Hippies and Perfectionists

There is an interesting psychological distinction between “hippies” and “perfectionists.” Hippies crave change, movement, and the sense that they are influencing how things unfold. They are driven to launch something new, to build, to reform. But once a new system settles down and starts running smoothly, the hippie grows restless and begins looking toward the horizon.

Perfectionists are a very different breed. They think less about what to do and more about how to do it—carefully and methodically, making sure every element works flawlessly and every report is perfect down to the last cell in Excel.

I clearly belong to the first group.

2017, when all my efforts were focused on building the financial system and processes, became my year. Everything around me was spinning, being reshaped, coming into being anew. Every day felt like a startup camp: noise, momentum, chaos, breakthroughs. I couldn’t wait to get to the office. New tasks and new challenges were waiting for me there.

But by the end of the year, everything had settled into place and was running smoothly. The team worked in harmony, like an orchestra that needed its conductor less and less. And that was when I suddenly noticed that getting up in the morning no longer felt easy.

Not because of exhaustion, but because something else had faded.

The interest. The inner spark.

On the outside, everything went on as before.

Inside, it felt as if the lights had gone out.