THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
Welcome back! I am continuing my discussion of perfection and the twisted effects it has on us. For something that doesn’t exist, it sure does create a lot of doubt and fear in us. I’m on a mission to change that and to help leaders, professionals, and business owners just like you to overcome those doubts and fears so you can design and live the life you desire.
If this is your first time here, welcome! Here at Talk-O Tuesday I take my observations, experiences, and thoughts about the world, use them to create some kind of valuable lesson, and then I share them with you. There is usually some component of communication involved (I mean, I do run a COMMUNICATION coaching business…) but there is also a large component that is based on mindset shifts and reframing how we view things.
The way we communicate is directly influenced by our mindset and beliefs about ourselves. (Don’t believe me? Book a call and let’s chat! 😉)
Anyway, the last few weeks I have been focusing on limiting beliefs and the way that perfection invades our mindset and tells us we aren’t good enough to do things so we should sit on the sidelines and not even try.
That is so far from the truth my friend! If you want to learn how to redefine success and failure and overcome your fears of falling short, get on my email list right now and then keep reading 😉
First, I need you to remember that perfection DOES NOT exist. Say it out loud “perfection does not exist.” Say it a few times if you need to 😉.
If you have been around here for a while, you know that I am a fan of American Football. I’m not crazy enough to sit outside in 10-degree weather to endure a game in the frozen tundra (Green Bay, WI), but I do get pretty worked up when I watch a game (from the comfort of my couch and my fuzzy blanket)…
About 7 years ago there was a game between the Packers and the then San Diego Chargers. This was back when Phillip Rivers was the Chargers’ quarterback and on paper, they had an amazing team.
Now, I know you’re thinking, it’s a sport, there is one loser and one winner - this is clearly an instance of well-defined success and failure. Yes…and no. Yes, one team will score more points than the other, but that doesn’t mean that the team with the lower number at the end didn’t play a phenomenal game. (Remember this, it’s important).
We were watching this game and it was doozy. It wasn’t neck and neck, but it was enough of a nail-biter that my blood pressure went up several times (I get stressed out when I watch football). Finally, the end of the game came, and the Packers were victorious.
That’s not what was so great about that game though. While I was thrilled that my favorite team had won another amazing game, I couldn’t help but think about the game that the Chargers played. In that game, Phillip Rivers threw a record 503 yards. That remains his all-time record for passing yards in a single game. By all accounts, he played a “perfect” football game. Yet his team still lost.
So, you see, even in a game where there appears to be a clear measurement of what could be considered “perfect” (winning = perfect, losing = failure), there really isn’t. I’ve seen games with sloppy wins and others with beautifully played losses. Winning as a professional athlete entails so much more than the outcome of a game or matchup. Learning and growth occur in the process of achievement, not at the end of it. The bottom line was that although the Chargers played extremely well, the Packers outplayed them.
It wasn’t perfect on either side of the ball. Both teams made mistakes, both teams scored points, but only one could win.
The lesson to be learned here is that you will never attain perfection. Even if the Chargers had won that game, it wouldn’t have been perfect. The point is that they played at an extremely high level, and even though they fell short of the win, they didn’t let that stop them.
I’m sure the players were upset that they played so well and didn’t win. But you know what they didn’t do – QUIT. Every single one of them showed up for work the next day to keep practicing, keep getting better, and focus on the next game.
That’s all YOU have to do. If you miss the mark or fall short of goal, just keep showing up. Keep practicing, keep striving for excellence. You will not win every game you play or reach every goal you set. But you can ALWAYS keep showing up and doing the next thing that needs to be done. It doesn’t have to be perfect, to be amazing!
One of my favorite mentors and online business gurus, Amy Porterfield, said, “Don’t talk yourself out of your greatness.” Remember, your story could be someone else’s survival guide or success map. Don’t make them wait until you think it is perfect.
Thanks for stopping by! If you are tired of letting flawed ideals of perfection get in your way, reach out to me. Book a call or connect with me on social media - I would love to work with you one on one and help you get out of your own way and on the path to achieving your dreams.
I currently have openings for new communication and mindset coaching clients and would love to help you build your skills, change your mindset, and change your life! Head on over to my resources page now! I can’t wait to connect with you!
I hope to see you soon!
Ciao for now!