This is when high standards turn into self sabotage
How perfectionism keeps you stuck, except when you use it in these 3 ways
“Not enough” is the warden to my prison cell.
I feel like I’m never doing enough, so I do more.
I feel like I’m never good enough as I am, so I keep trying harder.
Growing up, I was told that I could always do better: You got an A-? How come you didn’t get an A+?
I felt like if I was perfect, then I would finally be good enough. I would’ve proven my worth, and I would’ve finally made it. (Look at me, Mommy!)
But THAT became my ultimate prison because “perfect” doesn’t exist.
…and that meant that I will “never” be good enough.
I used seeking perfectionism as a way of control, micromanaging my way through uncertainty and self doubt.
If I do the best I can, I’d made a good (or great) first impression.
If I try my hardest, I’d be liked, accepted, and appreciated.
You tell yourself you’re just making it better and making sure it’s right.
You tweak. You refine. You overanalyze.
You then fill your time with endless revisions, convincing yourself you’re being “thorough”.
Somehow, “just a little more” turns into hours, days, weeks, and maybe even months of work and second guessing whether what you’ve done is good enough.
You tell yourself you’ll be ready once it’s perfect… but there’s always more to do.
You put in all that efforts to make it as good as you can… but your minimal standards keep shifting and elevating.
Instead of moving forward, you stay busy in an endless cycle of polishing and redoing.
Let’s take a moment to really consider: Is all that behind-the-scenes work… truly progress?
In reality, you’re just delaying. Because all that time has passed and to you, it’s still not good enough… in some way.
Isn’t that such a sneaky form of self sabotage?
Oh, I know, because I’ve done my fair share of it.
Here’s an example: I spent weeks perfecting my website before launching, obsessing over the wording and the layout. Thinking if I got it just right, I’d have clients knocking down my door wanting to work with me.
But did they when I finally launched it? No. My website was like a grain of sand on a beach. Unless they knew where to find me, no one noticed or knew how to find it.
Do you need to have a website to run your business? Sure, it can help but it is not a prerequisite.
I could’ve been doing more meaningful work, like engaging with prospects and actually talking to leads instead of grinding behind the scenes. Did it need some refining? Yah, but what I was really scared of was putting myself out there, scared of failing, and scared of being judged and rejected.
That extra time behind the scenes didn’t make it significantly better.
What could’ve made it better was getting actual real world feedback and discovering what my audience really wanted help with and connecting directly with them.
Perfectionism doesn’t always look like fear. It disguises itself as high standards, preparation, and showing up responsibly. It makes you believe that if you can refine things just a little more, you’ll avoid failure, judgment, and regret.
Why perfectionism feels safe… but it isn’t
Your brain isn’t trying to sabotage you. It’s just trying to keep you safe. Perfectionism isn’t just about doing it well—it’s a coping mechanism designed to help you avoid potential risks.
It’s your mind’s way of shielding you from:
Fear of failure—so you refine endlessly instead of risking mistakes.
Fear of judgment—so you hold back rather than putting imperfect work into the world.
Fear of losing control—so you micromanage every step, making things feel safe but ultimately hindering (or in the worst case, halting) your progress.
Instead of protecting you, this cycle keeps you stuck—continuously stalling, overworking, and convincing yourself to wait until everything is “just right”.
The perfectionism quick sand
One of the biggest pitfalls I see high achieving entrepreneurs fall into is Control Freak Perfectionism—the belief that success requires micromanaging every detail to guarantee the “right” outcome.
Every time you chase perfection, you reinforce the idea that your work isn’t good enough… yet. That hesitation becomes a habit. That habit becomes your default. Before you know it, you’ve wasted valuable time refining instead of actually making progress.
This self sabotaging behavior is what I call an Entrepreneurial Sin, and it might show up like this:
You spend hours obsessing over small details that don’t actually move the needle.
You hold back from sharing your work because it’s “not quite ready.”
You rewrite, rework, and redo things that were already good enough the first time.
You struggle to delegate because no one else can do it as well as you can.
If any of this resonates, you might be stuck in the polishing and perfecting mode while opportunities and progress pass you by.
Adopting this new mindset will make all the difference: Success doesn’t come from perfect execution—it comes from consistent action.
The productivity illusion
The problem isn’t your standards—it’s how you’re leveraging them.
When you chase perfection:
You slow yourself down, missing valuable opportunities.
You lose confidence because nothing ever feels “ready” or “good enough”.
You work harder, but not necessarily smarter.
Perfectionism doesn’t lead to excellence. It leads to exhaustion.
The goal isn’t to lower your quality of work. It’s to channel your energy in a way that allows you to move forward without getting trapped in the perfectionist loop.
ARE YOU STUCK IN THIS CYCLE?
This is just one of the 7 Entrepreneurial Sins that can hijack your productivity and keep you stuck.
Want to know which ones are secretly sabotaging your progress?
In a few minutes, the Success Blocker Quiz can help you identify the patterns that are quietly stalling your momentum.
Stop overthinking and start taking action⎯begin with taking this quiz.
Btw, your perfectionism can become your superpower
Perfectionism itself isn’t inherently bad. In fact, the same qualities that fuel it can be your biggest strengths—as long as they’re channeled into progress and fueling your goals, instead of getting you to play small.
💭 Thoughtful strategizing
You naturally assess situations from all angles, helping you make well informed decisions.
You anticipate challenges before they arise, allowing you to create proactive solutions.
You don’t rush into things impulsively, ensuring your work is well thought out and intentional.
💎 Committed to delivering quality
You have an incredible eye for refining and enhancing, ensuring high quality results.
You take pride in your work, striving to produce something meaningful and impactful.
You naturally refine and evolve your work, pushing yourself to be better with each iteration.
🚧 Methodical + Disciplined
You absorb knowledge deeply, ensuring you understand the best strategies before taking action.
You have a strong work ethic and thrive with organization and systems, allowing you to create a reliable, consistent approach.
You value accuracy and following proven methods, which helps create strong foundations for success and commit to doing things right.
🚁 High standards + Take initiative
You take ownership of your work and ensure things are done with quality and high standards, without being asked.
You’re resourceful and capable, able to handle challenges without waiting on others.
You care deeply about the outcome, ensuring that every project reflects your vision and values.
High standards, attention to detail, and strong execution are powerful assets… as long as they’re paired with action, trust, and momentum.
Benefit from the positive aspects of your perfectionism
Give yourself clear milestones and firm deadlines to prevent overworking small details. Intentionally step back and ask: “Is this truly unfinished, or am I just afraid to release it?”
Set clear boundaries and define what’s essential to completing your goals. Ask yourself: “Would this change make a real impact, or am I just avoiding the next step?”
Give your perfectionism a specific role, like finalizing the last 10% of the project instead of slowing yourself down earlier in the process. When you set structured limiters on where and when to perfect, you can maintain quality without sacrificing momentum.
Progress happens when you give yourself the room for growth, not when you wait for perfection. Harness these strengths with purpose and channel them from perfectionism into progress.
It’s never too late
More tweaking and refining won’t make your work perfect, just like waiting won’t make the fear disappear.
Perfectionism doesn’t create success—it delays it. It just keeps you stuck, making it harder to move forward while you get caught up in the details.
If you’re tired of overpolishing, overthinking, and overcontrolling, it’s time to uncover what’s really keeping you stuck.
Take the quiz, get your results, and start moving forward—not just refining in circles. The sooner you start and the more awareness you gain, the sooner you build real momentum. Done is better than perfect. You’ve got this!
