PPPPursuits of Perfection: Four P's (#202)
Imposter Syndrome, Editorial Parenting, and Progress over Process
No, we’re not still saying Happy New Year anymore, but… Kicking off a new year and taking on new projects with new companies is pushing me to think in new ways, access new markets/industries, and even learn new skills.
So much newness!
Taking off the autopilot for the first time in awhile to slow down forces us to slow down, revisit inputs and processes, and even triple checking my work before sharing it with others.
As companies downsize, too many experienced professionals are being both laid off for the first time, and some are already starting new.
Even more newness!
With all of it, some self-doubt occasionally creeps in. Fortunately (AND unfortunately) I'm not alone. Twitter is full of it lately. I haven't encountered such pervasive and intense expressions of self-doubt in my "community" as I have in the past few months. So… what’s the difference between self-doubt and Imposter Syndrome? Let’s dig in.
SOMETHING PRACTICAL: Imposter Syndrome Turns Doubt into Detriment
Self-doubt can make it tough for someone with the syndrome to recognize their personal skills and accomplishments. So instead, they concentrate on their flaws and shortcomings. Once it goes beyond that, the "healthy paranoia" becomes unhealthy in a hurry.
More than just self-doubt, Imposter Syndrome is where you actually feel like a fraud. It can even paralyze you and stop you from living life to its fullest. Imposter syndrome occurs whenever your beliefs and expectations collide. Research by Dr. Valerie Young, co-founder of the Imposter Syndrome Institute, writes about five character traits:
Perfectionists have high standards, filled with self-doubt when things aren't perfect. They're afraid of failure.
Natural geniuses focus on how and when things are done. They feel like fakes when they can’t do something right away.
Soloists believe a goal is only worth pursuing if they can achieve it alone. So they don’t ask for help – even when a project is going wrong.
Experts are knowledge perfectionists. They believe competence means knowing everything and won’t consider a job if they don’t meet all the requirements.
Superstars have unreal expectations and believe it's all or nothing. They define competence as flawless performance.
When someone with Imposter Syndrome feels discomfort, they accept it as a sign of being a fake. They believe they're not good enough or are unprepared for the challenge. But when someone with imposter syndrome succeeds, they feel that they must have tricked their way in. Emotions distort your reasoning, causing you to ignore feelings that might suggest something else.
Recognizing your thoughts aren't always right is a big step in overcoming imposter syndrome. Once you’re able to recognize that, you can start to call the rest of your negative beliefs into question. Overworking and avoidance are also signs you’re an "imposter." These are ways to cope and may help in the short term, but if you aren’t fake, these behaviors are part of the problem. That’s why "imposters" should rethink their coping strategies and change how they see themselves. Secrets, overworking, avoidance, self-criticism, self-doubt, insecurity, perfectionism, and a fear of failing are all common ways to deal with stress. But in the long run, these stop you from improving your self-image.
Self-compassion means recognizing that you’re in pain and taking the steps to relieve it. It requires self-acceptance rather than striving to meet some unrealistic standard. You can also relieve your imposter syndrome by discussing it with others - which is why we see so much shared on Twitter (the world's most dysfunctional therapy couch). Ultimately, pursuing perfection is a recipe for failure. If you’re permanently aiming for perfection, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Nothing in life is perfect. So if you set your standards too high, you’ll never meet them. Perfectionism is self-defeating and impossible to achieve.
Combatting Imposter Syndrome means becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable. While it may be tempting to avoid new experiences, try to embrace the unknown. Push yourself to grow. As a result, you'll become more resilient and self-assured. Be patient and give yourself a chance to succeed and enjoy your life because there's no such thing as perfection: the perfect job, the perfect employee, the perfect partner or spouse... actually, let's just end this here.
SOMETHING PERSONAL: Punctuating a Point
You've heard the expression that there is "no good writing, only good editing," right? Grammatical and editorial perfection is impossible, but it is a worthy goal. But as a (former) professional editor, this represents the single biggest internal conflict I face as a parent.
Yes, parenting is challenging for everyone, but it can be especially difficult for perfectionists in pursuit of polished and well-written material. When the children of writers and editors struggle with their writing, it becomes a source of frustration and disappointment beyond measurement. We are used to professionals with high standards, who work at honing their craft and take pride in producing clear, concise, and well-structured writing. When our children struggle, it can be difficult to separate our professional standards from our role as a parent. We find ourselves correcting their grammar and punctuation in a way that feels overly critical or nitpicky.
Being too heavy-handed with the "red pen" will impede learning and development, and doesn’t accurately reflect our kids' aptitude or even level of effort. So where do you draw the line?
