Discover the Power of Good Enough: Get Things Done in Your Small Business

As a small business owner I know you're overwhelmed. Constantly having to make decisions about where to prioritize your time, money and resources can be draining.

You might find yourself asking "What if I do it wrong?"

It's easy to get stuck in the weeds of perfectionism when there are so many details that need attending to. But developing an understanding of the concept of good enough could be just what you need.

Many of you, including myself, have experienced moments when you hesitated to take action or pursue your goals because you felt the need to wait until everything was perfect. 

Striving for perfection can often hinder your progress and lead to taking no action at all. Making compromises doesn't have to mean sacrificing your goals, in fact embracing the concept of 'good enough' is a liberating perspective that encourages you to find joy in your efforts and achievements without making perfection the only goal.

Recognizing that perfection is often unattainable and that focusing on the pursuit of flawlessness can hinder progress and cause unnecessary stress makes it easier to embrace 'good enough.'

Something magical happens in your life when you allow yourself to set realistic standards and accept that your best efforts, even if they aren't flawless, are sufficient. 

Why We Chase Perfection

The desire for perfection is deeply rooted in our fear of failure and judgment. We often believe that if we can achieve perfection, we will be immune to criticism or disappointment. However, the truth is that perfection doesn’t exist. Making it an elusive and unattainable goal.

During a discussion last week with a client, I explained that I often have a second copywriter look over my work and that’s because I’m always a work in progress. I know that a second set of eyes from someone who’s been doing this much longer than I have, helps me keep improving.

A good enough mindset fosters self-compassion and a sense of contentment, empowering you to celebrate accomplishments, learn from your mistakes, and move forward with confidence. 

Justin Su’a the host of the: Increase Your Impact podcast and a mental performance coach to elite athletes always shares that "Little by little, a little becomes a lot." I’ve tried to keep that mindset with me whenever I’m working on a new goal.

See progress, even really slow progress, acknowledges that setbacks and mistakes are a natural part of the journey and that learning from them is important if we hope to keep getting better.

Paralyzed by Indecision

I'm of the belief that no decision is a decision. Sometimes we have a big goal and we want to act on it, but allow fear to take over, or we allow not having the right equipment, the right education, enough time, enough money, insert the various roadblocks we set out for ourselves and now you don’t act - and deciding to take no action, is a decision in itself.

Approaching Challenges with a Growth Mindset

Approaching challenges with a growth mindset is a transformative approach and helps you see difficulties as opportunities for personal and intellectual growth. It involves adopting a belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through dedication, effort, and a willingness to learn from failures.

When faced with a challenge, those with a growth mindset see it as a chance to expand skills, knowledge, and understanding. They understand that setbacks and obstacles are not indicators of their inherent limitations but rather stepping stones towards improvement.

With a growth mindset, you're motivated to persist, seek new strategies, and collaborate with others to overcome challenges and reach their full potential. This mindset fosters resilience, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning, paving the way for personal growth and success in all aspects of life.

Good Enough is Good Enough

Something magical happens when you let go of perfectionism. You get things done.

The principle of good enough can be useful in a variety of situations, particularly when it comes to boosting your personal productivity. Imagine, instead of wasting hours trying to make a social media reel look just right, or writing and rewriting an email to your database and never hitting send - you can check things off your list and keep moving forward with your day, on to the more important things outside of worrying about what others think.

Finally, implementing the principle of good enough does not mean that you should necessarily strive to do low-quality work. Rather, it means that you should clearly identify what good enough means in your particular circumstances, based on the outcomes of your work and what you’re hoping to achieve. 

There's lots more I wanted to include, but done is better than perfect. So there you go.

For more on conquering perfectionism - listen to  Episode 66 of The High Performance Marketing Podcast: Choosing Progress Over Perfection