Perfectionism, Performance, and the Founder’s Mindset
In a recent group coaching session with my High Performance coach, Dawn Fletcher, she asked: “Do you identify as a perfectionist?”
My gut response was an easy ‘no'. My work isn’t perfect, so clearly, I’m not a perfectionist. Right?
Then she read out a list of perfectionism traits: Procrastination. harsh self-criticism. over-preparing. reluctance to share work unless it’s ‘just right’.
I mentally ticked off nearly every one.
And yet, I still walked away thinking… But I’m not a perfectionist. Not really.
Because I know better.
I know that perfectionism kills creativity. That “done is better than perfect.” That momentum matters”. And that - “if the goal is perfection that’s a fast path to feeling like a failure”
And yet still—
When I started creating this website (a space to share my thinking on high performance, entrepreneurship, and the lessons endurance has taught me), I messaged my coach sharing the cycle I was stuck in:
The idea is lit in my mind.
I start building.
Perfectionism creeps in: procrastination, re-writing, tweaking, doubting.
I feel frustrated, start self-sabotaging: “This isn’t good enough yet.” “Who am I to do this?”
I switch to lower-stakes tasks.
The idea starts to dim. The fire fades.
BREAKING THE CYCLE
It’s a cycle that—if I don’t interrupt it—can rob me of the momentum I felt in that first spark of excitement. And that idea that once burned bright? It becomes a flicker. A “maybe someday.” A quiet regret.
So - with encouragement from Dawn - I started asking why this was happening.
For me, the perfectionism wasn’t about chasing flawlessness. That wasn’t my driver.
My drive for perfectionism here was actually about avoiding needing to put it live.
Because in putting it live, I realised how exposed I feel, because I’m sharing with you something I feel passionately about. Something rooted in my core values. Thoughts, lessons, practices, habits which I build my life around.
And that feels exposing. It makes me feel vulnerable. And to take bold steps we need to at the very least feel grounded. But ideally supported too.
By understanding why this was happening I realised I do feel grounded (I have learnt and lived a lot and I’m still learning - but that’s what high performance is, right?). But I don’t feel supported - and why is that? Because I haven’t asked for support. I haven’t trusted enough the people who I know want me to succeed because ‘what if’ ….
It was about how much I care.
I care deeply about this space—about helping founders unlock their potential through habits, mindset, rituals.
And sharing that passion with the world? It feels exposing.
There’s also a deep-seated streak of self-reliance:
“I don’t want to bother anyone.”
“I’ll finish it first. Then I’ll share.”
Which often means… I don’t share at all.
But once I can name it, I can shift it.
🧭 I ask:
Why am I hesitating?
What am I afraid of?
What would it look like to share this imperfectly?
I’ve realised I’m not a day-to-day perfectionist.
But I do care—fiercely—about the quality of my work and the integrity of what I put out into the world.
Sometimes, that passion ignites creativity.
But sometimes, it stifles my momentum.
And I have to check in:
“Is this caution protecting me—or just holding me back?
What does this insight tell me I need to do next?”
So here’s your nudge.
Where is perfectionism showing up for you?
Is it keeping you safe—or keeping you stuck?
And what would happen if you moved anyway—before it’s perfect, but while the idea still burns bright?