Good afternoon, everyone! Today I want to share a quick thought that can shift how we Work, how we Lead, and how we Grow:
The difference between Perfection and Striving for Excellence!

At first they may look the same—high standards, strong work ethic, attention to detail.
But underneath, they’re fueled by very different mindsets.

Part 1: Define the Difference

Let’s start with Perfection.
Perfection says:

“I must do everything flawlessly. If I make a mistake, I’ve failed.”

It’s fueled by fear—fear of judgment, rejection, or not being good enough.
It often leads to procrastination, burnout, or even inaction, because the standard is impossible.

Now, contrast that with Striving for Excellence:

“I will do my best with what I have, and keep improving.”

Excellence is about growth. It’s resilient. It allows space for mistakes, because mistakes become fuel for mastery.

Part 2: Illustrate with Quotes

Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said:

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”

And I love this one from author Jill Koenig:

“Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order.”

Harsh, but true. Perfectionism can rob us of joy and momentum.
Excellence, on the other hand, gives us permission to take action—even if it’s not perfect—because we’re focused on learning and refining.

Part 3: Apply It

So how does this apply to us as entrepreneurs, leaders, or professionals?

✅ It means we launch the product, even if it’s version 1.0.
✅ We make the sales call, even if our pitch isn’t flawless.
✅ We give the presentation, even if it’s not memorized word-for-word.

Because done and improving beats perfect and paralyzed.

Excellence keeps us moving forward. And forward is where the growth—and results—happen.

Part 4: Affirm and Reflect

Let me leave you with a few affirmations you can take into your day:

  • “I strive for progress, not perfection.”
  • “Excellence is doing my best with what I have today.”
  • “Every mistake is a stepping stone to mastery.”

So, I’ll end with this question:

Where in your life or business are you holding back, waiting to be perfect—when excellence would be more than enough?

Thank you—and here’s to choosing excellence over perfection and moving forward with bold, imperfect action!

Be Motivated!