Overcoming Perfectionism and Increasing Confidence in Your Marketing
By: Lori Young
Tags: Perfectionism, Authenticity, Confidence, Online Business, Online Marketing

No matter how hard you try to achieve perfection in your business, it’s simply not possible. I know that’s an unpopular idea amongst many of the high-achieving entrepreneurs I know and love. But repeat after me: Perfection is unattainable. Thankfully, overcoming perfectionism IS attainable.

And moving past your perfectionist tendencies, will not only make you a happy, healthier leader (because we all know how MESSY leadership can be), it will ALSO help you up your marketing game in monumental ways!

It’s natural as a business owner to want to do your very best for your team, clients, and customers, but your best does not mean achieving perfection in every task you pursue. (Plus, striving for constant perfection is a sure-fire way to burn out quickly.)

Your desire to be perfect may stem from high levels of self-criticism or social pressure, but as a heart-centered entrepreneur, it likely comes from, well, your heart. You genuinely want to offer your very best to your audience and clients. I get it.

However, you can actually offer more when it comes to your marketing (and your business in general) when you take steps to overcome perfectionism and instead focus on increasing your confidence and authenticity.

The Pitfalls Of Perfectionism

I won’t lie and say there aren’t positive aspects of striving for perfection. Having high standards for yourself and others, paying great attention to detail, being organized, etc.

None of these qualities are in and of themselves bad for you or your business. The problem comes when trying to be perfect overshadows your ability to get tasks done. Or when it makes every item on your to-do list a source of stress.

Perfectionism can be paralyzing when taken to extremes. It can stop you from starting a new project. Or stop you from knowing when it’s time to be done with a project and move on.

Many people experience writer’s block when it comes to their social media, blog, or other content as a result of perfectionism. They often are afraid to dive in or they never feel like their content is “good enough.” So they spend hours and hours tweaking and rewriting it. This can spill over into your time needed in other areas. Adding stress to people on your team (or in your family) and can frankly drive everyone nuts (including you!!).

Sometimes, tasks have to be done and not perfect. And THAT’S OKAY! Not even the best writers among us are devoid of mistakes or lack areas that could be improved. The important thing is to keep trying and growing with each new task.

How To Start Overcoming Perfectionism

This may all sound well and good, but how do you actually take steps toward overcoming perfectionism in your marketing and in your business in general?

Take action! Even if it’s a small action AND even if you don’t feel ready. You have to start somewhere and that somewhere might as well be here and now.

Even if it’s a small action AND even if you don’t feel ready. You have to start somewhere and that somewhere might as well be here and now. Be vulnerable and share your story. Unless your clients or members of your team are robots (which actually sounds kind of cool…), then they all make mistakes and get stuck sometimes, too. Be relatable. Be open with your struggles. We all have them. (But, if you happen to have a robot that folds and puts away the laundry, drop a comment below!)

Unless your clients or members of your team are robots (which actually sounds kind of cool…), then they all make mistakes and get stuck sometimes, too. Be relatable. Be open with your struggles. We all have them. (But, if you happen to have a robot that folds and puts away the laundry, drop a comment below!) Celebrate achievements often. Recognizing small, incremental successes reminds your brain that you are doing things right a whole lot of the time!

Recognizing small, incremental successes reminds your brain that you are doing things right a whole lot of the time! Consider others. Try to think about how your perfectionism is affecting people around you. Is it improving your relationships with your team? Your clients? Your family? Probably not. Those people all value YOU — not your elusive perfection.

Try to think about how your perfectionism is affecting people around you. Is it improving your relationships with your team? Your clients? Your family? Probably not. Those people all value YOU — not your elusive perfection. Find a balance that works for you. Overcoming perfectionism doesn’t mean letting go of all your standards. Choose to focus on the things that are most important in any given task or project and let other things go a little. Also, take note of what you’d like to learn more about or improve on next time…because there will always be a next time.

Less Perfection, More Confidence

Moving past our need to be perfect opens the door to bringing our whole self to our marketing — which is the version of ourselves our audience is desperately in need of anyway.

As a leader, you have to own every imperfect part of yourself, your business, and your journey. Being a business owner is complicated and it’s messy — so is being a human — but that’s okay. That’s what your audience relates to. Yes, they want all of the amazing things you have to offer in your products and services, but they also want a real connection with you and your team.

The more you own your mistakes and flaws and avoid letting yourself get hung up on them, the more confident you become…and that confidence will shine through in your voice and your presence in your marketing. Be who you are for your audience. Don’t be afraid of vulnerability or of making mistakes.

You ARE perfectly imperfect just as you are right now. Lean into that and let it shine through in your marketing!

If you need some help creating some darn-near-perfect marketing content or need assistance with your marketing strategy, the team at Amazing OBM would love to connect! You can start by scheduling a FREE 30-minute consultation. We are happy to chat, offer you some valuable tips, and determine if we are a good fit for one another in future endeavors!