Michelle Gibson-Morgan. Lead. Learn. Change. Thrive.

We often see and hear the word “excellence” held up as the gold standard in personal branding, career progression, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Somewhere along the way, many of us start confusing excellence with perfection and experience unintended consequences. I was recently reminded of the difference in a live session with Lisa Nichols. One key takeaway?

Authenticity resonates more with people than perfection.

That hit home. For someone like me who’s known for showing up polished and prepared, it can be easy for others to assume everything is always in order. But behind every polished brand, there’s often a messy middle—a space of pivoting, adapting, and yes, sometimes unraveling.

Excellence is about aiming for the best possible outcome.
Perfection is about trying to control every detail all the time.

The distinction matters, especially when it comes to protecting your wellbeing and showing up authentically. Many high achievers struggle with stress and experience burnout because they are fixed on perfection. Gone are the days when stress, overwork and burnout were perceived as a “badge of honour“. Let’s be clear that I am NOT encouraging mediocrity! However, excellence and authenticity together propel you forward without being stuck on perfection.

Ask yourself: How many things have you started, put off and then abandoned because you did not think they would turn out perfectly? How many things have taken you twice as long as expected because you want to do it yourself instead of delegating or outsourcing to someone else because they are not you? or because “they wont do it exactly as you would” do it? How many times has an opportunity crossed your path but you chose not to attempt to contend for it because you don’t think you meet 100% of the criteria? Have you waited indefinitely for the “perfect time” to do something? I invite you to consider.

There’s a vulnerable space between aiming high and falling short of perfection. That’s the “messy middle”—the space where things don’t always go as planned, where behind-the-scenes chaos doesn’t match the polished public perception.

It’s also the place where growth, grace, and authenticity live.

I recorded a short video sharing my personal reflections and how this shift in perspective is reshaping the way I work, lead, build my coaching & consulting practice, and show up in general.

Watch the video on my YouTube channel

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If you are ready to take your excellence to the next level, you can collaborate with me through coaching, training, consulting my courses and other development services or my books.