I am not perfect... but nobody is, right? So why am I so hard on myself when I don’t reach the standards that I've created for myself?Kristine Widtfeldtwas a breath of fresh air and an optimistic reassurance on this topic, as she started her keynote lecture by admitting that she herself is a “recovering perfectionist”. She shared a story about a time when she took a test and was ranked in the ninety-ninth percentile of her third-grade class. Little third-grader Kristine then went home and asked her mom what that meant. Her mom told her that if ninety-nine other third graders took the same test, only one would score better than her. Although this should have been great news, all Kristine could think was “ugh, who is the one kid that would score better than me?”. I too, often fall into this trap of feeling like no matter how well I do, it is still never enough. Since the time of this story, Kristine has learned that there really is no one-hundredth percentile, and that there is an important lesson in realizing that less is more. Kristine gave us three tips to follow to ultimately lead with less.

Master Your Time.The first important step revolves around the concept of quality over quantity. When it comes down to it, being productive is far more important than being busy;

"‘Business’ is not the same thing as ‘busy-ness’."

Kristine provided ten questions, or “time-tamers” for us all to personally answer. These questions are crafted in a way that allows you to rate yourself on how well you do certain daily activities, ranging from making your bed to honoring office hours, to saying kind words to yourself. By asking yourself these questions and evaluating how you use your time, you take control. Kristine rearranged the famous Benjamin Franklin quote from “If you want something done, ask a busy person” to “If you want something done, ask aproductiveperson”.

Magnify Your Magic.This sounds great, right? Who doesn’t want to magnify magic and reach full potential? The question here lies in asking where to start. Here Kristine taught us to divide thee activities that we do into three categories: state of flow, state of go, and state of no. State of flow are those activities that you love doing; the things that fuel you and your passions. State of go activities are ones that aren’t as exciting for you, but you still get them done. The last category is state of no, which are activities that you have a difficult time bringing yourself to do. Kristine explained that “you get to choose what you’re passionate about” and that activities in your state of flow might be in somebody else’s state of no. It is okay to outsource certain things but remember only you can do what you do best.

Multiply Your Efforts.Many of us fall victim to wanting more help but then feel like others are doing it wrong when they do help. In this case, Kristine advised us to

“Stop trying to outrun yourself because you’ll never win.”

Whether you are someone who: feels the need to always rescue others, is an ‘idea fountain’, is always ‘on’, an above-all-else optimist, or a pacesetter, you need to learn to balance your talents. Learn to allow collaboration with others; you will gain more out of everything.

In a world where perfection seems like the ultimate goal, Kristine Widtfelt's keynote lecture served as a revitalizing reminder that nobody is perfect, and sometimes you need to allow yourself to do less. As she courageously shared her own journey as a "recovering perfectionist," she shed light on the unrealistic standards many of us set for ourselves. Reflecting on Kristine's insightful tips, it becomes clear that the pursuit of perfection often leads to burnout and dissatisfaction. Through mastering our time, magnifying our magic, and multiplying our efforts, we can embrace a more balanced and fulfilling approach to life and learn to lead with less.