Control Freak vs. High Standards: The Shift That Changed Everything

I used to be a control freak—doing everything myself because I believed no one could meet my expectations. If I wanted something done “right,” I had to do it myself. And for a long time, that worked… until it didn’t.

?? The Turning Point:

In my first term of college, we delivered a project document that I thought was near perfect. But when the grades came back, I was disappointed. Worse, when I saw the best submissions, I realized… I had been focusing on the wrong thing.

I was obsessed with making the document look great in my way. But in the real world, what matters is how well it communicates. That’s when I shifted my mindset:

? How would a real project manager deliver this?

? Is this simple, intuitive, and easy to navigate?

? Can someone get what they need without extra emails and meetings?

That realization changed everything. I stopped obsessing over making things “perfect” and started optimizing for clarity, usability, and impact.

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?? The Control Freak Trap:

? Micromanaging every detail, even when it doesn’t add value.

? Obsessing over how I want it, not what actually works.

? Spending too much time on things that don’t move the needle.

?? The High Standards Mindset (Project Management Thinking):

? Pick your battles wisely—focus on what truly matters.

? Make things clear, useful, and professional, not just “perfect.”

? Structure work so well that people don’t need follow-ups.

? Deliverables should be usable, actionable, and efficient.

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?? Perfectionist Excuser vs. Perfectionist Executor

Perfectionism itself isn’t bad. The problem is how you use it.

? Perfectionist Excusers (Procrastinators):

Use perfectionism as an excuse to delay starting.

Overthink everything but never execute.

Fear failure so much that they never finish anything.

? Perfectionist Executors:

Pick their battles—obsess only over what truly matters.

Focus on impact, clarity, and usability over theoretical perfection.

Take action, iterate, and improve along the way.

The difference? One hides behind perfectionism. The other makes perfectionism work for them.

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?? Project Management & The Agile Mindset: MVP & Iteration

The best way to balance high standards with actual execution is to follow a project management approach with an agile mindset.

?? Instead of waiting for perfect, deliver a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)—something functional, clear, and valuable.

?? Then, iterate—analyze, improve, and refine over time.

?? This is how the best innovators, athletes, and professionals operate.

In project management, perfection is the enemy of progress. Teams don’t spend months crafting a single, flawless product. They release an MVP, get feedback, and improve it in cycles.

?? Key Project Management Lessons:

? Deliver what’s valuable first—refine later.

? Communicate clearly to reduce back-and-forth.

? Create structured, easy-to-use documents.

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?? Lessons from the Greats: How They Balance High Standards with Execution

?? Steve Jobs – MVP First, Then Perfect It

Jobs was obsessed with perfection but never let it stop execution. The first iPhone had no App Store, no copy-paste, and a weak battery. But they launched it anyway. Why? Because they could iterate and improve later. Without that MVP mindset, the iPhone wouldn’t exist.

?? Elon Musk – Move Fast, Fix Later

SpaceX didn’t start with perfect rockets. Their early launches failed. Tesla’s first cars had tons of issues. But Musk knows that execution and iteration matter more than getting it right on the first try. That’s why his companies move at insane speeds—because real-world testing beats endless planning.

?? Kobe Bryant – Mastery Through Iteration

Kobe didn’t become an all-time great by waiting until he was perfect to start playing. Instead, he spent hours practicing the same move, over and over, refining it in real games. He understood that perfection is a process, not a prerequisite.

?? My Own Lesson – From Perfection to Communication

In college, I realized that delivering something functional and valuable is better than chasing a personal ideal of perfection. Instead of worrying about every tiny detail, I focused on:

? Making documents clear, intuitive, and easy to navigate.

? Ensuring people didn’t need extra emails or meetings to understand them.

? Prioritizing usefulness over my own version of “perfect.”

This shift made my work better, faster, and more impactful.

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?? Key Lessons for Everyone:

?? For People in General:

?? Not everything needs 100% effort—save energy for what actually moves the needle.

?? High standards don’t mean doing everything yourself—trust the process and the right people.

?? Clarity and simplicity are more valuable than unnecessary complexity.

?? For Professionals & Job Seekers:

?? Hiring managers don’t just look for skills—they look for effective communicators.

?? A good report, resume, or presentation isn’t about flashy design—it’s about how easy it is to understand.

?? Deliverables that reduce confusion and extra meetings make you stand out.

?? For Project Managers & Team Leaders:

?? Perfection isn’t the goal—efficiency, clarity, and impact are.

?? An MVP approach helps teams move forward instead of getting stuck in endless revisions.

?? A well-structured, intuitive document is more useful than an over-engineered one.

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?? The Big Takeaway

? Perfection should drive improvement, not delay execution.

? Start with an MVP, iterate, and refine.

? Pick your battles—obsess only over what truly matters.

? Think like a project manager—deliver value, not just aesthetics.

If you can shift from being a Perfectionist Excuser to a Perfectionist Executor, you’ll go from being stuck in perfectionism to leading with excellence.

?? Where have you seen this play out in your own life? Let’s talk! ??