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done+is+better+than+perfect

I’ve had two different conversations this week regarding perfection and how it messes us up from doing what’s best for us.  When a conversation happens multiple times in the same week with different people, it’s time to write about it.

If you’ve been around for any length of time, you know one of my slogans is “Done is Better Than Perfect”.  The phrase actually came from a client, she told me that she had this steamer trunk sitting in her basement for about 12 years always intending to do something with it – but no one had ever taken on the project.  She found me at a market and asked me to refinish it for her – knowing it was old and in imperfect condition, she said at least “done is better than perfect” and I can use it instead of it sitting, collecting dust (and mice) in the basement. 

steamer+trunk+before

Here’s what it looked like when I was finished – a true diamond in the rough – who would have guessed that was it’s full potential??  Now used in her living room for blanket storage, and a good reminder of an old find at an antique store.

steamer+trunk+after

Is it perfect? Nope. 

Old, vintage things aren’t ever going to be perfect – but that’s one of the things we all like about them.  They have the character and old stories in them – and they’ve already stood the test of time. 

Perfectionism is Slowing You Down…

Back to one of my conversations this week…

We’ve been working on remodeling our new church building.  (If you follow me on Facebook, you’ve seen how I’ve been involved in building a pallet wall) One of the guys working stopped and said, “it looks great, but I’m such a perfectionist I never would have finished it so fast”. 

In this particular situation, church is Sunday.  We no longer have time to talk about it, plan it, draw it, etc.  We are down to the wire – we’ve got to GET IT DONE!  That doesn’t mean you cut corners or do a half-ass job, it just means you get to work!  We are only given limited resources in our Time, Talent and Ability, and we must use them each to the best we can. 

Perfectionism is Stealing Your Joy…

If you are always unable to see something through to completion, you’ll always be frustrated and constantly feel stuck.  Everyone has to start somewhere, but we all focus so much on the things we can’t do (or think we can’t do) we forget to do the things we can. 

I had never once refurbished a steamer trunk when I took on that project.  But I was pretty sure I could figure it out.  And I didn’t have to be a professional steamer trunk restorer to do it. Once it was finished, there’s such a sense of accomplishment in getting it DONE!  

Perfectionism is Screwing You Up…

Now for the other conversation I had this week.  A friend of mine is starting a business, she’s been working super hard behind the scenes for about a year now, but she said she wants it to be perfect so badly she’s been unable to put herself out there. 

Perfectionism is holding us back from what we are really meant to be doing, fulfilling our God given dreams. Let me speak from experience here and say that my first website – sucked.  It took about two years refinishing furniture as a business before I really figured out my style, my brand and had some consistency. Everyone has to start somewhere, or you’ll never get anywhere.  One foot in front of the other. 

So be encouraged, and get to work!

Jenni