As I was sifting through LinkedIn the other day, an article from a LinkedIn “editor” came through the feed.

Not being able to stomach much of the poster’s profile or the content of the actual post itself, I caught this much of the thought attempting to be conveyed:

Work place productivity suffers from and companies are encouraged to make a concerted effort to avoid, nay, discourage their workers from striving toward or seeking perfection in their work.

Before I address this concept, let me mention that there has not been one individual with title of “editor” on LinkedIn that I’ve come across that 1) has been in the work force for more than about five years; 2) capable of posting anything on the site without a minimum of two typos in their posts.

Ah, the irony of it all.

However, several Ph.D. individuals – you know the type – liberals with multiple liberal arts degrees from some of the most left-wing indoctrinating educational institutions in the world – are quite adamant that “perfectionism” is an element of whiteness and objective thinking, that which is required to be quashed immediately.

This is the world in which we’ve come to live – the “cancel culture”, as it has been labeled. Those are two words that I truly care to not ever hear again in my lifetime, if I can help it.

The left-wing, white privilege, cancel everyone movement that has been shoved down our throats on a daily basis are concepts that I cannot remotely grasp. The loss and lack of hypocrisy on those screaming the loudest for equality and justice has become a comedic relief.

However, these radical perceptions fed to me through a would-be professional site – that which has rapidly turned into a political platform along with all other social media – has prompted me to consider this from an employment and business point of view.

Having had a career devoted largely to employment and hiring across the last two decades, very few know better than I the importance of professionalism and company culture.

Trust me when I say that I have seen little change over these years other than technology. Managers end up in positions in which they have no business or capacity taking on. Political correctness, as HR attempts to enforce it, is boggled and foggy and conformative.

In the end, and I can say this having held these roles for many years, HR and recruitment individuals are frequently – nearly always – the most inept and ignorant individuals in the companies.

And these are the people that are expected to build the foundation of America’s workforce.

You really shouldn’t question the incompetence of any company when you take this into consideration.

And it’s only getting worse by the day.

As companies continue to degrade and build work forces of ignorant, incompetent, and self-ingratiating millennials incapable of performing any task other than that which has been placed in front of them, this admonishment of “perfectionism” will unfortunately continue and grow to suit the snowflake hordes incapable of maturely fielding constructive criticism and organizational expectations.

No one will be permitted or expected to correct any mistakes, let alone acknowledge that any error even existed. Training will consist of congratulatory rhetoric that will accomplish nothing. No internal individuals will grow or improve personally or professionally and in turn, no company or team will be successful.

Success cannot be measured or expected if everyone is right; when ignorance is praised, when hard work is punish and discouraged, or when unreasonable employee expectations are pandered to.

Yet those preaching that “perfectionism” is a sin – regardless of what skin color is committing that sin – may be on to something. I simply believe that how their belief is being stated is misguiding.

Posed this way structures this concept in a considerably more approachable and reasonable manner…

The definition of perfectionism is thus:

“The refusal to accept any standard short of perfection.”

Philosophically: “a doctrine holding that religious, moral, social, or political perfection is attainable, especially the theory that human moral or spiritual perfection should be or has been attained.”

First and foremost, any argument for or against perfection – by definition – is going to be defeated.

No age-old adage is used or understood more than this: No one is perfect.

And no one is. Not one person on this planet can reasonably assume that they or anyone around them is without fault or flaw. A rational being would see that as the completion of that discussion. Non-issue.

From a business and employment standpoint, however, it is without question that there are some professions that absolutely require perfection.

Doctors, lawyers, airplane pilots, and any other job that requires intricacy and diligence when others’ lives are on the line.

A heart surgeon working on replacing a heart valve can hardly slip a stitch and say, “Meh. Close enough. It doesn’t have to be perfect.”

Air traffic controllers accepting a 90% accuracy rate in landing planes on a runway assuredly – not possibly – murder hundreds of people aboard those flights that comprise the remaining 10% that they didn’t believe required perfection.

That would seem like common sense to me, as should it to anyone.

However, coffee shop baristas wouldn’t be held to that same standard, nor would – probably – even a corporate CEO.

That doesn’t mean that the expectation of their work product or leadership be condemned to mediocrity or simply be “good enough”.

Much like anything else that transpires in this world, actions come down to the individual. Period. As much as people, groups, media, or history want to point fingers of blame for the ills or degradation of the world; each person needs to step up and be responsible for how they act and react.

There is no argument to that expectation. None.

Even more alarming is that in these rants, those calling out and discouraging perfectionism refer to intimidation as being sound reasoning to forego all effort to excel at…well…anything.

