What's Perfection Got to Do with It?

A year and a half ago, in December of ’07, I had the idea that I’d like to move to Tucson. And exactly 63 days later, I was a proud first-time homeowner, unpacking boxes in the kitchen of my pretty little 3 bedroom abode (complete with tangerine tree!) here in sultry T-town. I share this with you, not to gloat, but as an example of purposeful action. Being a marketing coach to the stars (You didn’t know you were a star? Well, you are in my book!), I come across my fair share of passionate entrepreneurs who are eager to share their special brand of transformation with clients, but who get stuck in the “just one more” cycle. Just one more training seminar, just one more tweak to the website, just one more edit to the promo page. THEN everything will be perfect and they’ll be ready to get into action and create results. Nuh unh, folks. That’s not the way it works. Perfection does not, CAN not, lead to results. The desire for perfection actually prevents action. And action is the only way to create results. So if what you’re truly after is a business that transforms your clients’ lives and earns you a fabulous living, you must avoid perfection like the plague and take consistent, purposeful action. To support you in that mission, here are 3 excellent tips that make the whole “taking action” thing a breeze. . . Purposeful Action Tip 1: Have a specific goal I’d been thinking about leaving Sonoma for several years before I actually did it. What made the difference and allowed me to actually get a move on was having a clear picture of where I was going to go. Quite literally, I needed to know my destination first. Then the road to get there was easy to see. So the first step to purposeful action is taking the time to get clear on your desired outcome. Purposeful Action Tip 2: Chunk things down As the old saw goes: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Tackling buying a home and making a cross county (well, cross state, anyhow) move is a pretty large endeavor. What made it manageable was breaking it down into bite-sized chunks. Accomplishing your business goals is the same. Turning the bigger project into “mini” goals creates momentum, keeps you out of overwhelm, and provides you with “mini” successes along the way. Purposeful Action Tip 3: Accept support The third key to “git ‘er done” is to not even think of attempting to do it alone. No man is an island and all that. I enlisted my sisters, my nephews, my friends, all kinds of people to help me find a home, secure a mortgage, pack, drive 950 miles in a U-Haul, paint, unpack, find the library – and the list goes on. In business, successful entrepreneurs count on assistants, sub-contractors and mentors to provide the necessary collection of expertise, skills and resources. Listen to Your Inner Wisdom, That’s What It’s There For I believe your business will be most successful and most fulfilling when it’s a reflection of your True Self. And your True Self is already perfect – no adjustments needed. The only thing you need to put the finishing touches to is your ability to listen to your inner wisdom and take action from there. When you do that, the rest is easy.