Your Career Plan: Letting Go of Perfection to Focus on Progress
by Jana Salameh
4th-Year Student in International Management
One of our main concerns as students is to shape our future and do our best to gain the knowledge and experience we need to pursue our dream. However, we can easily become overwhelmed by thoughts of perfection and lose sight of our main goal: progress. In the following lines, I want to explore the importance of progress and present some key steps to “go slow to go fast”.
Why?
We live in an increasingly competitive world where people always feel pressured to compete, gain more experience, and push their limits. However, not setting boundaries can be harmful. Focusing too much on the end results and striving for perfection at all costs can be overwhelming and stressful. That is why we must let go of perfection. Here is how you can dedicate yourself to progress instead.
1. Pursue specific goals
First things first: familiarize yourself with your goals. Thinking of your future job and your career can be stressful enough, which is why you need SMART goals. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound goals will help you focus on your path and your progress, appreciate baby steps, and celebrate your bigger milestones.
2. Take breaks
We live in a fast-paced world where we can feel left behind if we stop momentarily. Nonetheless, taking breaks allows us to hold on to our progress, increases our chances of reaching our end goal and helps us avoid burnt outs. Whether they are on the micro or macro levels, breaks are always recommended: when we’re studying, they boost our productivity; long term, they help us refocus on our goal and on what matters most, our well-being.
Should you remember only one thing from this blog, it should be this: progress is more important than perfection. You want to discover what is the right path for you? Or learn ways to progress towards a perfect job application? Check out and use the resources and services offered by the Telfer Career Centre through Career Launch!
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