完美主義爲何會讓你遠離成功大綱
The leadership Insiders network is an online community where the most thoughtful and influential people in business contribute answers to timely questions about careers and leadership. Today’s answer to the question: How do you embrace imperfection as part of professional development? is written by Sarah Kauss, founder and CEO of S’well.
“透視領導力”（The Leadership Insider）是一個在線社區，最睿智、最有影響力的商界大佬會在此回答一些有關職業生涯和領導力的問題。今天的問題是：職業發展中如何正確對待自身不完美之處？回答者是時尚保溫瓶製造商S’well的創始人兼首席執行官莎拉•考斯。
I’m a perfectionist. I can beat the best at noodling sentences or setting up rooms until they are just perfect for the occasion. But what I’ve come to learn over the last few years is that being a perfectionist is basically a bad habit—a habit that eats up my day and pigeonholes me in ways I sometimes fail to recognize. This isn’t an easy admission—I used to pride myself on being a perfectionist. I was always taught to strive to present and be my best self. But over the years, I’ve learned how truly draining it can be to strive for perfection at every turn.
我是完美主義者。爲了精確表達意思，我會反覆遣詞造句；爲了符合特定場合，我會不厭其煩地佈置房間，誰也沒有我能折騰。可是，近幾年我明白了，完美主義其實是個壞習慣。事事追求完美佔用了大量時間，而且腦子經常會不自覺地困在小框框裏。要承認這點很不容易，我以前還覺得完美主義挺不錯的。從小到大，我接受的教育都是要努力表現自己，追求卓越。可這些年我發現：每次一陷入追求完美的狀態，最後都會心力憔悴。
Recently, I was scheduled to attend a pretty amazing business dinner. I was excited and looking forward to going, but it was a super hectic day and I’d had zero time to think about getting changed for the occasion, which included major designers, corporate CEOs, and even a Pulitzer Prize winner. I’d imagine that anyone going to an event like this would want to find time to change clothes, possibly get a fresh manicure, or do something that would make them feel a little more pulled together (which had been my plan all along). But when the calendar reminder popped up on my computer, I was still at my desk, in my work clothes, and without a fresh coat of polish on my nails.
最近就有個例子，我要出席一個很棒的商務晚宴，之前很興奮很期待，可當天我特別忙，根本沒時間考慮爲晚宴打扮。出席晚宴的有一些大牌設計師、企業的首席執行官，甚至還有普利策新聞獎得主。我覺得出席那種晚宴一定要留足時間換衣服，可能去做個美甲，或是調整調整自己振奮精神（我向來會這麼安排）。但當電腦上彈出日程表提醒事項的對話框時，我還坐在辦公桌前，身上穿着職業裝，指甲已經久未打理。
In that moment, the perfectionist in me reared its ugly head, almost convincing me to skip the event. What a mistake that would’ve been. Not only did I end up feeling comfortable as I was, but the event offered a one-of-a-kind experience—one that I wouldn’t have traded in for anything.
那一刻，完美主義的小魔鬼冒頭了，我差一點就想臨陣逃脫。然而事實證明，如果我沒去參加晚宴才真是犯了大錯。晚宴上我不但感到輕鬆自在，還獲得了此生難得的寶貴經歷，千金難換。
Perfectionism is different for everyone, but for me, the struggle is real. It’s a part of who I am, and while there are positive aspects to it, I’ve recognized that it creates major limitations. It can keep me, and those like me, from moving fast enough, and without the right amount of confidence. Not to mention that it can keep us from reaching for our dreams, achieving our goals, or partaking in those truly transformative experiences.
每個人的完美主義傾向表現各不相同。但在我身上，就是實實在在的掙扎。完美主義已經侵入了我生活中的各個角落，固然有積極的一面，但對自我的限制更大。完美主義者如我總是行動遲緩，自信心不足。這些還不是最嚴重的，完美主義者還會不敢追求夢想、目標落空，也沒有勇氣經歷真正脫胎換骨的體驗。
Since starting S’well, I’ve had an imperfection awakening. While I catch myself at least a couple of times a week reaching for perfection, I find myself accomplishing more (and feeling more complete) when I remember to throw it out the window.
自從成立S’well起，我開始醒悟，不再苛求完美。雖然每週至少有幾次我還是會察覺到自己在追求盡善盡美，但我發現，只要注意避免完美傾向，做事會順利得多（也感覺更加充實）。
Imagine a business leader who lacks confidence, doesn’t move quickly, or doesn’t participate in new and interesting experiences. How could that leader truly be effective in the long run? While perfectionism will always run through my blood, I’ve become aware of how this tendency can impact the business I’ve created, the employees I’ve hired, the mentees I coach, and the personal opportunities that come my way. This awareness has allowed me to truly understand when and how to let go.
如果一位企業領導者信心不足，無法迅速行動起來，在新奇有趣的體驗來臨時又不能參與，長此以往如何保持效率？完美主義還會繼續流淌在我的血液中，不過我已經意識到，這種傾向會怎樣影響我的事業、影響我聘用的員工、教導過的人，以及人生道路上的個人機遇。明白這些之後，我已經能夠把握何時何地，什麼情況下應該容忍自己的不完美。
The battle may never end. But it’s a battle I’m willing to fight if it means I’m empowered (or empowering others) and achieving what I’ve set out to accomplish.
與完美主義的戰爭也許永無休止。但如果通過大小戰役我能逐漸掌控局勢（或者能幫到他人），獲得理想中的成就，這場仗我就願意打下去。
Don’t get me wrong: Embracing imperfection is a bold move, but it may just be one of the bravest things you will ever do.
請別誤會我的意思：接受不完美確實是很大膽的一步，但人生的歷險中需要勇敢闖關的事很多，這可能只是其中一件而已。
