Anyone else a serious perfectionist?

[Former_Member]

Hey, I have always know I was a bit of a perfectionist growing up, but since starting a little shop, it has become far more apparent! Does anyone else feel the same way? And what do you spend most of your time on, obsessing over making it "perfect"? Mine is usually photos...! It, is, driving, me INSANE. And my family, too! Anyone else in the same boat? And how have you found ways to calm down your inner critic?

[embroideredheirlooms]

Me :( Seams on my garments must match. My husband told me 7 years ago before I started this business that I simply had to let go of perfect if I wanted to be successful. He was correct. I strive for exceptional, but not perfect anymore.

[BeadboardCorner]

I have always been a perfectionist. I check orders 2-3 times and If it is not perfect I will remake it before mailing it. I hate taking photos and my stuff sells like crazy in person. but not so much online. Needless to say, I never make money.

[InsideSandysShop]

Oh yes - guilty as charged! The thing that drives my husband crazy is I iron my tissue paper before wrapping the item to ship out :-/ Just a lot of detail stuff that probably in the long run wouldn't matter but I HAVE to do it for myself :)
Grace - Your photo's actually show that you are a perfectionist - GREAT PHOTO's.
Janet - Beautiful heiloom Christening dresses - I have fav'd you :)
Gwendolyn - I bet you do go crazy with 3 shops - that may put you in the nut house :-)
Blessings to everyone,

[Former_Member]

Yay, I am not the only one! xxx

[Former_Member]

I am such a perfectionist. If I make a mistake in crocheting, I rip out everything up to the mistake. If I can't find it, I tear it all out and start over.

And yes, I am a little unhappy with my pictures. Need to do better, but I don't know how. It is a learning process.

[Former_Member]

Me too !!

For the past 2 years, I took so much pictures that I had to change my camera battery 2 times !!!!

I do not even speak about my items ahahah

[TerraRhapsody]

I usually ask my fiancé. I'm my worst enemy and worst critic when I start to really analyse things about my shop, so asking him, he'll be able to give me an honest opinion, and if I voice the concerns I have, he usually tells me I'm speaking out of my rear end and not to be so silly!
I'm rather self conscious and have low self esteem in some aspects of my life, but I'm becoming more and more confident with my jewellery the more of it I create :) I'm starting to perfect photos first time around, rather than some items in my shop that have been through about 6 or 7 changes because I wasn't happy. There are still some items that need a change, but it's a huge work in progress.

[PiecesofMeCardsnMore]

I get upset with myself if I see a spot of glue seeping out from underneath something on one of my items. I mean, hello, anyone who buys handmade paper crafts knows they're glued together. And if you buy Hallmark cards and what not at the store you sometimes see traces of glue. But still, I'm my own worst critic and I'll do my best to remove it. I feel like whoever buys it is going to label my work as sloppy. My daughter (also a scrapbooker) has told me more than once that I'm the only one who sees things like that. lol

When I first started out with this shop last fall, I made four sets of Christmas cards production line style. One of the cards was a penguin face. I glued the eyes on the wrong angle on one of the penguins so he looked angry instead of happy. LOL I was so pissed at myself that I tediously removed them and put them back the right way. NO ONE but me would have noticed but I had to fix it anyway.

[Former_Member]

I'm in the same boat! Even before I get to the production stage, I critique my own designs so harshly sometimes I'm not sure if they are worth printing. My husband and family assures me they are.

But I have come to realize that the great thing about having your own shop is that it really allows you to test what works and what doesn't. If I stopped some designs (that really have nothing wrong with them) from making it into my shop I would never how well or poorly they sell. And so much of the process is learning what works for you.

So, I actually think perfectionist characteristics are a good thing when making and selling your own product as long as it doesn't stop you from making the product in the first place.

[WilliamsGiftshop]

I have always been a perfectionist.
But after many years (I'm 48), I am at a comfortable level and know when to be a perfectionist and when to just let it go.
My perfectionism makes me excell at what I do, but it doesn't stand in my way.