That someone believes they are intimidated by someone else does not remotely fall on the shoulders of another party. It is the responsibility of the perceivedly intimidated persons to wrangle their own inadequacies and shortcomings.

Under no circumstances can any human be expected to assume, guess, or foresake themselves for no other reason than to placate themselves for someone lazier or less motivated than themselves.

I, for one, was raised to take pride in what I do; that any job doing is worth doing well. My own personal belief is that half-assed is not an acceptable contribution or outcome.

I hold myself to very high standards of respect, accomplishment, treatment of others, professional conduct, and humanity.

That is a bold statement, one that very few people can make for themselves.

But more alarming is, while most people expect so very little of themselves or those around them, that there are waves of individuals encouraging those of little self-value to lower or eliminate altogether what few standards they DO have.

Self-proclaimed “career coaches”, “philosophers”, or even “scholars” are demanding ignorance, laziness, complacency, subjugation, and that which could be defined as modern day slavery…all in the name of guilt.

<I think. I’m really not sure. The insanity being preached is that which I still have yet to figure out.>

In doing so, what these pundits of doom are practicing is hypocrisy. If they truly believed in what they are instructing others to give up, then they wouldn’t pursue their own educations. They wouldn’t dare dream of starting their own companies. They would be woefully incorrect in presuming that they would be – gasp – a subject matter expert on any topic.

Ultimately, by negating an individual’s worth with these demeaning and irrational demands and expectations, companies and educational institutions are effectively and intentionally aligning armies of hatred and division.

Unneccessarily.

There is no shame in self-confidence, intelligence, personal besting, or significant contributions.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting more or better, to strive as a leader, to act with integrity, or to practice creativity. To care about and want these things cannot remotely discount another individual or group of individuals unless specifically sought with the intention of doing so. The misperception that this happens frequently is incorrect and nearly nonexistent.

For if we not only eliminate but punish these qualities, virtues, and aspirations – what is it that we have left?

Bitter, snarling animals fighting for minimal scraps of existence that are measured and thrown out by – you guessed it – those condemning perfectionism.

In our day in age unlike any other, we have seen an exponential rise in crimes and suicides that is unprecedented. Those perceiving that they, nor those surrounding them, have no value or worth are unlikely to find their place in the world. Even less, if they are oppressed under hatred and being convinced that another person has stolen opportunity from them…simply by putting forward greater effort that they are expected to relinquish.

Perfectionism doesn’t have to be thrust upon anyone. And, in fact, it really isn’t. However, standards of excellence absolutely can and should be. To seek to be productive and to serve as a positive influence on others is as human as breathing.

Focus on the mentorship, the encouragement, the guidance, and the teaching of any person is essential to personal and professional success obtained through self-worth and self-reliance. If they weren’t, companies wouldn’t be in business and every relationship would fail.

In return, individuals require openness to communication, responsibility of personal actions, and acknowledgement of deeds -good and bad, alike.

One comment that I hear and see in abundance is, “Everyone makes mistakes.” Sure, they do. But very few, if any, are emotionally mature enough in accepting or acknowledging mistakes being brought to their attention, let alone being educated on what the mistake was and how to fix it.

Most individuals I’ve encountered are enraged, incensed, and defensive as hell at the mere mention of any misstep made.

They want more to hate being corrected than they are anxious to correct their own actions because it’s easier to blame others than it is to swallow pride and stand up to one’s own oversights.

There isn’t anything wrong with making mistakes. Not a thing. It is on their backs that are built the strongest minds. Failure is the greatest teacher in the world. One simply needs to be open-minded and mature enough to recognize, accept, fix, and continue. That’s a tall order, and one that requires little effort.

Perfection is in the eye of the beholder. Learning never ends. Ever. Being good at what you do is a positive thing worthy of reward, not condemnation. Dissension and disagreement color the world, provide variety, and enlighten a stifled mind. They promote positive and productive change, change that can only come from within each individual – not that which is promoted on any social media site or from a misdirected online warrior.

None of these is to be punished or discouraged, especially not by individuals who attempt to murder the concept of “perfect”, while all the while doing nothing but striving for it themselves.

Ah. Alas, it is in and of their work to subdue and dumb-down the populous that they have very hypocritically achieved their own “perfection”.

And in the end, I waste little time on making sure that I follow whatever instructions that others deem important. Under no circumstances will I be swayed or bullied into upholding and living anything other than that which I believe I am and that for which I stand.

That’s a pretty perfect suggestion for everyone.