My honest advice to a perfectionist

Introduction (0s)

• The video is hosted by Ali, a doctor turned entrepreneur who has been making YouTube videos for 7 years and has overcome perfectionistic tendencies in both her video creation and book writing.
• The episode focuses on a viewer named Andy who is struggling with perfectionism in relation to growing his YouTube channel.
• While Andy's specific problem is related to overthinking and perfectionism in video creation, the advice given applies to anyone struggling with perfectionistic tendencies, not just content creators.

Andy's Question (44s)

• Andy, a busy father of two, is working on creating a YouTube channel to help other busy people find more time for what matters most.
• He struggles with perfectionism, overthinking, and overanalyzing his content, which prevents him from posting regularly.
• Andy wants to overcome this tendency to overthink and find a way to post more consistently, even if his content isn't perfect.

Recognise The Voice of The Saboteur (2m20s)

• Recognizing the voice of the saboteur: The speaker, Al, describes his own internal struggle with perfectionism and overthinking, particularly when creating videos outside of his usual format. He explains that this internal voice, which he calls the "voice of the saboteur," tries to prevent him from creating by suggesting he needs more preparation, better equipment, or a more ideal setting.
• The saboteur's tactics: The voice of the saboteur doesn't outright tell you to not do the thing, but instead suggests you need to work harder, prepare more, and make sure everything is perfect before you start. This leads to overthinking and procrastination.
• Changing the context: Al suggests a helpful tactic for overcoming the voice of the saboteur: changing the context. He asks himself, "If I were talking to a friend, would I feel the same pressure to overthink and prepare?" Often, the answer is no. When we're talking to a friend, we're more likely to speak from the heart and not worry about perfection. This highlights that the pressure we feel to be perfect often comes from the context of the situation, not from the task itself.

Define Your Quality Bar (10m27s)

• Defining a Quality Bar: The speaker suggests that perfectionism often stems from a desire to achieve a certain level of quality. Instead of striving for an unrealistic "perfect" outcome, they advocate for setting a more achievable bar: "Does this thing have the potential to help at least one person?" This shift in focus allows for greater flexibility and reduces the pressure to create flawless content.
• The Power of Sharing: The speaker draws inspiration from Austin Kleon's book "Show Your Work," which emphasizes the importance of sharing your work, even if it's not perfect. If your work has the potential to help even one person, there's a moral obligation to share it. This mindset encourages creators to overcome their fear of judgment and embrace the value of sharing their work.
• Prioritizing Enjoyment: The speaker emphasizes the importance of enjoying the creative process. Overthinking production value and striving for perfection can lead to stress and hinder creativity. By focusing on the potential to help others and finding pride in the work itself, the speaker encourages a more relaxed and enjoyable approach to content creation. This aligns with the principles of "feel good productivity," where enjoyment leads to better results and a more fulfilling creative experience.

Optimise for Enjoyment (13m44s)

• The speaker, inspired by executive coach Joe Hudson, advocates for optimizing for enjoyment rather than perfection. He argues that focusing on enjoying the process of creating something leads to better work than striving for perfection.
• The speaker encourages viewers to consider what their work would look like if they prioritized enjoyment over quality. He suggests that finding the fun in the process is a key strategy for combating perfectionism and overthinking.
• The speaker acknowledges that he personally struggles with perfectionism and overthinking, and he plans to share additional strategies for dealing with these issues in future content.

Start Doing (15m7s)

• The voice of the saboteur often prevents us from starting tasks, even simple ones like recording a video. This voice can be very persuasive, making us doubt our abilities and convincing us to delay or avoid taking action.
• The key to overcoming this internal resistance is to simply start doing the task, even if it feels messy or imperfect. The act of starting can often silence the saboteur's voice, as it becomes clear that the task is not as daunting as it initially seemed.
• The process of creation is often messy and imperfect, but it's important to trust that the final product can be polished and refined through editing and revision. By focusing on the act of creation rather than the potential for failure, we can overcome the fear of starting and ultimately produce something valuable.

The Next One Will Be Good (19m15s)

• Cal Newport, a successful author, shared his advice on dealing with perfectionism during the writing process. He suggested focusing on making the current project "reasonable" and believing that the next one will be better.
• Newport explained that he repeated this mantra to himself for every book he wrote, reminding himself that the current project didn't need to be perfect, just good enough to be helpful.
• The speaker, Andy, encourages viewers to apply this same principle to their own work, lowering their expectations and focusing on creating something "reasonable" that has the potential to help at least one person.

Create to Serve (20m46s)

• Perfectionism often stems from a focus on the self and ego. The speaker argues that perfectionists are often afraid of being judged for putting out imperfect work, rather than truly caring about the value their work provides to others.
• Shifting the focus from self to service can combat perfectionism. The speaker suggests that creating content with the intention of helping others, rather than impressing them, can alleviate the pressure to create perfect work. This shift in perspective allows for a more authentic and soulful creative process.
• The value of imperfect work. The speaker emphasizes that even imperfect work can provide value to others. They encourage viewers to consider the value they have received from imperfect YouTube videos and to recognize that their own work, even if not perfect, can have a positive impact.