EPISODE 030 | APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY

A few months ago, I wrote a journal post titled Embracing Fine, the antithesis to that feeling of perfectionism, and from receiving a bunch of messages on Instagram afterwards, clearly resonated with so many people. I feel that as a community, perfectionism is a trait that often runs deep, and as wonderful as it initially sounds, it is huge obstacle that can slow and often even halt incredible, potential growth. So I am excited to bring this into a podcast episode and I hope it helps hugely!

I'll be sharing a series of steps I’ve taken to fine-tune my need for perfection and to willingly embrace “fine”. I will discuss how this concept has revolutionised my business and personal life and share stories that vividly illustrate the transformative power of how 'fine' has led to unexpected success, innovation, and personal growth.

Furthermore, we'll debunk the myth of perfection, revealing it as a hindrance rather than a beacon of progress. By shifting our focus from the quest for perfection to embracing the journey of creation itself, we allow ourselves the freedom to explore, grow, and make significant strides forward.

At this time of recording, we are in the midst of our Goal-Getters Masterclass. We have a thriving community where the support is quite phenomenal. I have always loved our online courses and the community groups have often been strong, but I have always felt there were ways we can better the experience. And this time, from all that we’ve learnt since we launched our first online masterclass six years ago, our online community is the most incredible experience. The reason why I mention it, one of the comments that has frequently come up, has been around the negative side effect of perfectionism. Our current masterclass participants have very much inspired this episode, so a huge thank you to everyone who is with us right now, it’s a superb group and I’m so excited and humbled to continue watching all your incredible growth.

science & psychology behind perfectionism

Before we explore how 'fine' has revolutionised my approach both personally and in business, let's look a little bit into the science and psychology behind perfectionism. Research consistently shows that while striving for high standards can be motivating, crossing into perfectionism is often counterproductive.

According to psychologists, perfectionism is linked to a range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and even burnout. A study published in the US Journal of Counseling Psychology reveals that adaptive perfectionists—those who strive for excellence but accept their limitations—tend to report higher satisfaction and achievement. In contrast, maladaptive perfectionists, who obsess over flaws and fear failure, often experience increased stress and a sense of stagnation. This distinction underscores the importance of aiming for excellence without being ensnared by the unattainable ideals of perfection, and why so often embracing fine is a wholly positive step forward.

CLARIFYNG “EMBRACING FINE”

Some of you might wonder though, 'Does embracing 'fine' mean settling for mediocrity?' Let's take a moment to clarify this. Embracing 'fine' is not about complacency or lowering our standards. Instead, it's a strategic acceptance of progress over perfection. It's about recognising that the pursuit of perfection can sometimes be a barrier to growth and learning.

For many of us, perfectionism can feel like an invisible hand that holds us back, stopping us in our tracks and preventing us from taking the first step on new projects or ventures. We wait for the 'perfect' moment, the  'perfect' idea, the 'perfect' level of readiness, the perfect amount of experience and/or knowledge. But in reality, that moment of perfection often never comes. Instead, we find ourselves caught in a cycle of overthinking and procrastination, while the world continues to spin around us. The truth is, most great things happen not from a state of perfection, but from being brave to let go and simply go for it, being prepared to figure it out and find solutions as we progress.

Consider 'fine' as a stepping stone, not an end state. It's a launch pad that allows us to move forward, to iterate, and to evolve. By accepting 'fine' for certain tasks or during certain phases of our projects, we open ourselves to a world of opportunities for improvement and innovation. This mindset enables us to act, learn from our experiences, and refine our approach as we go, ultimately leading us to excellence in a more holistic and healthy manner.

Thus, when we talk about embracing 'fine,' we're advocating for a balanced approach that values progress and personal well-being over unattainable ideals. It's about making peace with the imperfections in our journey and using them as fuel for our growth.

I think like many within  our community, I can describe myself previously as a perfectionist. I previously would spend days, hours, weeks finalising minute details of designs, website pages, newsletters, monthly schedules, project planning … the list goes on.

I know many of us can relate to this, that feeling of wanting to ensure the last detail has been considered, that everything must be perfect before you hit send or save or publish. Perfectionism can be an incredible and highly desirable trait, it can though also be debilitating, and hold us back from getting on with projects.

