Can socks be mismatched in business?

Welcome to Week 16 of my adventure as a member of the Marketing Plan Group. In my posts, I talk about my voyage down the road of self-employment as a website copywriter, my achievements and roadblocks along the way, and what I’m learning from my group experience.

I wouldn’t call myself a perfectionist. Well, not when it comes to most areas of my life. I leave my house with messy hair. I don’t measure things when I’m baking. And I’ve been known to wear socks that don’t match. I’m not talking about two white socks that aren’t partners. I mean a pink polka dot sock and a green one with frogs on it.

When it comes to my business, however, my socks need to match. They also need to be ironed, put on with careful attention, and checked many times throughout the day. And God forbid they slouch.

I allow myself to be lax in some areas, but I feel like my business needs to be perfect.

Interestingly, wanting to be perfect can be a major obstacle in business. I’ve talked about it before – but the ideals of perfection can make you freeze up like a girl who locked her jacket in the car in January in New York. Oh wait, that’s me again… being imperfect. In my personal life, I don’t care if people think my hair is messy, and they can’t see my socks.

But if I make a one-sheet, create an email newsletter, or put up a website, and people see it, it’s final. These things determine my business.

What if I make a mistake? What if I change my mind?

This week, my buddy and I started our research calling. She has a perfection complex too. When we talked, she said that it has been like a perfection emancipation for her. That it feels so good to finally get out of her head and take some action. Even if it’s not perfect. Even if she’s not 100% sure about her target market. Even if she still needs to tweak her script.

Like socks, support comes in many styles and colors. And this is how my buddy and I support each other. Sometimes we talk about the marketing details, and sometimes we support each other emotionally. We encourage each other. We tell each other it’s ok not to be perfect. And sometimes, the best support is the kind that tells you it’s ok, that you’re doing a good job, and that you’re on the right track.

If you have a perfection complex you need to get over, there’s nothing like taking action. And if you want to take action, this group is for you. A new one starts the week of Jan 25th.

Have you banished a perfection complex? If so, tell us how.

 
 

Comments

[Tara Fort]

Hey Deidre! I love the part about your buddy taking action even if it's not perfect, and how it feels good just to get something done. I'm inspired -- time for me to make those calls! I love the "one sheet" detailed in a previous post of yours. Can't wait to work my 2010 Marketing Mentor Plan and Calendar!

[Kara Smith]

Deidre,
As I read this post I couldn't help but to laugh... I can totally relate about walking out of the house with 2 different socks on. It's great being your buddy so we can work out our "issues." Whenever I catch myself caught up in the perfectionist mode and not taking action because it's not perfect in my eyes, I try to remember my dad's famous line "Just do something, even if it's wrong."