Someone who finds it hard to be happy with their work unless it is of a very high standard. For example, if a perfectionist gets a B grade, they think they have failed as they feel that it's not good enough.
It can be self-destructive and time wasting as perfectionists often
procrastinate to avoid doing important tasks in what they see as a substandard way.
They push themselves beyond the normal limits to achieve their goals and people are sometimes surprised by what they can accomplish.
Perfectionists do not deal well with pressure and close deadlines,
particularly when the work is important, as they feel they do not have enough time to make their work 'perfect' and therefore be happy with it.
It can be both a blessing and a curse.
Perfectionists are not the same as those who suffer from
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), although they can be obsessive about their work.
Jack: I'm a perfectionist.
I'm not happy with my work unless I know it's
the best it can be.
James: I hadn't
noticed.
Jack: I detected a tad of sarcasm in your voice then.