LEARNING TO EMBRACE FINE

Our focus on fully embracing “fine” within the business really started with our first in-house produced online tutorials. During the beginning of the global lockdowns, we had been scheduled to film with a professional team on set. The team included a producer/director, two cameramen, a sound engineer, an assistant, a stills photographer and an editor. When we couldn’t have the full team on site with us, we decided to figure the process out ourselves.

My husband is a self-taught photographer, so he picked up and started practicing with a video camera, the first steps to becoming a self-taught videographer, and another member of our team, Kate, is superb with systems and technology, so she taught herself editing. Using our home as the backdrop to our “set” and with me self-directing and producing, we had our imperfect studio team!

The process was significantly more relaxed than it had been previously in a professional studio, the friendlier and more laid back atmosphere helped me to be more myself on camera, and get past my initial nerves.

I was used to being directed and receiving feedback from our previous director, he was brilliantly gushy and positive, which helped boost my confidence, so when I asked my husband if I was doing OK, he simply replied “it’s fine” … not quite the gushy, positive response I was hoping for, but it made me laugh! We knew our first few films would simply be "fine”, and we had to learn to embrace this new feeling and move on, otherwise we may never move forward with our filming.

EXCEPTIONS: when projects must be perfect!

There are exceptions though and circumstances when projects must be perfect! I believe when you are working on offerings, whether products or service based, they do need to be perfect, alongside exceptional customer service. This is because your customer experience needs to be exactly as you intend it to be. If the customer experience is 'fine', then they won't come back, you won’t have a loyal community  and referrals will be minimal.

When I say you should embrace “fine” and move beyond procrastination, I mean in your everyday and bigger projects, the ones that you know in yourself that you are stalling on, most likely more out of fear rather than anything else. I want this episode to help give you the confidence to simply start on your projects and embrace the “fine”.

About six years ago, I had appointed a website designer to help me create a new website. At the time we had quite a lot of media exposure coming up in the next few months and as our current website was dated I wanted a new design to reflect our evolved brand.

There was a huge amount of to-ing and fro-ing, it was extraordinarily time consuming, and frustrating. I was having difficulty communicating my ideas effectively. After the third or so meeting, I gently said that it wasn’t working as I had hoped, entirely my fault as I was struggling to explain what I was looking for. I was aware that there were platforms that allowed you to design and build your own website without coding, but it wasn’t something I had considered before (remember, this was quite a few years ago, before the non-code website platforms were a norm). I discovered, amongst many platforms, Squarespace and I played around to see if I could create our own website.

I really enjoyed the process and I found being able to make immediate layout, copy and visual changes, helped me to understand how I wanted each page to be laid out. Within a couple of days, I had a layout that I was pretty happy with, it really was “fine”!

I could have spent a further few weeks designing and finishing the website, but it would have kept me away from other projects I needed to focus on, so instead, I hit publish and my new website was launched into the world.  It felt hugely scary, but also exciting to have developed something myself and to then share it. And from that point, because it wasn’t completely perfect, I received incredibly helpful feedback from our customers, areas that I hadn’t considered before and with a few tweaks, it became better and better, a hugely valuable series of steps, that wouldn’t have happened as quickly, had I kept it behind closed doors.

Today, the old design is still going strong, it is though, a little dated and could do with a redesign, but for the time being, it is “fine” and something I will update over the next year – it is not a priority just now, as it works and there are other projects that need to come first, including research and production of our podcast episodes, and all our online masterclasses, to really help and support you!

I can’t wait to start work on the new website design, and I will definitely launch it before it is completely perfect. I will test, respond to feedback and will enjoy making all the updates as new ideas evolve.

a great myth

One of the greatest myths we often come across is that things need to be perfect before they are good or before they can be shown to the world. But perfection is a tricky thing. It's elusive, constantly changing, and more often than not, a hindrance to progress. Now, think about this: what if the process of creation, the journey itself, was the real masterpiece? When you let go of the need for perfection and embrace the beauty of the imperfect, you allow yourself the freedom to truly explore, grow, and enjoy the journey.

