3: Perfection is NOT Progress

Podcast Title: The Struggle is NOT Real

Tagline: What if your biggest obstacles are just a figment of your imagination?

Episode 3 Title: Perfection is Not Progress

Hosts:

• Michael Lennington - co-author of The 12 Week Year
• Kristin Tabbert - World Class Execution & Performance Coach
• Mike Gandolfo - Speaker & Award Winning Entrepreneur

Podcast Overview: This podcast aims to deconstruct popular myths and limiting beliefs that hold entrepreneurs back, replacing them with more empowering perspectives and practical strategies.

Episode Structure:

• Historical Perspective: The episode explores the origins of humanity's obsession with perfection, starting from ancient Greece with the sculptor Fidius, who intentionally added flaws (aporeia) to appease jealous gods, to Marjorie Kemp, history’s first documented burnout, and James Watt, who rebranded perfection as progress. It also touches on Steve Jobs and the first iPhone.
• Challenge: Perfectionism is identified as the enemy of progress, leading to procrastination and hindering results. The pursuit of perfection can be detrimental to one's health and can create discomfort and pain due to social feedback.
• Practical Application:
• Embrace the Minimal Viable Product (MVP): Release something that does what it’s supposed to do and improve based on feedback.
• Submission: Releasing the grip on what you believe to be control and unrealistic expectations.
• Focus on Value Creation: Prioritize value creation over flawless execution.
• Realistic Goals: Setting realistic goals that focus on effort and improvement.
• Feedback Loops: Establishing constant and regular feedback loops to guide progress.
• Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate incremental progress.
• Compassion and Grace: Practice self-compassion when failures occur, avoiding self-deprecating behaviors.
• Conclusion: Perfectionism isn't a compass but shackles. Perfection prevents progress, whereas excellence allows constant improvement and realistic expectations.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Set realistic goals focused on effort and improvement.
• Have constant and regular feedback loops.
• Celebrate small wins.
• Have compassion and grace with yourself when you fail.
• Focus on creation rather than flawless execution.
• Live Q&A: Audience questions addressed in real-time.

Livestream: Every Friday at 1:00 pm EST