When Good Enough Goes Bad

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You may have heard the expression “Good is Good Enough”. Something about this statement has irked me ever since I first heard it, but I couldn’t put my finger on why until just recently.

You see, Good is Good Enough works in the right context. As I heard it, it was intended to encourage us to let go of perfectionism and to take action, rather than wait for that perfect time.

Perhaps you can relate:

If I could only get X done, it would be perfect.

If I was better at Y, business would be great.

When I finish Z, I’ll be all set.

Seeking perfection in these examples is really just a sneaky way to justify NOT moving forward,  and therefore avoiding risk.

But the trouble starts when you take the Good is Good Enough approach and let it run wild. When this happens and you go too far down the slippery slope, you can slide right into the Imperfection Trap.

When this happens, Good is Good Enough turns into Bad is Good Enough. This insidious mindset pest creeps in when you start to encounter obstacles and your natural fears begin to get the best of you. To protect yourself, you start to lower your expectations and hedge your bets downward, a little bit at a time. You chip away at your big vision to play it just a little bit safer. You’re starting to settle for less, without even realizing it.

At this point, it becomes very easy to cave in to your doubts. And you will have them, because the outcome of your less than 100% effort to reach your potential can only be less than 100% satisfactory results! Negative outcomes lead you to the path of diminished dreams.

As an entrepreneur, or aspiring business owner trying to get your new venture off the ground, this is a sad place to be. For many people, this is when they start to give up because the downward spiral of expectations, if not caught and checked, leads to an even lower point: Nothing is Good Enough.

Suddenly, every comparison seems to be telling you that your previously fabulous idea sucks, or that you’re coming late to the party. You’ll never catch up, and besides, someone else is already doing what you want to do, so why bother? They’re more experienced, have more resources, etc. You can think of a hundred reasons why you should quit now.

Before you know it, you’ll be throwing yourself a real pity party and completely talk yourself out of what started out as the perfect dream. Guess what? You’re now caught in the Imperfection Trap!

If you see yourself on this slippery slope of dream destruction, you can still turn it around.

1. Realize you’re not alone in having second thoughts or fears.
2. Stay committed to your goal. Don’t sacrifice or play it safe with your potential. If you find yourself pulling back, examine your thoughts closely. Are you settling, or giving up too soon?
3. If you are feeling discouraged, go back to basics of your business plan. Focus on your end goal, celebrate your progress and list all of the opportunities you have before you.  This is often enough to reset yourself.
4. Build a support system of other small business owners where you can safely share your challenges.
5. Work with a coach who can guide you, give you objective feedback and hold you accountable.  A skilled mentor will be able to help you separate your negative self talk from the facts.
6. Recognize that we often hold ourselves to a much higher (and often unrealistic) standard than we would ever expect from someone else.
7. Let go of perfect if it means you’ll move ahead faster, but NEVER lower or undervalue what you have to offer out of fear or doubt.

Follow these steps, and you’ll be climbing up that slippery slope in no time.

Want to use this article? You can as long as you include this footer: Sherri Garrity is the Chief Corporate Fugitive and creator of the Five Keys Success System^TM for ex-corporate employees and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to break free from the confines of their corporate experience and  live outside of the ordinary. The Corporate Fugitive system demystifies the business of setting up, managing, marketing and growing a successful and extraordinary business. Visit www.corporatefugitive.com for information and step-by-step resources to take you from overwhelmed employee to extraordinary entrepreneur.