Excellence or Perfection? Why the Mindset You Choose Shapes What You Do Next
Posted on June 21, 2013 by Jessica Manca, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
Perfectionism keeps you stuck. Choose optimalism instead—and move forward with clarity, purpose, and self-trust in your career.
We all want to do good work. But sometimes, our pursuit of perfect becomes the very thing that holds us back.
Perfectionism isn’t just a high standard. It’s often fear—dressed up as discipline.
And if you’re someone who thinks deeply, aims high, and doesn’t want to disappoint… that fear can get loud.
PERFECTION KEEPS YOU CIRCLING
You want to write that email… but you rewrite it five times.
You want to apply for the role… but you wait until your resume is “just right.”
You want to speak up… but you’re not sure how it’ll land.
This is the perfection loop.
It looks like hard work, but it’s really hesitation.
Over time, it wears down your confidence.
You begin to trust your polish more than your presence.
EXCELLENCE IS DIFFERENT
Excellence still values doing great work.
But it gives you permission to begin.
It invites learning, iteration, and motion—not just mastery.
When my clients shift toward excellence, something clicks.
They start:
- Taking aligned action (even when it’s imperfect)
- Making clearer career decisions
- Feeling relieved, not pressured, by their ambition
TRY THIS SIMPLE SHIFT
Next time you’re stuck polishing, pause and ask:
“Is what I’m doing right now helping me move forward—or just keeping me busy?”
That one question reconnects you to your inner compass.
And that’s where momentum lives.
READY TO WORK TOGETHER?
If you’ve been circling the same questions for too long, you don’t have to stay stuck.
Click the profile link to book a free call and see if 1:1 coaching is the right next step for you.