Having just spent nearly two hours helping my son with an outline and essay this weekend, I'm easily tempted to make corrections and offer suggestions rather than taking the time to help my kid to develop a deeper understanding of the writing process. The goal, obviously, is to use editing as a teaching example for our young'uns, but it becomes more difficult for the pros to understand how their genetic progeny can struggle so mightily. Personally, I vacillate between being ready to give up forever and being inspired by my kids' massive potential. This mental and emotional challenge will make us both better.
As experts in the field, they may assume that good writing is simply a matter of practice and discipline. However, the reality is that writing is a complex skill that can be affected by a variety of factors, including learning disabilities, anxiety, and lack of motivation. It requires editor-parents to be mindful of their expectations, understand their child's unique needs, and provide encouraging and constructive feedback. And definitely no temper tantrums (by any of us).
SOMETHING POLITICAL: The Imperfect Leader
President Joe Biden had the first mini-gaffe in his presidency last week when confidential documents from the Obama era were discovered in his garage. While I don't think this issue rises to any level of concern whatsoever, the fact that they were reported and turned back in voluntarily all but resolves the issue. Whereas Trump was discovered to have confidential documents at Mar-a-Lago only after he denied it and the grounds were raided, these two similarly-sounding issues are quite different. Yet as the Republican Party machine looks to find fault with anything Biden does, this just gives another talking point to a well-oiled political communications hate machine.
While no political candidate or leader is perfect, it is crucial to consider a candidate's character and integrity when deciding on who to vote for. A candidate who lacks personal and moral integrity is far more detrimental to society than one who may not have all the answers to every individual's problems. The Party of George Santos and Matt Goetz put up one dishonest and corrupt candidate after another who prioritizes their self-interest over those of the public. They may make decisions that benefit themselves or their donors, rather than the greater good of the people they are supposed to serve. This can lead to issues such as economic inequality, lack of access to basic needs, and a general mistrust of government.
Biden will be 81 years old during the next Presidential election, but that is his worst quality as a candidate. The economy is unstable and pervasive uncertainty is problematic. But an imperfect candidate who may not have all the answers to every individual's problems is not necessarily a bad thing. It is important to remember that governing is a complex and difficult task and no one person can have all the answers. A candidate who is willing to listen to the concerns of their constituents, admit when they are wrong, and work towards finding solutions is a valuable asset.
SOMETHING PROFESSIONAL: Perfection as the Enemy of Progress
Speaking of valuable assets, why is it that branded Web3 adoption feels like it's stalling? Too many conflicting messages? A disproportionate media emphasis on bad actors in the space? Or maybe it's because after 2+ years of testing and learning, the "perfect" use case or example of a branded Web3 project to emulate or follow isn't built yet. It's hard to say: "Here's an idea. Trust I'm right even if I don't have the data to validate it."
Nike's Dot.Swoosh and Starbucks haven't accomplished anything except launch a new campaign on new platforms with new goals. It's still too early to know exactly what, where or how to evaluate best practices.
There isn't a perfect use case for crypto. There isn't even a great Web3 wallet tool. The custodial/non-custodial blockchain wallet battles happening right now are like the early Web 1.0 search engines in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It doesn't matter which one you use now. Learn the behavior, test a few, see what works. But also know that there will likely only be 2-3 that "make it," and it may not even be built yet.
In an eon of technical advancement, Web 1.0, 2.0, and Web3 are periods in this Digital era. Within this period, we are just now entering the second epoch of #decentralized evolution, where retention supplants revenue.
It's time to stop waiting for the perfect branded web3 project and start learning from what we already have available to us. Perfection is often the enemy of progress, and in the fast-moving world of blockchain and decentralized technology, we can't afford to wait for everything to be just right. Instead, let's take the time to understand the current state of the industry, the challenges we face, and the opportunities that exist.
Multiple things about Web3 can be true. Full decentralization may not work in the short term due to human apathy and lack of motivation in negative task remediation. Social media commentary on Web3 harms the general population with shilling, cliques, pump and dumps, and fraud. Launching a token is not necessary for a Web3 project unless full understanding and reasoning are present. And by learning from the projects that are already up and running, we can gain valuable insights and apply them to our work.
No matter the plan or project, there are four consistent elements required for consideration in every brand's Web3 token-based strategy: collectibles, community, content, and commerce. The value exchange, audiences, benefits, creative, tactics, rollout, messaging, or promotion all change, but the core four elements all need to be considered. That seems like both a good place to start... and a great place to wrap for the week.
Until then, wishing you all a Happy NFL Playoffs and at least one or two snow days in your future.