She Strengthens

Reigning in Perfectionism: One Entrepreneur’s Journey

Dawn Quaker, co-founder of Profillic, shares her story of overcoming her natural tendency towards over-analysis, a trait that threatened to hold her back in both her personal and professional life.

The Roots of Perfectionism

As a child, Dawn was immersed in the competitive world of ballet, where perfection was the ultimate goal. This environment nurtured her analytical nature, making it an integral part of who she is. However, as she transitioned into the business world, she realized that her tendency to overthink was hindering her progress.

The Turning Point

A challenge from her director at Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet forced Dawn to confront her perfectionism. She had to learn to let go and trust her instincts, rather than getting bogged down in details. This experience taught her the importance of simplicity and adaptability in achieving her goals.

Breaking Free from Over-Analysis

To overcome her vice, Dawn developed a system of filtering and categorizing information, prioritizing what was essential, and delegating or disregarding what wasn’t. She also learned to seek advice from experienced professionals, acknowledging that she didn’t have all the answers.

Challenges Along the Way

When Dawn began her undergraduate studies at Columbia University, she was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information. Her tendency to get stuck in minute details threatened to derail her academic progress. However, she credits this experience with teaching her how to learn strategically and harness the positive aspects of analysis.

Tools for Success

Dawn attributes her success to self-awareness, meditation, and exercise. She also employs time-chunking, scheduling specific tasks and setting alarms to ensure she stays on track. This approach allows her to balance her analytical nature with the need to meet deadlines and achieve milestones.

The Results

Since learning to manage her perfectionism, Dawn has seen significant improvements in her work and overall happiness. Her career has flourished, and she’s become a respected thought leader in the future of work and economics of inclusion.

A Lesson in Balance

Dawn’s story teaches us that it’s possible to acknowledge and work with our natural tendencies, rather than trying to eliminate them entirely. By embracing incremental learning and understanding the positive and negative aspects of our traits, we can break free from habits that hold us back and achieve greater success and happiness.