Perfectionism versus Good-Enough

Perfectionism in a business can be a killer. Your products and services have to be good enough for your clients and customers. They do not have to be perfect. In fact, I don't think it's possible for them to be perfect. Someone will always find fault, not be attracted to your business or criticize. No matter how much time and energy and money you invest in perfecting it.

This is not to say your products and services should be low-quality, haphazard or flimsy. It just means somewhere this side of perfect. There is a huge chasm between perfect and bad. Good-enough will satisfy, even thrill your clients. Good-enough will require a reasonable investment of time, energy and money. Good-enough can include high-quality, excellence, style, aesthetics, functionality, and anything else that your client requires in order to buy. Good-enough can be best, and still not be perfect. Just enough goodness to make you and your customer happy. Not one ounce more.

The quest for perfection can prevent us from: sending out that press release because it's not perfect, posting our new product on our website because it's just not quite right or all the supporting processes are not yet in place, putting out a website because it still needs a little work, having our grand opening because it is not yet perfect, handing out business cards because you're still not quite happy with them, etc. Completion wins over perfection every time.

So how do we get caught up in the perfectionistic behavior? For some of us we get an ego boost from this as in "see how good I am". For some of us it is a way of trying to avoid criticism or judgment. For some, it is a misunderstanding of what your clients want and need and delusions of grandeur about what you can provide. For others, it is a way to avoid ever launching your products and services, of avoiding the possibility of failure. Whatever your own personal story is, perfectionism can destroy your business. And it wreaks havoc on your nerves, your time and energy, your bank account, and your confidence in yourself.

Practice noticing where you are feeling as if something must be perfect. When you notice it or even suspect that this is causing you a problem, back off. Try to examine what problem you are trying to solve and who you are trying to satisfy. See if you can come up with a solution (product or service) that is good enough. Let something out the door before you think it is perfect and see what happen. Every time I've done this, expecting a huge backlash from clients, absolutely nothing negative has happened. Often it engenders positive feedback. So give yourself permission to be less than perfect. If you can't see any way to back off from perfection, ask for help. Often a more objective look at something can tell you when you are done or when you really do need to invest more in it.

All blog content is copyrighted, all rights reserved, Mary Anne Fields and Life Unfolds, 2006

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5 Deadly Mistakes for Solo-Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners

Most of us start a business because we love to do a certain activity, such as therapy or construction or coaching. So often though our businesses flounder or roller coaster along causing fear and frustration and doubt. We know we are good at what we do, why isn't that enough?

Here are the five deadliest mistakes that solo (and small business) owners make.

1. Thinking that they are in the business of X (psychologist, coach, artist, trainer, selling widgets). Unfortunately, this is a common misperception. The main business is marketing and most of their time will be spent in marketing. Your love of X is what made you start the business, but without marketing, you have no business.

2. Not having a business plan because they aren't borrowing money from a bank. Many solo entrepreneurs and small businesses do not bother with a business plan because they believe they are too small, it is only them so it can be held in their heads or there's no need for one unless you are borrowing money from an investor or bank. A solid business plan serves many purposes. The primary purpose being to explore and clearly lay out what your plans for the business are. It should include tangibles and intangibles such as location, typical/ideal clients, schedules, training, work hours, support staff and/or employee plans, ramp-up planning, marketing strategy, income goals, expenses, cash flow, etc. This is the place where you get clear what you are building. Even if your business is years old, the exercise will strengthen your business and your own understanding of what you and your business really mean.

3. Not having a marketing plan. Often business owners don't even know such a thing could exist much less that it should. Without a plan, marketing is haphazard, and can easily be dropped as we get busy or avoided because we don't like to do it. A marketing plan is a written document that includes what marketing you will do, when and where, metrics you will keep, how often you will review and change it and your expectations from the marketing (name recognition, new clients or customers, list building, etc.). It can take the form of a calendar with all marketing events scheduled. This makes it very easy to follow.

4. Not being able to speak about their business in clear, interesting ways. We've all heard about the elevator speech, but few have actually developed one. You must be able to instantly answer the question "And what do you do?" with words that will engage the listener and draw them into a conversation. You should be able to say what you do for whom and what benefits or results will occur within a single statement or two in 30 seconds or so. Practice it until it is automatic. Additionally, you should be able to talk to someone about what you do, asking them questions that will help you give relevant information so you can frame your answers. Write a list of questions that you've been asked or imagine what you might be asked and practice short answers. Give business cards to everyone you meet.

5. Not having systems in place. Most of us don't think in terms of systems when we are solo professionals or very small businesses. After all, we do most of the work anyway. Systems will allow everything to be done more efficiently. They also make it much easier to delegate when necessary because the instructions are clearly laid out and easy to understand. Systems might include bookkeeping processes, website maintenance, customer lists and customer service, appointment setting, order fulfillment, and pretty much any other operation that occurs in your company. You design the system so that it meets your needs and then document it and follow it. The creativity is in the design, not in the execution!

All blog content is copyrighted, all rights reserved, Mary Anne Fields and Life Unfolds, 2006

Please let me know what you think about this.