Perfectionism Is Holding You Back: How to Overcome It as a Small Business Owner

That’s perfectionism at work, and if you’re not careful, it can stop you from making progress altogether. As Winston Churchill said, ‘“Perfectionism is the enemy of progress.” The longer you wait for perfection, the longer you delay growth, opportunities, and even success.

The Problem with Perfectionism

At first glance, being a perfectionist might seem like a good thing. You care about quality, you hold yourself to high standards. What’s wrong with that, right? The problem is, perfectionism often does more harm than good. 

According to research, perfectionists struggle to feel satisfied with their work, leading to unnecessary stress, burnout, and even anxiety or depression. A study cited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that perfectionists often don’t find joy in their work, constantly chasing an unrealistic standard that leaves them feeling drained. 

Perfectionism can also slow you down or even stop you from starting in the first place. WebMD points out some key signs of perfectionism:

• You procrastinate because you don’t want to start until you can do it flawlessly.
• You take way longer than necessary to complete a task.
• You obsess over the final product, rather than the process.
• You feel like your work is never truly done because it’s not “perfect” yet.

And when you combine all of these? You get analysis paralysis. When overthinking keeps you from making any decisions at all. Whether it’s staring at a blank screen, comparing yourself to others, or worrying about what people might say, perfectionism can make even simple tasks feel impossible to start.

Why Prioritizing Progress Over Perfection is a Game Changer

Before we talk about how to break free from perfectionism, here’s how embracing progress over perfection can actually make your business (and life) better:

1. You get things done: Instead of endlessly tweaking, you actually finish tasks and move on to the next.
2. You feel more relaxed: Less pressure to be perfect means less stress and more enjoyment in your work.
3. You learn faster: Instead of waiting until everything is perfect, you gain real-world experience and improve as you go.
4. You become more resilient: When things don’t go as planned, you adapt instead of feeling defeated.
5. You create a realistic work environment: If you have a team, they’ll feel less pressure and more motivated to do their best.
6. You avoid burnout: Constantly chasing perfection is exhausting. Giving yourself grace helps you sustain long-term growth.
7. You open yourself up to opportunities: Something that is done gives you something to build on.
8. You stop overanalyzing: No more spending hours second-guessing every little detail.
9. You gain confidence: The more you take action, the more confident you become in your abilities and talents.
10. You enjoy the process: Work becomes more rewarding when you’re not constantly worried about perfection. 

How to Stop Letting Perfectionism Get in Your Way

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to let perfectionism hold you back. There are ways to work through it, and no, it’s not about lowering your standards; it’s about shifting your mindset, so you can actually get things done.

• Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

Instead of aiming for “perfect”, aim for “done”. Set a goal that prioritizes progress over flawless execution. For example:

• • Instead of saying, “I need to create the perfect video.”, say “I need to post one video this week.”
  • Instead of saying, “I need to have my business fully planned out before I start,” say, “I’ll launch now and adjust as I go.”

Remind yourself: Small steps add up. You don’t need to have it all figured out before you begin.

• Set Time Limits on Tasks

One of the biggest traps of perfectionism is spending way too much time tweaking and refining. A simple fix? Give yourself a set amount of time to complete something… and stick to it!

For example, if you’re writing an email, give yourself 30 minutes to draft, edit, and send. If you’re filming a video, allow yourself to brainstorm ideas first, then set aside a separate time to film. This way, both tasks don’t scramble together. This was suggested by Nick Niehaus (Business Video School), our podcast guest on My Weekly Marketing episode 95 on Overcoming Fear of Video Marketing. The goal is to prevent overanalyzing and keep things moving forward.

• Reframe Mistakes as Part of the Process

Perfectionists fear making mistakes, but mistakes are normal, and honestly, they’re one of the best ways to learn. If you look at every misstep as proof that you’re failing, you’ll never move forward.

Think of it this way: Every successful entrepreneur, content creator, and business owner started somewhere. They didn’t have it all figured out from day one. They made mistakes, learned from them, and kept going. But they also had guidance along the way. Having a mentor can make a huge difference in overcoming perfectionism, helping you stay accountable, and keeping you focused on progress instead of getting stuck in unrealistic expectations. If you’re wondering how to find the right mentor, check out this blog on why every small business owner needs one: 7 Reasons Why Every Small Business Owner Needs a Mentor.

• Break Big Tasks into Smaller Steps

Feeling overwhelmed by a big project? Break it down into bite-sized steps. Instead of telling yourself, “I need to launch my business,” start with smaller, manageable tasks like “Set up a basic landing page” or “Write and schedule one social media post”.

The smaller the steps, the easier it is to start and finish.

• Celebrate What You Did Do

Instead of focusing on what wasn’t “perfect”, focus on what you accomplished.

• • Did you finally post that video, even if the lighting wasn’t great? That’s a win.
  • Did you send an email to potential clients, even if you rewrote it five times? Another win.
  • Did you launch your business, even if you’re still figuring things out? HUGE win.

Acknowledging your progress will help you keep moving forward instead of getting stuck in self-criticism. 

Moving Forward Without Letting Perfectionism Hold You Back

Perfectionism can be sneaky. It feels like you’re just trying to do your best, but in reality, it’s often just holding you back. The truth is, no one expects you to be perfect, except maybe you.

So, what’s one thing you’ve been putting off because it’s not “ready” yet? Maybe today is the day you take that first “imperfect” step. You might be surprised at how far it takes you. 

As the saying goes, “Done is better than perfect”.