As an entrepreneur, you are ambitious and want your business to grow. But does that mean you chase perfection all the time? For a long time, we have been operating in a society that promotes the ‘hustle culture’ and continues to do so. With this in mind, maybe it’s time for entrepreneurs to consider the Gen Z work mindset. Gen Z has a completely different mindset; for them, ‘hustle culture’ is history. They promote creativity and experiment with plans for desired results. They no longer chase perfectionism; their purpose and mindset are what set them apart.
Since everything comes at a cost, so does perfectionism. Perfectionism costs burnout, and the young entrepreneurs refuse to embrace this. When you paddle to chase perfectionism, no matter whether it’s your professional or personal life, all you get is relentless stress, exhaustion, and emotional fatigue. But this doesn’t mean you should be less ambitious or should not have goals. What’s important is to define your reach, change your mindset, and follow an approach that no longer drowns you in burnout.
Hey everyone! I am Joanna Krzastek, a certified goal success life coach. Today, I am here to provide you with valuable information on the connection between perfectionism and burnout, and how you can break the cycle with a shift in your mindset.
Before I proceed, I want you to know what perfectionism is. Perfectionism in business refers to the pursuit of unrealistic goals and flawlessness, combined with the fear of failure. In all my years of experience, I have coached several entrepreneurs, and do you know what’s that one thing that I have found common in most? Well, it’s the setting of unattainable goals with a fear of failure. I have seen entrepreneurs carrying fears in their pocket and setting vague goals, and tagging them as an ‘ambition’. And this is when they go wrong. Setting goals and having an ambition is great, but unrealistic expectations and overwork lead to burnout, missed opportunities, and stress.
How to recognize that you are burned out?
Most entrepreneurs I have met don’t recognize that they are already burned out and need a change. Common signs that indicate include constant exhaustion, difficulty in delegating, fear of mistakes, significant decrease in productivity, and detaching emotionally. This happens a lot with founders, and not just founders, but also with employees who are overly dedicated and want everything to be perfect. Such people don’t accept anything less than perfect, putting them in constant stress. If you also don’t delegate work because of your fear of failure, self-criticize yourself, and always overwork to meet impossible standards, then you are driving yourself to burnout.
What to do?
As a certified goal success life coach, I want you to aim for ‘good enough’ rather than ‘perfect’. Treat yourself with kindness and stop criticizing your decisions, and set healthy boundaries for yourself. Also, you must celebrate your small wins and trust your team by delegating work to them. Practice this and see the change it brings. For extensive support and guidance, connect today.