Perfectionism in Law Firm Owners: How to Break Free and Make Progress

Are you struggling with perfectionism in your career? In this episode of the Maximum Lawyer Podcast, Jim and Tyson discuss the damaging effects of perfectionism on law firm owners.

Perfectionism in the legal field can really hold people back in their career. It is a difficult hurdle to overcome because there are feelings of not being good enough. The constant need to be perfect can stop people from starting something new. It could be starting a new business venture, a new project or even a new relationship. The need to have everything go a specific way with no mistakes is something a lot of people struggle with and it can really hold people back from success.

Many people get stuck in “prep mode” when having a goal to start something, due to perfectionism. For example, if someone wants to start a business in the social media field and spends months talking about the content they want to post or how they are going to market themselves, but have not taken any steps towards starting the business, no progress is ever made. Getting started is the most important thing when doing something new. So don’t fuss about the small stuff and get something on paper.

When working towards something, it is important to think about this question: What did I accomplish today? Think about the small wins and celebrate that. At the end of the day, those small wins get you closer and closer to your goal. Worrying about every small detail and wanting to make it perfect will damage any chance you have in reaching your goal. 

Jim and Tyson speak to creating pattern interrupts to help with perfectionism. Pattern interrupts involve incorporating new things in your routine as a way to move away from repetitiveness. If you do the same thing everyday, it can aid in your perfectionism. Try going for a walk in between meetings or taking a call on your front porch. It is something to break up that task and maybe trick your brain into implementing it again.

Perfectionism is a tough quality to overcome. But, with small changes and the right actions, you can break the habit in your daily life and become content with letting things be how they are!

Take a listen.

Jim's Hack: Show gratitude to people who have helped you, especially on LinkedIn. It is a good tool to keep in your backpocket.

Tyson's Tip: Try out a cold plunge as it has many benefits such as boosting energy.

2:53 Jim and Tyson discuss how perfectionism holds law firm owners back.

5:24 Jim and Tyson share their own struggles with perfectionism.

13:20 Importance of celebrating small wins.

14:32 The importance of taking action.

16:15 The value of incorporating pattern interrupts into routines.

🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube here.