Stop Chasing Perfection! I’m Looking at You, High Achievers👀
Does success feeling like a moving target?
Like an itch that’s just out of reach. Ooh, almost there… Not quite…
Nope.😒
As ambitious business owners, we’re hardwired to strive, to innovate, to grow.
But this relentless drive can inadvertently trap us in a mindset where we’re constantly measuring ourselves against an unreachable ideal.
Enter: the solution.
Today, I want to introduce you to a profoundly powerful, yet deceptively simple, mindset shift, inspired by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s insightful book, The Gap and the Gain.
The Gap vs. The Gain
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High performers often find themselves stuck in The Gap.
It’s motivating, yes… but scarcity based and ultimately exhausting.
It subtly robs you of joy and blinds you to the immense progress you’ve already made.
However, when you intentionally choose to live in The Gain, you feel confident, grateful, and energized.
And that’s when you do your best, most inspired work.
You’re presented with a choice: be satisfied or dissatisfied with where you’re at.
Why would you consciously choose the latter???
Most of us slip into The Gap all day long.
And it’s not totally our fault.
We live in a society that constantly encourages us to measure against ideals. Our minds are trained to ask, “Where am I not measuring up? Where can I improve?” So many small, everyday moments can subtly pull you into The Gap.
For example, consider this scenario:
You work and save, and finally, one day, you’re able to trade in your 10-year-old car for a brand, spanking-new Volkswagen. You feel satisfied driving that shiny car off the lot.
The next day, you arrive at work, enjoying the smell of leather seats, and pull in beside an Audi. You should be ecstatic, right? Yet, as nice as your car is, it’s not an Audi and before the confetti even settles, you’re already pivoting to the next challenge, the next “better” car to own or mountain to climb.
This is The Gap at work – the endless pursuit where true contentment is elusive.
It’s like being in the TSA line at the airport; if you only focus on how far you still have to go, the wait feels endless and frustrating.
But if you acknowledge how many people you’ve already passed, and how far you’ve come from the start, the process feels more manageable and less taxing.
The Gap & The Gain doesn’t just happen at work.
This powerful mindset isn’t confined to your business life.
It influences how we view our personal lives, our relationships, and even our children’s achievements. (Yikes!)
Are we inadvertently teaching them to constantly measure against an impossible ideal, or to appreciate their growth and effort?
Adopting a “Gain” mindset leads to a healthier, more resilient perspective for both ourselves and the ones we love.
It’s also good leadership.
Shifting to a “Gain” mindset won’t dull your drive. It will fuel it with gratitude, confidence, and energy that actually lasts.
Takeaway
The Gain is Where Growth Feels Good
- Ambition’s great—until it steals your joy.
- The Gap = chasing an ideal and feeling behind.
- The Gain = measuring backward and seeing real progress.
Try This: 3 Simple Ways to Live in The Gain
- Measure success backward daily – At the end of the day, ask yourself: What did I move forward today? Even a tiny win counts. Then set your intention for tomorrow. Repeat.
- Pause before you pivot – Before setting your next goal, take 2 minutes to name 3 things you’ve accomplished that your past self would be proud of.
- Celebrate progress out loud—yours and others’. It’s contagious.
To living in The Gain,
Laurie
