Beware of the 6 P’s:

How Personality Can Make or Break Success

Hey you! Ever feel like your personality gets in the way of your success? We all have parts of ourselves that can trip us up if left unchecked. Let’s talk about the 6 P’s – Perfectionism, Periodic behavior, Procrastination, Pretending, Pleasing, and Pride. Each one of these tendencies can either make or break how far we go in life and business. Recognizing these sub-personalities is the first step to managing them effectively. Join me today as we explore practical ways to harness the positive side of the 6 P’s while avoiding the pitfalls that can limit our potential. When we understand how our personality truly impacts our path, we gain the power to clear the obstacles in our way. The journey to success starts with self-awareness!

The Perfectionist’s Pursuit of Flawlessness

Perfectionism is a double-edged sword. On one hand, a drive for excellence can motivate us to produce high quality work. But when perfectionism becomes excessive and unrealistic, it can lead to procrastination, low self-esteem, and burnout. Some keys to managing perfectionism:

• Set specific, achievable goals. Instead of aiming for “perfection”, focus on meeting concrete benchmarks.
• Practice accepting imperfection. Remember that “good enough” actually is good enough for most purposes.
• Focus on the doing, not the outcome. Shift your attention from seeking a perfect result to simply doing your best work in the process.
• Ask for feedback. Get input from others to gain perspective on your work and where you can improve it reasonably.
• Learn to say “done”. Decide on a point where you release your work, rather than nitpicking it endlessly.
• The truth is, nothing is ever truly perfect. The key is balancing a desire for excellence with an acceptance of our human limitations.
• When we do that, perfectionism becomes a drive for growth rather than a source of frustration.

As a perfectionist, you have an eye for detail that is second to none. You notice the little things that others miss and won’t settle for “good enough.” This pursuit of flawlessness means you produce high quality work, but it can also lead to missed deadlines and unnecessary stress. Your high standards often mean extra time double checking and redoing work to ensure it’s perfect.

• Fear of Failure

You have an intense fear of failure and making mistakes, worried that anything less than perfect will be seen as a failure. This can paralyze you into inaction or lead to anxiety, especially when facing ambiguous tasks where the “right” answer is unclear. You need to learn that failure is a natural part of growth, and imperfections are human. Do your best and accept that “done” is better than “perfect.”

• Difficulty Delegating

You have a hard time delegating because you don’t trust that others will do as good of a job as you. But as a leader, you can’t do everything yourself. Learn to share responsibilities, set clear expectations, and accept that while the end result may not be perfectly flawless, the benefits of developing your team and achieving work-life balance outweigh an obsession with micromanaging every detail.

While high standards and attention to detail are admirable qualities, taken to an extreme they can undermine your success and wellbeing. Ease up on your unrealistic expectations, embrace imperfection, and focus on progress over perfection. Your success and sanity will thank you.

• The Periodic Problem of Inconsistency

Inconsistency can be one of the biggest threats to success. When you’re inconsistent in your efforts, habits, and behaviors, it becomes nearly impossible to achieve your goals or build strong relationships. For a business, consistency is key to building trust with customers and keeping employees productive.

• Lack of Routine

If you struggle to establish a routine and stick to it, you’re likely to experience periodic inconsistency. Maybe some days you’re focused and driven, other days not so much. The trouble is, motivation comes and goes, but consistent action is what really moves the needle. Build systems and habits so you can progress even when you’re not feeling inspired.

• Distraction and Interruption

In today’s world of constant digital distraction, it’s easy to bounce between tasks and lose focus. Turn off notifications on your devices and try to minimize interruptions. Focus on one priority at a time and avoid switching gears until it’s complete. Your consistency and productivity will thank you.

• Failure to Plan

The old saying is true: “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” If you don’t map out your key priorities, tasks, and objectives, you have no roadmap to guide your actions. Take time for weekly and daily planning. Review your goals and schedules regularly to make sure you’re on track. Planning prevents inconsistency and helps you achieve the results you want.

While perfection is unrealistic, consistency can be developed through conscious effort and practice. Build the habits and discipline to overcome your periodic tendencies, reduce distractions, and improve your planning. Your business and relationships will thrive as a result of your newfound consistency. Focus on progress, not perfection.

• The Procrastinator’s Habit of Delay

As a procrastinator, do you find yourself constantly putting off important tasks and responsibilities? This habit of delay can seriously hinder your success.

• Lack of Planning

When you procrastinate, you often fail to properly plan and organize your time. This can lead to missed deadlines, poorly executed work, and a rushed, haphazard approach to important projects. Take time to map out deadlines in advance and schedule your time wisely. Break large, overwhelming tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.

• Health Impacts

Chronic procrastination also takes a major toll on your health and wellbeing. The constant stress and anxiety of looming deadlines and unfinished tasks can lead to high blood pressure, insomnia, and impaired immune function. Prioritize self-care by maintaining a regular sleep schedule, eating healthy, and exercising. Your physical health impacts your motivation and productivity.

