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Debbi Dickinson, Life Coach and Best-Selling Author
My strive for being perfect can have a death grip on me if I chose to let it run my life.
My personal image is on the top of the list. I will not walk out of the house without make-up
on or looking like a just cleaned the garage. When I go to events I want to ensure I am
wearing the appropriate clothes. I am also one who believes that it is okay to blend
in; but better to stand out. For me that's a personal signature when choosing what to
wear. A friend of mine was sharing a traveling story
that impacted his personal image standard of looking professional. It is one of those
stories that really struck me on how I can choose to let my perfectionism ruin my day.
My friend was on the road for a business trip. He flew in the night before into the city
and stayed over at a hotel. He did his business in the first city and then hit the road in
the late afternoon for the drive to the second city which was several hours away.
When he arrived at the hotel and picked up his suitcase he thought to himself it was
very light. Turns out that he left his business suit hanging in the closet of the hotel he
had checked out in the morning. Frantic he started tracking down what stores were open.
All stores were closed that evening; but he did find out that a local department store
was open at 8. He had just enough time to grab what he needed for his early morning
client meeting. So, he was at the store right at 8 and was
able to get some pants, shirt and a tie. He couldn't find a matching suit jacket. He shared
he was debating whether to call the client with some excuse as to why he couldn't make
the appointment solely because he couldn't find a jacket.
He realized he was letting his perfectionism get in the way of meeting with his client
and decided the best course of action was to show up anyway. He made the conscious decision
at that very moment NOT to let his mistake ruin his day.
He shared that his client meeting went very well; in fact, they got a big kick out of
his story of forgetting his suit and scrambling this morning to show up in something more
than just jeans. I would imagine that my friend sharing his
travel mistake had others sharing similar stories as well; above all else it showed
that he is authentic. He's comfortable in his own skin and he is transparent.
I personally believe that he probably strengthened his client relationship more that day than
he currently realizes. All because he was willing to fess up he's human and could laugh
at his own mistakes. Would love if if you would hop over to my
facebook page and leave a comment. Bye