This ethos has definitely formed part of my philosophy and it has also interestingly really helped me to be able to work in a space that is not perfectly tidy, whereas before I would become crazily distracted by the smallest amount of mess around me, spending hours tidying and cleaning before I could sit down to work. I think therefore, it has also helped to make me a more relaxed and more of an easy-going person, which is such a huge positive!

The word 'fine' often gets a bad reputation. We're made to believe it's not enough. But what if 'fine' was a symbol of courage, growth, and authenticity?

It's a testament to the fact that you were brave enough to start before you felt ready, to move forward despite the uncertainties, and embrace the beauty of the process over the lure of a perfect outcome.

Perfection can often act as a formidable barrier to progress, a stumbling block that prevents us from moving forward. In our pursuit of an  unattainable ideal, we can sometimes find ourselves stuck in a loop of constant editing and refining, never quite satisfied with our work. It's vital to understand that it's not only acceptable but also beneficial to aim for 'good enough' or 'fine' as a first step. By doing so, you free yourself from the chains of perfection and allow yourself to make tangible progress.

This means getting your project - be it a report, or a new business idea - to a point where it's functional, effective, or presentable, and then bravely putting it out into the world.

actionable tips

Now that we've explored the transformative power of embracing 'fine' through various examples, you might be wondering how to make this mindset shift in your own life. Let's dive into some actionable tips that can help you move from a perfectionist to a 'fine' mindset, and recognise when it's time to proceed with your projects.

1. Recognise Perfectionism Triggers: "start by identifying what triggers your perfectionist tendencies. Is it fear of judgment, a past experience, or self-imposed standards? Acknowledging these triggers is the first step towards managing them.

2. Set Realistic Goals: Define clear, achievable goals for your projects. Remember, the aim is progress, not perfection. Break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

3. Embrace Imperfections: Allow yourself to make mistakes and view them as opportunities for learning and growth. Remember, the most innovative solutions often come from trial and error.

4. Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself during the process. Remind yourself that aiming for 'fine' doesn't mean you're settling for less but rather being pragmatic and realistic about what can be achieved.

5. Seek Feedback Early: Don't wait for your work to be perfect before seeking feedback. Early input can provide valuable perspectives that help you refine your project effectively and efficiently.

6. Celebrate Progress: Take time to acknowledge and celebrate the progress you make, however small. This helps build momentum and keeps you motivated.

By daring to share your work in its imperfect state, you open yourself up to constructive feedback and new perspectives that can enhance your work in ways you might not have considered on your own.

There’s always room for improvement, and you can continue refining as you go along. After all, progress is a journey, not a destination, and each step you take, no matter how small, brings you closer to your goal.

As we wrap up today’s journey on embracing 'fine' and moving beyond the shackles of perfectionism, I want to extend an invitation to all of you listening. I’d love for you to share your own experiences. How have you managed to overcome the paralysis that perfectionism can bring? Have you found a particular strategy helpful in making this mindset shift?

Send me a message on Instagram, I would love to hear from you. Your experiences are invaluable, and they enrich our community’s understanding and approach to personal growth. Plus, your story might just be the inspiration someone else needs to hear, or it could be featured in one of our future episodes, shining a light on the diverse ways we all journey towards embracing 'fine.’

Let’s continue to support and inspire each other, sharing our progress, no matter how imperfect it may be. Because together, we can break free from the cycle of perfectionism and celebrate the beauty and growth that comes from simply starting, from embracing 'fine.'

In this episode, we've explored the psychological underpinnings of perfectionism, heard how it manifests in both personal and professional contexts, and discussed strategies for embracing 'fine' in our daily lives.

Embracing 'fine' doesn't mean settling for mediocrity; it means recognising the beauty in progression, the strength in vulnerability, and the wisdom in acknowledging that sometimes, good enough is indeed good enough. It's about giving yourself permission to move forward, even when things aren't perfect, and understanding that each step, no matter how small, deserves celebration.

I encourage you to take this concept, apply it to your life, and observe the changes. Allow yourself to be surprised by the innovation, creativity, and freedom that come from letting go of the need for perfection.

Thank you for joining me. I am truly grateful for your time, your openness, and your willingness to consider a different approach. Until next time, remember to embrace 'fine,' and let it be the stepping stone to your greatest achievements.