Perfectionism: Are You Doing a Two-Ass Job?

In working with a client recently, we had a discussion about some tension with her non-ADD business partner. "It's just that she always does such a half-assed job," the client said. "I'm busting my butt and she's hardly trying."

In fact, this client does work really hard. Too hard. She gets caught up in perfectionism, works long hours, and is always stressed out.

"So she's doing a half-ass job," I said to the client, "and you're doing a two-ass job."

I have no idea where the term "half-ass" came from, but it certainly is an interesting way of describing a shoddy job, isn't it? And it stands to reason that if there is such a thing as a half-ass job, then there is also such a thing as a two-ass job.

While you might think that ADD would cause a business owner to do half-assed work, I find the opposite to be true. ADD business owners often get caught up in old patterns and belief systems, worrying about what others will think of their work and overcompensating as a result. They do two-assed work. This is a form of perfectionism, and it leads to overwhelm and, ultimately, burnout.

My client laughed and agreed. And the point became clear: the best work is done with one full ass. No more, no less.

Comments

[Mike Doyle]

Ugh. This is my former employer (now a client--thank you ADHD penchant for working for oneself). From that behavior I used to suspect she, like me, was ADHD. Not that I can't be a perfectionist, I sure can. In this instance it just took one to know one.

One thing I learned, though, is it's really hard to get someone who consistently tries to "two-ass" it at work to relent unless they see that it's abnormal (or that, maybe, just maybe, they have an undiscovered issue, like ADHD, to deal with).

Overcompensation will kill you in the workplace--especially consulting--faster than your clients will. Because you run the risk of souring client relationships with this behavior that keeps telling them things you suspect about the relationship that really aren't reality.

It's always important to remember, when you have ADHD, that what you think about the world may not be reality. Especially when you're a "two-asser".

[Jen Koretsky]

Excellent point about the way "two-assing" it can affect client relationships, Mike!

[Businesses for sale]

Haha, brilliant. Well summed up. The mental image however was a bit disturbing.

Will be using that in the office.

[Samuel Koh]

At first I was wondering if you had ADHD to begin with, before I read your bio. The mental image don't bother me. Its a ADHD thingy, which I'm sure I'd get a magnified version if I would be having a cuppa with you in person.

The perfectionist trait is also what causes procrastination for one. Oh, I've a phd in tri-assing.