches and also offer you technical solutions and use my analytical problem solving skills in order to address your needs and help you discover new opportunities.

On the offer:

• Network analysis and business planning,
• Review and analysis of your entire Information Technology related strategies,
• Computer software and computer hardware selection, 
• Modification or development of software solutions, 
• Computer network installation and network support, 
• Project definition, planning, and supervision,
• Coordination of efforts of multiple vendors collaborating on a project,
• Computer training in all aspects of operations from the technical to the user level, 
• Analysis of the effectiveness of your web site for attracting traffic to your business, 
• Web site design  and development to enhance your marketing of your business as well as to support your clients over the internet, and 
• Individual user training and help desk support.

Please feel free to contact me to ask me any questions and to begin a dialogue. I look forward to hearing from you.

Advice and Consulting Rates

I offer the consultation services free of cost, but have time constraints, due to the enormous quantity of mails.  Regarding the technical solutions on the offer, the charges will be conveyed based on the requirement. Do visit www.arete.in for more details on technical services.

I want to work with you to develop a long term partnership and will provide the best possible customer service. If you have special circumstances or requests, please feel free to contact me.