• Damaged Relationships

Procrastination doesn’t just affect you—it hurts the people around you too. Colleagues, clients, and managers will quickly grow frustrated with your lack of reliability and follow-through. Significant others may feel neglected or unimportant. Make an effort to communicate openly about deadlines and commitments, delegate when possible, and avoid making excuses for delayed or subpar work.

The habit of procrastination is challenging to break but overcoming it can change your life. Start small by tackling one task on your to-do list each day, build self-discipline through routine and structure, and practice positive self-talk. You have the power to overcome procrastination and achieve your full potential. Success comes to those who don’t delay!

The Pretender’s Mask of Deception

As a businessperson, putting on airs can seriously damage your credibility and relationships. The pretender adopts a false persona to impress others or gain approval, hiding their true self behind a mask.

• False Confidence

The pretender displays an exaggerated sense of confidence in their abilities and knowledge. They make bold claims and promises they can’t fulfill just to appear competent. However, their lack of authenticity soon becomes apparent to colleagues and customers.

• People-Pleasing

The pretender aims to please by being whoever the other person wants them to be. They constantly change their tune to suit the audience, afraid to show their real self. While flexibility and adaptability are useful skills, people-pleasing prevents the pretender from developing their own identity or vision.

• Lack of Integrity

By putting on an act, the pretender demonstrates a lack of integrity. They value appearances over honesty and truth. This damages work relationships as others come to realize the pretender cannot be trusted. Their words ring hollow without sincerity and authenticity.

The business world values competence, leadership, and sound judgment. The pretender’s false persona may temporarily mask their inadequacies, but the truth will eventually surface. To succeed, you must develop self-awareness, play to your strengths, and build real confidence through hard work and experience. There are no shortcuts. Drop the act, embrace who you are, and get to work. Your authentic self is the only mask you need.

• The Pleaser’s Need for Approval

As a pleaser, you constantly seek validation from others and want everyone to like you. While a desire to please customers and clients is admirable, taken to an extreme it can severely impact your business success.

You may find yourself saying “yes” to every request and opportunity out of fear of rejection or letting someone down. But in trying to make everyone happy, you end up overwhelmed, overcommitted, and unable to focus on high-priority tasks. Learn to evaluate requests objectively based on your business goals and say “no” when needed. Don’t be afraid to delegate when possible. The need for approval can also lead to indecisiveness. You want everyone’s input and opinion before making a choice, but end up paralyzed by options and unable to choose a clear path forward. At some point, you have to trust your own judgment. Discuss options with your team, but ultimately stand by your well-informed decisions. Most importantly, don’t let the desire to please others overshadow your own needs and priorities. Your business’s success depends on your ability to establish a strong vision and direction. Seeking constant validation will only serve to weaken your leadership and focus. While customer feedback is valuable, look within yourself for the confidence to make tough calls and stand up for what you believe in.

Learn to differentiate between reasonable requests that satisfy clients, and those that only serve to drain your time and resources to please a few. Your goal should be mutual benefit and shared success, not just approval for its own sake. With practice, you can overcome the tendency to be a pleaser and instead develop the assertiveness needed to build a thriving business. The key is finding the right balance between pleasing others and staying true to your purpose.

The Pitfalls of Pride

Pride is a double-edged sword. While a healthy sense of confidence and self-worth is important for success, unchecked pride can be your downfall.

• Arrogance and Close-Mindedness

When you think you know it all, you close yourself off to learning and growth. New ideas and different perspectives are threatening, rather than an opportunity to expand your mind. You become unwilling to accept feedback or admit mistakes, convinced that you must always be right.

• Ego-Driven Decision Making

Pride makes you care more about looking good than doing good. You make choices to feed your ego and desire for status, not because they are the best option. You refuse to delegate or share control, determined to do everything yourself to prove your worth. But in trying to do it all, you end up doing nothing well.

• Damaging Relationships

An inflated view of yourself leads to a lack of consideration for others. You talk down to people and fail to show them respect. You take credit for others’ work and contributions, too focused on your own achievements. Over time, your attitude and behavior isolate you, as people grow tired of the way you treat them.

While self-confidence is crucial, learn to balance it with humility. Accept that you still have more to learn. Share the spotlight and appreciate the value that others add. Make decisions based on facts and objective benefits, not just what suits you best. Pride is natural, but kept in check, it will serve you well rather than hold you back from your full potential.

Conclusion

The bottom line is, we all have our own little quirks and tendencies that can get in the way sometimes. But being self-aware is half the battle. If you can identify those hidden “6 P’s” within yourself that may be holding you back, you can start to keep them in check. Stay focused on your goals, be willing to fail and learn from mistakes, and don’t let perfectionism or pride get in the way of progress. You got this! Now get out there, try new things, and achieve the success you desire. You are the only one standing in your way.