5. Procrastination
Next on our list of perfectionist traits is procrastination. Studies show that constantly worrying about perfection hurts performance. Instead of working better, as you may expect, the perfectionist gets paralyzed and stuck.
The concern to deliver something less than perfect, along with the fear of failure, both perfectionist traits, leads you to do things much more slowly than other people. That is, assuming you even start things and don’t postpone them over and over again.
Typical excuses for a perfectionist would be waiting for the perfect moment, to know something, to have something, or for the circumstances to be conducive. According to experts, procrastinating and making excuses is a coping mechanism to protect the perfectionist from fear of failure.
Unfortunately, this often turns into a vicious cycle because procrastination leads to a greater sense of failure.
AHEM! Looks like THIS type of personality has the makings of artists and craftsmen!
Let’s look at the OTHER end of the spectrum—slovenly hacks who do just the minimum to “get by”.
Who would you rather have repair your car, remodel your house, or tailor a suit of clothes? A “get by easy” slob, a mediocre nil-wit, a “grab the $$$ and run” shyster or a hard driven perfectionist??
We perfectionists have our place. Like ME, Feral Tomm, for example—I was a property inspector—you could hire ME to find defects, flaws, and safety hazards in a house you were interested in buying. OHHHH the realtors hated me! YES! I was the guy who could always find the scab on the apple! Quite often, a home buyer could use my findings to save 20, 30, even 50 times what I charged— from the asking price of the dump I inspected—once my scathing report was issued.
True to your opinion of perfectionists—“THEY WERE ALL DUMPS”!! In MY opinion! The whole crux of the matter is THIS—at what point do you stop? Everything my father built or repaired was a true hack job. He’d throw the tools down at some point and belch—“EH! GOOD ENOUGH!” And I would ask myself “WHY?? Why is a sloppy job “good enough”?
Perfectionists are seldom lazy (well, not always, my oldest brother perfected laziness to a fine art. Having 7 quasi slave children helped). Perfectionists often have a strong conscience and wish to do the best they can. I always felt a strong obligation to satisfy my clients and “go the extra mile” for them.
Why are there not MORE perfectionists among the populations? Too many lazy people, too many crooked people, but mainly few people with enough patience for perfection. I am not “defending” perfectionists. We are just a different breed, one with higher standards. We don’t NEED any putting down. Just use us and appreciate us and it’s a WIN/WIN deal for all! (Except greedy realtors??)
My perfectionism led me to Jesus Christ—the most perfect person to set foot on this Earth! Rather than settle for life as a lazy slouch, or crooked demoniac—WHY NOT FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF OUR LOVING SAVIOR and live a worthwhile life?
This timely missive is yet another free gift from your favorite Sage—Feral Tomm. YOU ARE WELCOME!!
Whoa! I love this! And I love Jesus! Amen my friend! Thank you for sharing! = )
Yes, completely agree with all you stated!! Why not strive for top quality?! Anything worth doing is worth doing it right. Strive for perfection; achieve excellence. Only Jesus is truly perfect, and I rest in His love.
Thank you for your reply Feral Tomm. It was a true and great reading. I always seem to compare my work with others, and I see that I do way more than others, and then get angry or unsatisfied because the “others” didn’t do their job right.
Nuts!
I have no doubt that I’m a perfectionist. All of the above items fit except fear and low self esteem. Very few perfectionists that I know deal with them either. They know their trade, know they can accomplish, and are proud of the results. If unhappy with anything, its someone else’s work.
Tom, I’ll pray for you. You have missed the point about quality vs. perfectionism