wisewizard on Nostr: Overcoming Perfectionism: Embracing Mistakes to Learn by Doing I once worked with a ...
Overcoming Perfectionism: Embracing Mistakes to Learn by Doing
I once worked with a colleague, Amanda, who was the epitome of precision. Her attention to detail was impressive, and her work was flawless—when it finally got finished. But deadlines would come and go while Amanda agonized over each pixel in a presentation or the wording of a proposal. Her desire for perfection was admirable, but also her greatest obstacle. Amanda's fear of making a mistake often paralyzed her from moving forward.
Her story is not unique. Many of us have been conditioned to believe that mistakes are inherently bad, and something to be avoided at all costs. In reality, mistakes are an essential part of growth, especially in professional environments where adaptability and continuous learning are prized. The pursuit of perfection can be stifling, leading to missed opportunities and delayed progress.
I can still recall a project early in my career where I faced a similar dilemma. I was tasked with leading a new training initiative, and like Amanda, I wanted everything to be perfect before launch. I spent days tweaking the curriculum, questioning whether I had included all the necessary elements, and imagining every possible scenario that could go wrong. In the end, I pushed the project forward with lingering doubts in my mind. To my surprise, the initial rollout wasn’t perfect—but that’s where the magic happened.
Feedback from participants showed me areas that needed improvement, but more importantly, it taught me lessons I could never have learned by agonizing over theory and preparation. Through their input and my willingness to adapt, the training program became stronger and more effective than it would have been if I had waited for it to be flawless from the start.
This experience helped me realize that perfectionism is an illusion. In any meaningful work, progress is made through iteration—by trying, failing, learning, and trying again. Embracing mistakes as part of the process allows us to move forward with greater speed and confidence. The key is not to aim for perfection, but to be open to growth, and willing to embrace the lessons that come with imperfection.
I once worked with a colleague, Amanda, who was the epitome of precision. Her attention to detail was impressive, and her work was flawless—when it finally got finished. But deadlines would come and go while Amanda agonized over each pixel in a presentation or the wording of a proposal. Her desire for perfection was admirable, but also her greatest obstacle. Amanda's fear of making a mistake often paralyzed her from moving forward.
Her story is not unique. Many of us have been conditioned to believe that mistakes are inherently bad, and something to be avoided at all costs. In reality, mistakes are an essential part of growth, especially in professional environments where adaptability and continuous learning are prized. The pursuit of perfection can be stifling, leading to missed opportunities and delayed progress.
I can still recall a project early in my career where I faced a similar dilemma. I was tasked with leading a new training initiative, and like Amanda, I wanted everything to be perfect before launch. I spent days tweaking the curriculum, questioning whether I had included all the necessary elements, and imagining every possible scenario that could go wrong. In the end, I pushed the project forward with lingering doubts in my mind. To my surprise, the initial rollout wasn’t perfect—but that’s where the magic happened.
Feedback from participants showed me areas that needed improvement, but more importantly, it taught me lessons I could never have learned by agonizing over theory and preparation. Through their input and my willingness to adapt, the training program became stronger and more effective than it would have been if I had waited for it to be flawless from the start.
This experience helped me realize that perfectionism is an illusion. In any meaningful work, progress is made through iteration—by trying, failing, learning, and trying again. Embracing mistakes as part of the process allows us to move forward with greater speed and confidence. The key is not to aim for perfection, but to be open to growth, and willing to embrace the lessons that come with imperfection.