When you’re trying to get your financial life in order, there’s no room for perfectionism. Perfectionism is all about rigidity, and rigidity, when money is concerned, is not sustainable. Choosing progress over perfection entails focussing on the journey, striving for improvements, learning and growing along the way. One thing I have learnt about life is that the end product of winning is the result of a lot of little successes in a person’s life. Just simply continuing and moving forward is success in itself!
1. When creating a budget, choose progress:
If you’ve tried and failed at budgeting, don’t just give up. Try another method or another budgeting app. There are so many different ways to budget and the best way to do it is simply the way that works best for you!
2. When paying off debt, choose progress:
On your journey to paying off debt, life can throw you some financial curveballs. Commit to progress, and choose to readjust your course instead of abandoning the plan when things don’t go the way you had hoped. You will get there, and you won’t regret it!
3. When changing spending habits, choose progress:
Aligning your spending habits to a streamlined budget could be very challenging. Even if you don’t come out below each budget category, but have simply made small improvements, it’s a success!
4. When embarking on investing journey, choose progress:
This idea that one need to get investing perfectly right has hindered many from getting started. The best time to invest was 30 years ago. The 2nd best time to invest is today. Just get started, and learn as you go!
5. When starting a new business venture, choose progress:
You can’t afford to let perfection ruin innovation and creativity. As an entrepreneur, you thrive on spontaneity. No matter what kind of business you’re starting, some of your drive for perfection needs to be second to your priority, which is innovation and disruption.
In the progress paradigm, the goal is simply to be better today at something than you were yesterday. There will never be a point in your life where you can't get better at something than you were yesterday. It is a goal that is both very achievable and a goal that you will never be done achieving. That is the wheel point of excellence.
About Nike
Oyenike Adetoye (aka Nike) is an impactful speaker, author and personal finance expert. A Chartered Management Accountant by profession. Nike is the founder and CEO of LifTED Finance, a private financial firm that educates, coaches and supports people on their journey through financial fitness and wealth management.