Content with Character

Step Aside, Perfectionism! We've got action to take

August 13, 2024 Emily Aborn

Text Emily!

Maybe you've convinced yourself that perfectionism is a good trait. I can definitely see that side of the coin too, trust me...

It means you have high standards, attention to detail, care about quality, have a strong appreciation doing things "right". It might reflect your goal-oriented, task-focused, reliable, forward-thinking, innovative side as you constantly look to make things BETTER.

And perfectionism can have some unwanted side effects: Procrastination, stopping you in the first place, causing you to question, doubt, overthink, second-guess, never share, never feel ready, never feel smart enough, good enough. It can strain relationships, take up a lot of energy, and can even lead to burnout. 

What would happen if we turn down the noise of perfectionism just 1%?

In the episode, we explore exactly that as we get into: 

  • Perfectionism defined by Julia Cameron in her book, The Artist's Way (p.119-120 quoted)
  • The upsides and downsides of being perfectionistic 
  • Three types of perfectionism that show up in our business 
  • How perfectionism can show up in marketing, collaborations, relationships, and beyond!
  • Covert and overt perfectionism 
  • 6 Ideas to help you turn it down 1% at a time 
  • And more! 

Journaling Prompt (from Julia Cameron's Book The Artist's Way) 

  • What would I do if I didn't have to do it perfectly? 
  • What would I say if I didn't have to say it perfectly? 

Consider: Anything worth doing might be worth doing imperfectly (even badly) at first. 

Resources Mentioned: 
Becoming 7% Better Experiment (Emily's Substack Article)
Content with Character Episode: How to Stop People-Pleasing in Your Marketing

About Me:
I'm Emily Aborn, Content Copywriter, Speaker, and Podcast Host of Content with Character and She Built This. I've worked with 100+ industries as a copywriter, writing original copy that increases your confidence. Fan of: being a nerd, reading, podcasts, and hiking with my husband and dog.

Email: emily@emilyaborn.com
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