This pursuit of high standards and emphasis on quality is a prerequisite of true accomplishment and should be encouraged. However, when the focus becomes so perfectionistic that standards are set high beyond reach or reason, and life is measured entirely in terms of productivity and accomplishment, the drive to excel becomes self-defeating, dangerous and maladaptive. Perfectionists believe that if they fail to perform flawlessly, they will be embarrassed, disgraced, and doomed. They irrationally believe that they must be perfect to be accepted by others. No success is appreciated and winning simply leads to higher and more unrealistic goals.
Life becomes an endless pursuit of acceptance through performance.
Fear of failure is a close ally since focus is often directed on past failures rather than accomplishments. If perfectionism worked, this article would not be written. Successful perfectionists appear to achieve their success despite perfectionism rather than because of it. You want to win, you'll do anything to succeed, and you'll consider yourself useless if you don't. Focusing on flaws and mistakes depletes energy.