5 Mindset Shifts for Recovering Perfectionists

I often felt like my perfectionism was a strength - until it wasn't. For a long time, I thought high standards and double-checking everything made me a better business owner. But really perfectionism contributed to burnout, to procrastination, to the constant nagging feeling of never being quite good enough.

These days, I’m learning to be easier on myself. I'm still a work in progress, but these are some of the mindset shifts I come back to again and again. If you’re a small business owner struggling to balance work/life/marketing/stress, I hope these help you too.

1. Done is better than perfect
Waiting until something is perfect can mean it never gets published. Often, the difference between something that’s 90% done and 100% “perfect” is invisible to everyone but you. And the longer you wait, the more momentum and opportunity you lose.

✨ Try this: Post an idea you’ve been sitting on for weeks. Even if it’s not perfect. Notice what happens when you share it anyway. Often the added impact of polishing something till it’s 100% perfect for you doesn’t warrant the extra time and effort.

2. The 80% Rule
If you’re 80% happy with something, it’s probably ready to go.

✨ Try this: Next time you're reviewing a caption, email, or website update, ask: “Is this 80% good?” If the answer is yes, publish it. Move on.

3. You can always make changes later
A big perfectionist fear is that once something’s out there, it’s permanent. But the truth is that you can edit a caption, re-record a video, rewrite a service page. Marketing is iterative. It's better to release a good first draft than to stay stuck forever.

✨ Try this: Think of your next post as a draft. A starting point. If it flops - you learned something. If it flies - amazing. Either way, you’re testing and learning.

4. You’re your own worst critic
Most people aren’t zooming in on your graphics or counting how many times you say “just” in your caption. They're busy! They care about connection, not perfection.

✨ Try this: Next time you’re spiralling about a small detail, ask yourself: “Would I notice this in someone else’s post?” If not, let it go.

5. Progress matters more than polish
Consistency is more valuable than making every post a masterpiece. Your audience isn’t expecting flawless content - they want helpful, human, real. Showing up with regular, imperfect marketing builds trust far faster than sporadic perfection.

✨ Try this: Pick one day this week to share something quick. No filters. No long captions. Just you, sharing something useful or honest.

Perfectionism might feel like protection, but it can also be a cage.

You don’t have to be flawless to be impactful. You don’t have to polish everything to be professional. You do have to show up - even if your inner critic is whispering that it’s not good enough yet.

Start with these mindset shifts and keep taking small, imperfect steps. I hope you’ll find a way to embrace your inner flawed, brilliant authentic self. I’m still getting to know mine, but she’s pretty great!