If you look up perfectionist in the dictionary it will say a person who refuses to accept any standard less than perfect. What it won’t say is that people who are perfectionist may also be procrastinators. Is there a link between perfectionism and procrastination and the inability to get things done? I’m not sure, but it’s a myth that’s circulating the internet. I have to believe there is some truth to it.
I am a procrastinator, which means I tend to put things off. I work better under pressure or with an approaching deadline, or so I think. I am also a perfectionist. It takes me awhile to craft my posts. I edit as I write. It’s definitely not the most efficient way to go about things and it affects the number of articles I publish, which means it also affects my bottom line.
I’ve even put off starting a YouTube channel and shooting my own videos. This sounds so stupid coming from a freelance producer. I never wanted to be in front of the camera. I made a living behind the scenes. I’m not crazy about the way my voice sounds on video, my hair is always a mess because it’s curly and I need to lose a few pounds. So, I’ve procrastinated because I’m not perfect.
Perfectionism and Procrastination
So basically my need to have a perfect, well thought out post, with the right pictures or video and the right keywords is hindering my ability to get things done, hence make money. This revelation hit me like a ton of bricks.
It was actually my friend Oscar Gonzalez from notagrouch.com who called me out. He said,
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a duck liner. I know, because I was one too, but not anymore. You can change.”
What is a duck liner? According to Oscar, it’s a person who has to have all their ducks in a row before trying to reach their goal. You can read Oscar’s Post on that here.
The thing about being a duck liner is that it’s not just about blogging or shooting videos. You can procrastinate when it comes to job searches, asking for a raise, making new friends, dating, or joining a gym. There is no perfect time. You just have to do it.
Just Do It!
It’s a message that top bloggers like John Chow, Syed Balkhi and John Rampton express every time they speak. You can read the posts from the interviews I did with them at Affiliate Summit.
- Interview with Affiliate Summit Speakers John Chow and Syed Balkhi
- Interview with Affiliate Summit Speaker John Rampton
Woot! This is awesome. I’m very happy to see a new post on your blog. Keep it up. This is also one of my favorite topics because for entrepreneurs, it’s one of the low-hanging fruits.
Unfortunately people get in their heads too much and it’s hard for them to see this as a problem. But once I show them, the wheels start turning and they build momentum and THAT is hard to stop.
Keep it up!