Apparently, last week’s conversation about letting go of your perfectionist tendencies and replacing them with the drive for excellence struck a chord.
I received more emails back than any other conversation I’ve written.
And many of you talked about the root of your perfectionism—fear of criticism, fear
of being judged.
I totally get it. Criticism can seem like a limiting force, deflating your enthusiasm for your business and just being a total downer emotionally.
So, instead you strive to make your product or service “perfect,” then there won’t be any criticism to face. And that feels a ton better than being “criticized”…which kind of feels like someone wagging their finger at us, doesn’t it?
Yet, nothing grows strong without some resistance.
The strongest plants in your yard are the ones that fought the earth to send down roots. The best sports teams are usually the ones that overcame some challenge. Great, strong businesses that grow and thrive meet the resistance of fear of criticism and judgment.
Being willing to replace perfection with excellence means you will encounter some resistance to your product or service.
And while that doesn’t sound like a ton of fun, there is a very bright side–resistance, when you treat it properly, will enable you to grow faster and more profitability.
Here’s how you treat it properly:
• Listen. It’s often all that’s required.
• Listen and take action. Usually the input from your customers will only make your product more valuable as it solves their problem in a superior manner.
• Think about how often you say “no” in your business. How could the input you’re receiving be turned into a “yes” or at least a “maybe”?
Successful businesses do not hide from criticism. Successful businesses also do not wait for their products to be completely and utterly perfect.
Is some criticism likely to be unfair? You bet!
But what you’ll receive in valuable input—what makes your product even better and more compelling to your customers—will outweigh any unfair comments you receive.
Go forth and do great things.