[Former_Member]

I constantly battle between 'getting it done' and 'doing it right/exactly how I want it'. :) Maybe get some friends to look at some of your finished pieces and tell you what they think of the construction, etc.

[embroideredheirlooms]

BeaG from WilliamsGiftshop says

I have always been a perfectionist.
But after many years (I'm 48), I am at a comfortable level and know when to be a perfectionist and when to just let it go.
My perfectionism makes me excell at what I do, but it doesn't stand in my way.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Same here - being 50 is good for something ;) I've learned what is necessary and what must be let go - makes me a lot happier too!

[Former_Member]

Definitely in the same boat! I have been working on my shop ideas for almost a year. I had everything set up for shop number 1 (this one) for January, but being a perfectionist it took almost two weeks to hit the open shop button! lol The second shop was supposed to open Feb 1st, but I still haven't even listed the items because I'm afraid they aren't perfect yet! Hopefully I'll suck it up and hit list soon though! I'm starting to drown in products!

[PiecesofMeCardsnMore]

BeaG from WilliamsGiftshop says
I have always been a perfectionist.
But after many years (I'm 48), I am at a comfortable level and know when to be a perfectionist and when to just let it go.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Janet from embroideredheirlooms says
Same here - being 50 is good for something ;) I've learned what is necessary and what must be let go - makes me a lot happier too!

***********************************************

52 here! I agree with both of you. After you reach a certain age you learn to just let things go. :)

(at least most of the time - ha!)

[Former_Member]

Thank you everyone for all the great answers :) I'm 19 so being "young" I think the self esteem problem is usually as its peak as they say... I am pretty self conscious, but I am getting there. But It is also pretty amazing to read all these replies and to know I am not the only one who panics sometimes! Everyone has amazing shops and I have looked through them and found no mistakes, so your all doing well :)

[1AEON]

totally! I go crazy sometimes, turns out no one notice what I'm talking about..hah! I feel you!
g

[cushncovers]

I never thought I was a perfectionist but compared to the average person, I do hear that I am from others. It depends on what it is....you should see my desk right now.....YIKES!!!! If you are a perfectionist in the things that are going to make you grow or advance your goals than keep on being picky. But sometimes it can be a waste of time worrying about something that really is almost PERFECT already! Sometimes you do have to move on or other things, more important, will be put off too long and actually sabotage you.

[dalystudios]

At 61 I am most definitely the most ancient perfectionist here. And like anything else with age, the edges have worn smooth over time :-)

Mind you, I would like to iron that tissue paper...but I will conserve my energy for something of greater import.

[ClarkandTaft]

I am a perfectionist and I know that this holds me back.

I have an unfinished bag sitting on my desk. It's been sitting there for 2 months but I won't finish it and won't put it online because what I had in mind originally has changed and now the bag does not seem as perfect as it was in my mind...

Yup, I do that sometimes. And, sometimes, I would re-do an entire bracelet because I've put a sterling silver bead 1mm closer or further from the position it was supposed to be...

Oh, well - the start to change begins with the acknowledgment of the problem. I am working very hard on letting some things slide through :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks guys :) and Silvia, get that bag up! I would love to see it! xx

[PebbleCreekStudio]

I am. When I get my note cards ready for shipping, I inspect each one twice before packaging them up. My family thinks I'm crazy. If one thing is slightly off, I will reprint (and yes, I have lost some $$$ along the way doing this). But I strive for delivering a quality product each and every time, and I won't sacrifice.

Now I am adding invitations to my shop and I am finding myself redoing them several times (I will deactivate and work on them and do it again over the next several days)! Ahhhhhh!

[Former_Member]

Yes, Everything must be so-so. I can't send it out if it isn't. I don't make as much money as I could but I am happy with what I send out!

[PaperScissorsPop]

When it comes to my art yes... I love to hone and perfect it. When it comes to boring housework though.... different story! :)

[Former_Member]

I think is this why I'm not a baker or a professional chef. I'm too much of a perfectionist for that.