Perfectionism in Private Equity is useful until it hobbles you

High standards are table stakes when deploying billions of dollars.
Those who care enough to operate to these standards often have a sharp internal dialog guiding this consistent product.

The HELPFUL Internal Voice reminds them to double check a pivotal number, show up prepared, catch all spelling errors, and anticipate client questions.

The UNHELPFUL Voice sends shock signals to the body when an error occurs: a wrong number, a question that can't be answered, a detailed plan that got derailed by an unforeseen event. This is Monday morning quarterbacking about regular way events, or things that were out of your control. Learning from "mistakes" is important and helpful, but ruminating and replaying what went wrong is draining and not helpful... it merely empowers the nervous system to hijack you with anxiety later on.

As Private Equity professionals become more senior,
They must learn to turn down the Unhelpful Voice
And trust their intuition in the moment.

PortCo's and IC's don't want a Partner who's distracted by thoughts of perfection in the present or ruminating about losses in the past.

PortCos and ICs want a Partner who's present in the moment,
with their mind fully available to collaboratively problem solve and think creatively.

2023 is the year to turn down the (Unhelpful) Voice
And let your highly trained brain do what it knows how to do
Without chattering peanut gallery judging everything as a win or loss.

You are not a moment in time,
You are the integral of your cumulative decisions.

It's not about one or two things missed years ago,
It's about the incredible potential you have going forward to help your organization.

Your Attention is your most valuable resource,
And it's within your election to direct it to what matters.

#privateequity #perfectionism #growthequity #sportspsychology #innergameoftennis #mindset