Perfectionism: Why and How to Beat It - Strava Success and the Power of Values

Perfectionism: Why and How to Beat It - Strava Success and the Power of Values

Perfectionism is a trait that many individuals struggle with. It is characterized by excessively high standards and rigid adherence to those standards. People who suffer from perfectionism often hyperfocus on achieving their impossible goals, leading to burnout, neglect of other responsibilities, and a constant feeling of misery. However, perfectionism is not about wanting to do great work; it's about the rigidity around those standards.

In order to overcome perfectionism, it is important to understand the purpose of your rules and be flexible enough to follow them when they are helpful and disregard them when they are not. Psychologists call this contingency-shaped behavior, where you let your experience teach you rather than rigidly following rules. This is a more effective way to run your life and can help you break free from the grip of perfectionism.

One way to guide your behavior and combat perfectionism is by identifying your values. Values are the directions you want your life to go in and the qualities of the journey you want to embark on. They can serve as guideposts when faced with challenging circumstances and can help you prioritize what truly matters to you. Research has shown that individuals are more likely to approach difficult situations if they are aligned with their personal values.

It's important to differentiate between rules you follow because you think you "should" and rules you follow because you genuinely want the results they bring. Socially expected standards of behavior can often lead us astray from our true desires and values. By cultivating awareness, you can gain the freedom to develop the skill of defusion, which allows you to distance yourself from your thoughts and feelings. This opens up the space to choose how to behave and return to your values.

Now let's shift our focus to Strava, the popular fitness app that has been gaining millions of new users every 40 days. Strava's success can be attributed to its strong sense of community. People don't just download Strava; they join Strava. This emphasis on community has allowed Strava to become the home for active individuals looking to connect and track their fitness journeys.

Strava's success lies in its ability to stay true to its original mission and keep things simple. The company's CEO, James Quarles, emphasizes the importance of having a North Star and making choices about what not to include in the app. This discipline has been crucial in building a product, service, and community that people love.

The phrase "If it's not on Strava, it didn't happen" highlights the power of proof of work in public. Strava has created a platform where individuals can hold world records and showcase their accomplishments. This concept is fascinating and could potentially be applied to other areas, such as learning platforms like Glasp. Imagine being able to hold records for the most courses completed or the highest quiz scores on Glasp. It adds an element of competition and motivation for users.

Strava's focus on building a strong, engaged community has taken precedence over profitability. They believe that by growing their community and becoming the most engaged community of athletes in the world, they will create more opportunities to build a great business. This mindset is valuable for founders and entrepreneurs who prioritize creating a product that they themselves use and care about.

In conclusion, perfectionism can be overcome by understanding the purpose of your rules, being flexible, and aligning your behavior with your values. Strava's success can be attributed to its strong sense of community and focus on simplicity. By staying true to their mission and prioritizing community engagement, Strava has become the go-to platform for active individuals. Incorporating elements of proof of work in public, like Strava's world records, can be a powerful motivator in various domains. As founders and entrepreneurs, it is important to build products that we are passionate about and that resonate with users.

Actionable advice:

1. Take the time to identify your values and use them as guideposts in decision-making.
2. Cultivate awareness and practice defusion to gain freedom from perfectionistic thoughts and feelings.
3. Prioritize building a strong, engaged community around your product or service, as this can lead to long-lasting success.