I've been dreading writing this piece all week, procrastinating because I wanted it to be perfect. In my mind: the ideal professional—someone effortlessly cool, sipping iced coffee in a beautifully curated space, doing meaningful work with ease, rocking amazing outfits, and sharing stories of a flawlessly negotiated raise with friends.

That describes the vision perfectly, right?

Rationally, we all know that perfection doesn’t exist. Yet, as ambitious individuals, the drive for excellence is real.

Now that we’ve established that no one is actually perfect, we need to discuss why that statement can feel so irritating. Rationally, we know perfection is unattainable; nevertheless, perfectionists tend to hold an idealized view of how things should be and have an innate desire to close the gap between expectations and reality.

The important thing to understand is that your drive for excellence isn’t a flaw, but rather a superpower that can be harnessed by better understanding how perfectionism shows up for you and how to use it to your advantage as a high-performer.

First, perfection can kill your momentum. Avoid analysis paralysis. You’ve got big dreams, but perfectionism can keep you from making them happen. Instead of starting, you get caught up in the “what ifs,” waiting for the perfect moment or flawless plan. Spoiler alert: that moment doesn’t exist. Real progress comes from showing up and taking action, even if it’s a little messy. You can do hard things!

Second, you need to ditch the overthinking trap. I get it—you're ambitious, and you want things to be just right. But overthinking can lead to analysis paralysis, leaving you stuck in a loop of planning without doing. The fear of not being perfect can freeze you in your tracks. Try this: break things down into small, doable steps and focus on taking one action at a time. No more waiting—just doing.

Third, focus on starting, not finishing. When everything feels overwhelming, perfectionism can convince you to quit before you even begin. Shift your mindset to focus on starting rather than obsessing over the outcome. Remember: done is better than perfect. Give yourself permission to do things imperfectly—because it’s in those imperfect moments that real growth happens.

In one of my favourite books on the topic, The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control, Katherine Morgan Schafler breaks down perfectionism into five types—each showing up in different ways for ambitious individuals. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Classic Perfectionist: You set impossibly high standards for yourself and are always striving for excellence, but you can end up burned out from constantly chasing “perfect.”
• Procrastinator Perfectionist: You want things to be flawless, so you end up putting them off, waiting for the perfect moment or idea—which can leave your dreams stuck on pause.
• Messy Perfectionist: Things may seem disorganized on the outside, but you hold yourself to a high internal standard, constantly overthinking and second-guessing your choices.
• Intense Perfectionist: You’re laser-focused and driven, unwilling to settle for less than perfection, but that intensity can make it hard to relax or enjoy the process.
• Parisian Perfectionist: You make it look effortless—on the surface, you seem to have it all together, but you’re quietly pushing yourself to meet hidden, rigid expectations.

I realized I’m a Messy Perfectionist with a side of Procrastinator Perfectionist. How fun!

If you aren’t sure which type aligns with you, Katherine Morgan Schafler offers a handy quiz:

These categories help us understand that perfectionism isn’t one-size-fits-all, and recognizing your type is the first step in taking back control. Instead of striving for perfection, focus on progress and growth.

If you can’t make it through on your own, therapy can also help with perfectionism. Just sayin’.