Perfectionism is destroying your productivity.

Summary

This video explores the concept of perfectionism through the lens of Steve Jobs' story with the NeXT Computer. It challenges the notion that perfectionism is a strength, citing research linking it to negative outcomes like stress and burnout. The speaker shares personal experiences and offers strategies to overcome perfectionism, such as setting realistic expectations, applying the 80/20 rule to focus efforts, and embracing imperfection through deliberate exposure. The video concludes with a demonstration of Notion's organizational capabilities in content creation.

Takeaways

• 🍏 Steve Jobs' perfectionism was both a strength and a weakness, influencing his work at Apple and NeXT Computer.
• 🎨 Perfectionism is often romanticized but can lead to stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression according to research.
• 🔑 Perfectionists tend to set unrealistically high standards and link their self-worth to their achievements.
• 🔍 There are different types of perfectionism, including self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially-prescribed perfectionism.
• 🚫 Perfectionism isn't linked to better overall work performance, despite popular belief.
• 🛠 To overcome perfectionism, one should set more realistic expectations and challenge perfectionistic beliefs.
• ⏰ Understanding the 80/20 rule can help perfectionists focus on what truly matters and avoid wasting time on trivial details.
• 🤸‍♂️ Being imperfect on purpose, such as setting limits on attempts or engaging in quantity challenges, can help reduce perfectionistic tendencies.
• 📈 Exposing oneself to imperfection repeatedly can help normalize it and reduce fear associated with it.
• 📚 Feedback is crucial for growth, and perfectionists often miss out on it by not publishing or sharing their work enough.
• 🌟 Notion, as showcased in the video, is a versatile tool for idea generation, research, scripting, and project management.

Q & A

What significant event occurred in Steve Jobs' career in 1985?

In 1985, Steve Jobs was forced out of Apple after a long power struggle with John Sculley, the CEO at the time.

What was the name of the company Steve Jobs founded after leaving Apple?

Steve Jobs founded a company called NeXT, which aimed to develop the NeXT Computer.

What is the anecdote about the NeXT Computer's case that illustrates Jobs' perfectionism?

The anecdote is that Jobs insisted on applying black paint to the inside of the NeXT Computer's case, even though customers would rarely see it, at an extra cost.

Why is perfectionism sometimes considered a weakness despite its association with high motivation and work hours?

Perfectionism is considered a weakness because it is also associated with stress, burnout, anxiety, overworking, and depression.

What are some common responses people give when asked about their weaknesses in an interview, which are actually forms of perfectionism?

Common responses include 'I work too hard,' 'I care too much,' and 'I have no weaknesses,' which are all indicative of perfectionist tendencies.

How does the video creator describe his personal experience with perfectionism in the context of making a video about strategic thinking?

The creator describes spending an excessive amount of time setting up a shot with a chessboard to ensure the pieces moved in realistic positions, even though no one likely noticed this detail.

What is the definition of a perfectionist according to psychologist David Burns?

A perfectionist is a person whose standards are high beyond reach or reason, and who strains compulsively and unremittingly towards impossible goals, measuring their own worth entirely in terms of productivity and accomplishment.

What are the two classic types of perfectionism traditionally identified by psychologists?

The two classic types are adaptive perfectionism, which involves high standards for work, and maladaptive perfectionism, which is more focused on avoiding failure.

What are the three types of perfectionism identified by Canadian psychologists in 1991?

The three types are self-oriented perfectionism, other-oriented perfectionism, and socially-prescribed perfectionism.

How does the research mentioned in the script relate the different types of perfectionism to work performance?

The research found that neither type of perfectionism was aligned with better overall work performance, despite the common belief that perfectionists are more successful.

What strategies are suggested in the script to help overcome perfectionism?

The strategies include setting more realistic expectations, understanding and applying the 80/20 rule to allocate efforts effectively, and being imperfect on purpose through exposure therapy and quantity challenges.

How does the script use the example of Pixar's 'The beautifully shaded penny' to illustrate a common perfectionist behavior?

The example shows how artists at Pixar spent significant time and effort on details that were barely noticeable in the final product, illustrating the perfectionist tendency to over-deliver on minor aspects.

What is the significance of the '80/20 rule' in the context of overcoming perfectionism?

The '80/20 rule', or the Pareto Principle, is significant because it helps perfectionists to identify and focus on the most important aspects of their work that yield the majority of results, rather than getting caught up in less critical details.

How does the script suggest using exposure therapy to combat perfectionism?

The script suggests being imperfect on purpose, repeatedly exposing oneself to imperfection in a controlled manner, to gradually reduce the fear and anxiety associated with not being perfect.

What role does feedback play in the process of overcoming perfectionism as described in the script?

Feedback is crucial as it helps perfectionists to learn and grow from their imperfections, counteracting the lack of 'at-bats' or opportunities for improvement that perfectionists often avoid.

How does the script use Notion to demonstrate the process of creating and organizing content for a video?

The script outlines the use of Notion for idea generation, research, scripting, project planning, to-do lists, and archiving, showing how Notion can be a comprehensive tool for content creation and organization.