Back in April I wrote a post about imperfection, and now I have some more to say on the subject.
When I talk with freelancers, particularly those who are just starting out, I hear a lot about the fear of not being perfect.
These freelancers feel they are not good enough, yet.
Not knowledgeable enough, yet.
Not ready, yet.
I understand where those fears come from, but if you hold thoughts like those in your mind for too long they will totally undermine your self-confidence.
In a sense, they are like negative affirmations. You don’t intend to drag yourself down by having these thoughts, but if you repeat them often enough you’ll soon find yourself falling.
And for what?
Perfection is not something you need as a freelancer. In fact, it’s something you’ll never achieve, ever.
Today, after 30 plus years writing for a living, I am far from perfect in any area of my writing or my business. Just imagine my level of imperfection when I was just starting out!
The key here is to feel comfortable about it. Understand that it’s inevitable. Know that it’s the same for everyone.
Beyond that, you can embrace your imperfection and allow it to become part of who you are professionally.
For example, if I’m in a client meeting and I am asked a question I don’t know the answer to, I simply say, “I have no idea!” Usually with a smile on my face.
You might think this would be a no-no when it comes to impressing clients. Not so.
In fact, clients love it when I admit to a gap in my knowledge or expertise. I can almost hear a collective sigh of relief. It shows I am human. They smile back. Finally, we are on the same team…all of us imperfect.
Compare that to the expert or consultant who strides into a meeting room and never shows or admits to any degree of imperfection of weakness. He or she will always be an outsider.
Whatever aspect of your business you look at, it’s OK if you don’t know it all. It’s OK if you have more to learn. It’s OK if you are still 6 months away from some really important insight about your business and your clients.
Get comfortable with where you are right now in terms of your skills and expertise. There is always more to learn, so there is no point at which you will ever be perfect or know it all.
That’s OK. Imperfection is OK. It’s a perfectly natural state.
So stop beating yourself up about it! You’re good enough right now.
Related Resource:
My ebook – Affirmations for Freelancers
My coaching service for freelancers…
About the author: Nick Usborne is an online writer, copywriter, author and coach. Read more…