Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 55 seconds.

TODAY’S IDEA: On Batman and Perfectionism…

— From Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong by Eric Barker

Have you ever tried something once, failed, and given up? Or have you ever wanted to try something but got lost in the planning, analysis paralysis, or some other logistical problem that impeded you from even starting out? If so, you are not alone.

A lot of us have a perfectionist streak that wreaks havoc when it rears its ugly head. We want to be like superheroes: do everything right from the start and get the biggest, highest, and best result possible while we’re at it, the first time–of course–and then move on to the next success. But, how well has that perfectionism served us? (Ugh, don’t get me started…)

In his wonderful book, Barking Up the Wrong Tree, author Eric Barker takes a look at Batman from a perfectionism and success perspective. I liked this passage so much that I’m leaving it here intact for you:

“The Caped Crusader is among the most relatable of superheroes. He doesn’t possess any superpowers. Being a billionaire and having a collection of cool gadgets helps, but it doesn’t change the one overriding problem with staying Batman: he can never lose a fight. While a professional boxer with a record of thirty wins and one loss is very impressive, for the Dark Knight it means death. The villains of Gotham don’t let referees stop the bouts. So to be Batman means never losing. Ever. You cannot afford to fail. So if you did everything it takes to become the Dark Knight, how long could you maintain that perfect record? Luckily, we can draw on research, Yes, this has been studied. (God, I love science.)

Paul Zehr, a professor at the University of Victoria, looked at comparable athletes to get a rough idea. He studied the records of top boxers, MMA fighters, and NFL running backs. How long could they stay  undefeated and without a crippling injury? How long could you stay Batman?

Three years. Yup, that’s it.

Let’s hope Gotham’s criminal element consists of more jaywalkers and fewer evil masterminds, because… you’re not going to have a lot of time to clean up the city.

Luckily, you’re not trying to be Batman. But too often you and I act like we are. We think we always have to be perfect. One failure and it’s all over. But you’re not Batman. You can fail and quit and learn. In fact, that’s the only way you can learn.”

How do you manage to keep your perfectionism in check? Let me know in the comments here.

ACTION

TODAY: Figure out where you are trying to become Batman. Ask yourself why 5 times. This will uncover the real reason behind you trying to act like a superhero on this project. Once the core issue is revealed, you can allow yourself to try to do it and not be devastated or quit altogether if you fail.

FUTURE:  Give yourself permission to test or play with situations or projects to familiarize yourself with them. This way, will you be able to try, try, and try again, and accumulate knowledge about small and big failures, so that you can either continue down that path or find a better one. Don’t pin the failure on you, treat each project as an experiment and it will be easier to see yourself in “testing mode.”

Know someone who sometimes acts like Batman? Please share this post with them via email, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, thank you!