Perfection Poisons Progress
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Perfection Poisons Progress
The 5 things you’re telling yourself that are stopping you from achieving the dream you’re chasing
Full disclosure, I’m a recovering perfectionist and I haven’t had my chip for too long.
One step in the wrong direction and I’m bottomed up in the gutter puking out back of napkin drawings, iPhone notes, vivid visions and un-purchased domain names still in the cart.
Medium for me was a step in the right direction of DOING as opposed to THINKING ABOUT DOING.
All that to say, I’m right there with you in this battle.
Paralysis analysis is a real living, breathing, obstacle in the way of your success.
But it sneaks up on you and disguises itself as justified excuses.
Underneath that costume, dreams are crushed, time is wasted and the brilliant ideas you have die.
“I want to go about it the right way” STOP. Just stop right there. I know you do, but in your effort of trying to go about it the right way, you’re going to over research and discover that there are 1000 right ways. Pick one now and lean into it.
“Let me learn about it before I start” Valid thought. You don’t want to be operating in the dark, BUT, the very best learning you’re ever going to have is going to come from experience. Pick ONE book on the subject, read it then make your leap. You’ll probably fail at first, but that’s where you’ll really learn what you need to know.
“I need to take this course from this guru first” No you don’t. Now, I’m not knocking having a mentor. I can’t express how important the mentors I’ve had over the years have been, BUT, get down the road on your own FIRST. Then reach out. You’ll have a better idea of what you actually need to know. Your early solo commitment will make them even more committed to you when that time comes that you find a mentor.
“I can’t do this alone” Yes you can. I could stop there with that, but I’ll elaborate: Partnerships are crucial, they really are. I also strongly believe that your network is your net worth. But you need to stand on your own two feet. You need to bring skills to the table and stand alone as a valuable asset of the partnership or the team. To do that, you need to grind it out alone at first. Be the one writing the copy, filming and editing the videos, posting the content, scheduling the interviews, checking your email, reaching out to clients, going on the Zoom sales calls, closing the deals, GRINDING day in and day out. Be that person for a bit. This will do several things; two of which are 1. You’ll know what you’re good at and what you’re not, which will help you choose your partners better. And 2. It’ll give you a full mental picture of the entirety of your operations before you try and scale.
“I don’t want to waste my time doing the wrong thing and moving in the wrong direction” Oh boy, this one hits hard. All the feels over here. I get it. You have a spouse, kids, full time job, weekend family engagements. You’re busy. Maybe the busiest you’ve ever been. You don’t want to waste the precious time you do have doing something that takes you in the wrong direction. You might fear that if you don’t choose the right direction that your efforts and time will have been for nothing. I know this feeling so well, but I promise you they won’t be. Things might not end up as you imagined, but you WILL have learned something. You will have DONE something. And that’s what really matters.
I have failed and pivoted so many times in so many different ways. And if we’re being completely honest, I’ll continue to fail and pivot. But the lessons I’ve learned along the way have been invaluable.
Your search for this “perfect” way to go about your business, your workouts, your New Year’s resolutions, whatever it might be… is stopping you from actually doing a darn thing.
David Goggins writes about the “governor” in our minds. This is what limits us and keeps us from operating at full capacity.
Most of us don’t even know we have that. We live our lives completely controlled by avoiding fear and discomfort.
Well now you know. And with this knowledge, step outside of your comfort zone a bit.
Shut the computer and make the call you need to make.
Purchase that domain name.
Establish your LLC before the business is fully fleshed out.
Get outside and run even if you don’t have the right shoes to wear or the perfect workout program.
Make yourself a healthy dinner even if you don’t have a nutrition coach walking you through it.
Start a blog even though you’ve been an iPhone notes writer for years.
This is not about reckless ambition. This is about stopping the viscous cycle of over analysis that leads to COMPLETE paralysis and the death of whatever you wanted to do before it even has a fighting chance.
Do your future self a favor and start RIGHT NOW with whatever it is you want to do. You’re not going to feel ready. And that’s because you’re not. Who cares. Just start.