Perfection Isn't Always Overrated
"You already know what you're doing, aren't you just learning for the sake of learning? What about all the other things you could be focusing on instead - like generating leads and growing the business?"
Many of us have become familiar with the narrative that it's ok to know just enough. The pursuit of deep expertise is overrated. The lifelong learner is just a master procrastinator who doesn't want to face the real world and get stuff DONE.
I don't think that's always true, realistic or helpful.
Sometimes, yes, learning/digesting endless trainings can be an avoidance strategy - I've totally seen that in some of my clients over the years, especially when the alternative means making bold, scary moves (and they've kind of known it, deep down, which is why they've sought help).
But it's easy, whenever we're talking about mindset, growth and productivity, to throw out sweeping generalisations without really asking whether what we're saying is true and accurate for ALL the people, all the time.
This is one of the BIGGEST bugbears I have with the personal development world!
Because the trouble is, sweeping generalisations lead people who had no issue in the first place to think there IS something wrong with the way they're thinking, feeling and behaving.
Take my Diploma in Clinical Supervision, for example.
Conventional mindset advice would have it that this is a waste of my time and I should focus instead on growing The Better Brain Company, bringing in more business and focusing on high revenue projects.
Instead, I've dedicated hours and hours to seeing supervisees, researching and reading the literature, answering questions and sipping tea in my slippers.
But here's the thing.
➡️ Training in order to be able to coach, mentor and educate others has refreshed and deepened my knowledge, solidifying the foundations my clinical practice is built on
➡️ It's helped me understand other types of therapy and personal support and the evidence base for it all in more depth, giving me a more accurate picture of what works, what doesn't and why
➡️ It's gifted me with new skills, models and insights
➡️ It's provided space to reflect on and reaffirm my clinical experience - and reminded me of just how far I've come
➡️ It's helped me question and interrogate my work more deeply
➡️ It's reminded me of the aspects I love and challenged me to face things I might otherwise choose to avoid - and it's introduced ways to extend that work into exciting new areas
To me, that feels incredibly valuable and SO worth it.
Because I'm not here to provide surface-level, 'adequate' support or have a 'good enough' understanding - good enough to sell a few coaching programmes, take the money and run.
I'm here to make the biggest difference I can.
And that requires depth.
It requires the pursuit of mastery.
I wouldn't expect any less from the experts I choose to work with...
... so why should I expect it from me? 🤷🏼♀️
I’d be interested to understand whether you feel this, too - or whether you feel you strive for perfection maybe a little too hard?
Leave me a comment and let me know!
Thank you so much for reading.
A x
