Is Perfectionism Stopping Your Small Business Growth?
“Thank you,” she said. “I did know what I was supposed to do next, but I was telling myself it couldn’t be that easy, so I must not know what I’m doing.”
In my work as a marketing coach, I often encounter clients who do, in fact, have a sense of what they “should” do next or what steps would help move them toward the small business growth they’re after.
They’ve taken the classes, completed the courses—so the concrete knowledge of marketing “to-dos” isn’t what’s missing.
Instead, what’s missing is often the permission to apply what they’ve learned or to simply give themselves the space to try things out.
Deep-seated perfectionism can stop us in our tracks, holding us back from the actions that would create the small business growth we’re striving for.
Perfectionism can stem from three main sources: psychological factors such as ADHD, anxiety, or other conditions; environmental influences like trauma, cultural expectations, and comparisons; and developmental factors such as parenting styles or our inherent personalities.
Wherever it comes from, perfectionism is a coping mechanism to fit in or to avoid criticism.
It often conceals our undigested shame, fears, and past hurts, striving to be sure that no one else sees them.
Perfectionism may have served us well initially, but now it keeps us from fully sharing our gifts and experiencing the peace and joy we deserve.
The only way to break free from the perfectionism trap is to face it directly, again and again, each time it appears.
Since perfectionism was learned, we must “unlearn” it by living our way out of it, as one might practice mindfulness or setup an exercise routine.
With consistent effort, we strengthen the “muscle” needed to act as we wish, rather than being controlled by perfectionism.
Here are three practices that can help:
1. Avoid the Comparison Trap: The only person who can compare you to others is yourself. Notice when you’re doing it, and replace that thought with the mantra, “There’s no comparison in love.”
Refuse to get sucked in by other people’s stories and if you can’t do it yourself, then stay out of situations and social channels that bring it up for you.
2. Cultivate Self-Compassion: Reflect on your history to understand why your perfectionism developed. Did you have a demanding parent? Experience trauma? Grow up in a perfectionist-oriented culture?
Understanding the origins of perfectionism allows you to offer yourself kindness for making that choice back then—and now, you can move forward differently, with love rather than self-criticism
3. Practice Untriggering: Recognize your triggers by noting when they occur, and breathe through them in the moment. Question them with “what’s the worst that could happen if this isn’t perfect?”
Then reframe the situation: what would it look like if you approached it with curiosity instead of criticism? By softening your reaction, you create space for action, even if it’s not perfect.
When you make a habit of noticing, challenging, and reframing these triggers, you regain control over perfectionism rather than allowing it to control you.
Perfectionism may feel protective, but it often holds you back. Small business growth comes not from flawless execution but from taking consistent, imperfect steps. Give yourself permission to try, learn, and adjust as you go. Your business doesn’t need you to be perfect—it just needs you to keep moving forward.
