When Perfect Isn't Good Enough

I've always loved reading and writing, so when I discovered blogging over a year ago I thought it was an obvious perfect fit for me.

I started my first blog when I was overseas and there was no shortage of inspiration as I was literally living in another world, so my writing style was long & winding posts filled with my personal observations. Then I took off my training wheels (if you've seen my first blog you'll know what I mean!) and started this one, planning to endlessly write about my journey into a new industry and lifestyle back in Australia. It was going to be totally fascinating! ;)

However, for some reason my childhood passion for writing has recently diminished and the well of post ideas has all but run dry. The more I try and force it the worse it gets, and that's strange considering I'm actually reading online more than ever and interacting with many interesting and diverse people around the world.

So why have I developed this severe case of "perfectus procrastinatus“?

I think it's the fact that everyday I come across many great articles by bloggers who seem to have a lot to say in a much more interesting and articulate way than I do. And now I've lost my own voice. So, what to do?

Firstly, let go of unrealistic expectations. I can only write about what I've experienced and what I know at any particular time, and as long as it's my 100%, then it should be good enough.

Secondly, learn to value what I know and can do. I look at this blog now and it's just the way I wanted it to be. I meticulously planned it out and created the content on my own so that's an achievement in itself. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, have umpteen thousand subscribers or comments, but it still has it's place in the blogosphere and is important - to me.

Thirdly, it's simply a case of the more you do something the more confident you become and joyous that something becomes. I'm no longer interested in "practice makes perfect" as I realise there really is no such thing. Everyone's idea of what perfect is, differs.

And lastly, usually it's far easier to walk the talk. I look at my personal and professional achievements and I know if I had sat down and tried to plot that exact path beforehand, I definitely would not have done a lot of the things for fear that they were "too hard“, "risky“ etc. Yet now I wouldn't change a thing!

So rather than continuously tweak this post over the next week with the aim of making it "perfect", I am going to do something wreckless and just publish it as is! AND, promise myself that I will put aside my unrealistic ideals and get back to doing what I love again - writing.

When was the last time you were less than perfect and pleasantly surprised yourself?

Alex
;)

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Peter, Real Estate, Australia
Alex has been providing me with social media support
for several months. In particular, she helps me maintain
a number of real estate related WordPress blogs and Twitter accounts.
She's fast, accurate and gets things done promptly.
More importantly, she is proactive often making suggestions
that help me serve my clients better.

You just can't put a real value on the level of proactivity she delivers!

Alex always displays excellent judgement choosing the right material
for the right client at the right time. It's very comforting to have someone
approach their work in this way.

Although we have never met, Alex and I have formed an excellent
working relationship. She's easy to talk to and communicates well by email.
Nothing I ask is ever too much trouble and that
comes across in our conversations.

I value having energetic, positive people on my team and Alex is both.
She is also trustworthy and discreet, honouring the sensitivity of information
to which she is entrusted.

I have no hesitation in recommending Alex and her services to those requiring
professional social media assistance and training.

Deb, Business Coach, Australia

I would recommend Alex of VIP Virtual Solutions to anyone who is looking for
a committed, professional Virtual Assistant & Social Media Specialist.
Alex has been my right hand person for over a year now,
supporting the back end of my business with tasks such as
calendar management, client liaison, assistance with webinars and presentations,
and social media including promotion of events.

She completes all tasks I send her way on time, updates me regularly
and is committed to my success always thinking about my and
my business' needs. I couldn't ask for a more committed Virtual Assistant and
consider Alex as a valuable member of my team.

Chris, Entrepreneur, Australia
Alex's assistance to me was invaluable.
She was always proactive, constantly developing new ways to improve
business systems, and posseses a creative flair and infectious energy.
I know that if ever I need anything, Alex is only a skype or email away.

Elizabeth, Trader & Entrepreneur, USA
When my blog was looking bad and almost beyond hope, Alex came to my
rescue offering suggestions on how to improve it. She is trustworthy,
highly flexible with her assistance, and I love her no fuss approach.

Bob, Entrepreneur, Europe
Handling everything from managing my calendar and emails,
adhoc research, special projects and management
of my social media activities, Alex enables me to really prioritise
and focus on what's important. She is always thinking ahead
and offering new suggestions on ways to develop my business further,
and I can't imagine where I'd be if I hadn't found her!

Susan, HR & Training, UK
It's such a relief to know I have someone I trust who is reliable
and quick when doing tasks such a confidential documents
and marketing presentations which always look totally professional.

Stephen, Web Development, Australia
I worked with Alex in her capacity as a Virtual Assistant for 6 months
and found her assistance to be invaluable. She is always proactive,
constantly developing new ways to improve business systems,
and possesses a creative flair and infectious energy. Due to the nature
of my work, I often called upon Alex out of hours and on weekends
and she was always available and able to assist.
She is very reliable, hard working and honest and I have
no hesitation in recommending her and her services

Lisa, Entrepreneur, Australia
I was really needing to increase and streamline my online profile,
so I hired Alex to create and manage a new social media strategy.
She is always quick to assist me, keeping her finger
on the pulse of new techniques and ideas, and I'm
happy to say my business has greatly benefited from her training.
I consider her a partner nowadays, not just a Virtual Assistant!

Entrepreneurs Rule!

“The entrepreneur in us sees opportunities everywhere we look,

but many people see only problems everywhere they look.
The entrepreneur in us is more concerned with
discriminating between opportunities than he or she is
with failing to see the opportunities.”
Michael E. Gerber

I really love working with entrepreneurs! They are just so enthusiastic, creative, flexible and always open to improvements and change – which makes my job a lot easier! ;) My clients have so many projects on the go at once, and I love the variety and challenge of making them more productive and focussed, so that they can fulfill their numerous goals.

All of them have such fascinating and unique tales of how they started out, the trials and failures they've endured, as well as success stories - and the one thing they all share no matter what industries they are in, is their vision, and the fact that they persevered when most would have simply given up. Perhaps it would have been far easier to just "go with the flow“ but where is the true reward in that?

Yes, there are days when even I, as a WAHM, am tempted to return to autopilot and rejoin the corporate ratrace, but then I look around at all the other benefits I have now, such as being there for my family and having a job that genuinely interests me and not only makes a difference to my client's business, but also their lives.

Much to my surprise I've also found associating with these inspirational people has encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone, expand my mind and skills base and now I'm doing things I never would have thought - and better still, actually enjoying them!

Fact is, progress is a relentless hard slog but you'll find most worthwhile things in life are. And woudn't you rather regret something you did do than didn't?

As we all can lack motivation from time to time, I thought I'd grab and share some interesting links regarding entrepreneurship to help keep those creative juices flowing, so read on, get inspired and get out there!!!

The Top Entrepreneurs Of The Last 100 Years
Top 10 Social Networks For Entrepreneurs
20 Hot Young Entrepreneurs Under 30
The Top 50 Social Entrepreneur Blogs To Watch In 2009
Great Entrepreneurs In The Movies
10 Entrepreneur Books That You Must Read
Top 30 Female Internet Entrepreneurs

Alex
;)