What does “strive for progress, not perfection” mean? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

What does “strive for progress, not perfection” mean?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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  • Don’t focus so much on perfection that you don’t celebrate your progress.
  • Progress, not perfection, has been used to help people fighting addiction and cancer.
  • What projects have you not even taken the first step on?

One of our key values as a team at Exercise.com is “progress, not perfection.”

But what does that really mean?

Does it mean we have to accept low-quality work or failure? Does it mean excellence doesn’t matter?

Of course not! Our team strives for excellence, and we set actionable goals accordingly.

This little mantra isn’t just used for businesses. It’s a key principle used for addiction recovery as well as for patients fighting cancer.

Now, think about this: if this principle is powerful enough to be used for people fighting addiction or cancer, why would you not implement it into your fitness business?

One way that you can progress is by using a tool that allows you to do more in less time. Request a demo for our All-in-One Fitness Business Management Software today to learn more.

How Does One Strive for Progress?

It’s easy to start a new challenge with a head full of steam, only to then sputter out. Why is that?

You’ve got a great idea. It meets a need you know people have, but you just never execute the idea. The product or service never helps those people because it never sees the light of day.

Many times this sputtering happens because we don’t see our ideas as a journey and we get tangled up in perfection. “It needs to be just so before anyone sees it.”

Other times, it’s easy to get so overwhelmed with this nebulous idea of “perfection” that you never actually start/take the first step.

Watch this video by physical therapist Greg Todd for further explanation of this principle and how he’s applied it to his business:

Progress, Not Perfection, Is in Our DNA

Exercise.com was built on the ideas and suggestions of some of the most successful certified personal trainers and fitness pros. We weren’t afraid to offer them something that met a real need that they had, while also listening carefully to what they thought — and we knew — could be better.

When you focus on progress, not perfection, you don’t spiral down the self-doubt and self-criticism rabbit hole. From a progress point of view, you can look back at what you have accomplished for continued motivation to keep moving forward.

What’s more, you can build milestones to celebrate as you make progress toward your big goals.

Honestly, you probably already work with your clients on this mentality but sometimes we can teach things without applying them to ourselves.

So, ask yourself this:

  • What goals or projects have sputtered out because you’re pursuing them with a perfection mindset instead of focusing on the progress?
  • What small step can you take immediately to shift your focus to your progress?
  • Think about two to three achievements you could celebrate. How do these achievements demonstrate your progress?

Shifting your mindset is hard. Let’s talk about your business and see how we can put this into practice for you. Request a demo of our All-in-One Fitness Business Management Software today to set your business up for success.

Learn more about Exercise.com Fitness Business Management Software.

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